Page 104 of Kingdom of Death and Hope

“Me too.”

CHAPTER 36

“Can we go out to the town and talk to people?” I ask Kieran as I walk into our room. “I think today would be a good day to go out and talk to humans and Fae.”

It’s been two months since I died and the curse was broken. Two months of everyone being on edge as things changed.

Fae knew what it was going to be like and were excited. Right from the beginning they wanted to be friends with the humans and coexist together… but the humans didn’t want that.

A lot of them were afraid and hostile toward any Fae who approached them. They didn’t want anything to do with them and were constantly worried about how things were going to turn out for them in the end.

Kieran and I have been going out at least twice a week to walk around and talk to both human and Fae to try and make them more comfortable. I’ve gone out almost every single day to try and show the humans that they don’t have anything to fear.

“Are you sure you want to go out today?” Kieran asks. “You were out all day yesterday with them and came back exhausted. Why don’t you take today off to just relax.”

I shake my head. “We can’t do that. We have come so far. They are getting more and more comfortable with being around the Fae and I don’t want to skip a day and all the hard work go down the drain.”

Keiran chuckles. “It’s not going to go down the drain if you miss one day. There are other people also walking around and helping. You don’t have to carry everything on your shoulders.”

“I’m not, but it’s good for me and you to go out and talk to people to show that there is nothing to be afraid of. We are an example and so are Zahra and Henry. All of us need to be out there to talk to them and show the humans that they have nothing to fear,” I say.

“Okay, but if I see you starting to get tired then we are coming back to the palace and you are resting.” He gives me a pointed look. “I don’t care if you try to change my mind… you won’t. You have been more tired recently and I’m not going to have you run yourself into the ground.”

“That won’t happen because you won’t allow it.” I smile up at him. “You are good at taking care of me. And my appetite has come back! So you don’t need to worry.”

“But you are still underweight and I don’t want you putting too much strain on your body and something happening.” He wraps his arms around me.

“I know but I have you to help me.”

Kieran shakes his head before kissing the top of my head. “Alright, let’s go then.”

I quickly grab his hand as we make our way through the hallways, saying hello to everyone who passes us.

“I still find it so weird to hear people calling me High Lady,” I mumble as we walk out of the palace.

“You are going to have to get used to it,” Kieran tells me.

“Why can’t I just have them call me by my name?” I ask. “What’s so wrong with that?”

“They respect you. They love you.”

“But what if it makes me uncomfortable?”

Kieran stops walking and looks at me. “They aren’t saying it to make you uncomfortable. They are calling you that to show you respect and that they care and love you. They are calling you High Lady because you have earned the title.”

“I didn’t do anything,” I mumble and look away from him. “Let’s get going.”

“Sweets, do you really believe that you’ve done nothing to earn your title?” Kieran asks as he catches up to me. “Do you honestly believe that?”

I nod. “It’s true. I haven’t done much.”

“You have done so much more than you think. You gave them hope when they were losing it. You put yourself at risk every single time you went to the palace to try and figure out how to break the curse. You sacrificed yourself by agreeing to marry the prince so that they didn’t kill me,” Kieran says.

“Oka—”

“You got tortured and didn’t tell Avira any information because you knew if you did that it would be over for everyone. You died to break the curse, fully prepared to leave everyone behind because it meant us Fae were going to get to live a better life,” Kieran whispers. “You have done so much and you are still doing things. You have earned the title and more.”

Tears pool in my eyes.