Page 11 of Kingdom of Death and Hope

“We will get you out of here one day,” I promise him.

“You shouldn’t promise things when you don’t know what’s going to happen to you,” Henry says out of nowhere.

CHAPTER 5

“Iknow that my special person is going to do whatever he can to make him free,” I say confidently.

“Even if you die?” Henry asks as he steps into view.

I lock eyes with him. “Even if I die.”

“She is not going to die,” the other man says.

“It’s good to see you, Nas.” Henry looks in his direction. “I see you’ve met Adeline.”

Nas stays quiet and Henry looks back at me.

“I brought you food,” he says as he holds up a basket. “Your mother was worried that you weren’t eating well enough since you have talked about food in the palace being abnormal.”

I lick my lips at the mention of food and my stomach grumbles.

“Do prisoners get fed?” I ask.

Henry tilts his head to the side. “Sometimes.”

“Give half of it to Nas. I know it’s not enough, but some is better than none,” I tell him.

“I do not need it, Adeline,” Nas calls out. “They give me one meal a day.”

“Give him half of it.” My voice is firm.

Henry shakes his head and walks out of my line of sight. I want to be selfish and eat all of it, but I know later I’m going to feel so guilty that I ate and Nas didn’t.

“Thank you, Hi⁠—”

“Do not call her that,” Henry snaps.

“You’re welcome,” I call out. “Don’t mind Henry. Everyone is on edge right now.”

“It was my mistake,” Nas replies.

Henry walks back to my cell and opens the door with a key. He takes a couple of seconds and then enters the cell and places the basket right in front of me.

“It’s bread and some meat. It’s not a lot but you need to eat to keep your strength,” Henry explains as he pulls out some bread and meat. “I’ll slowly feed you and then I have to go.”

Henry feeds me small pieces of both, allowing me time to chew and not overwhelm my stomach.

“Remember to put up a wall. Just think about physically making the wall and after a while it will just become second nature,” Henry whispers. “When you are in pain you need to focus on the wall and nothing else. It is going to be hard, but I know you don’t want him to feel anything.”

“Thank you,” I sigh.

“I don’t know how much he will be able to handle if he can feel your pain. When I spoke to him he was not doing okay,” Henry says honestly, and lifts another bite for me to eat. “But we are going to find a way to get you out of here. We just have to be smart about it and let it be her idea.”

And we don’t know how long that’s going to take. It could be a really long time to try and convince Avira that it is her idea to let me go. If she was showing her true nature whenever she saw me, she is hard to convince, and whenever she sets her mind to something, she won’t let it go until she figures out everything.

“I need to go but I will be back later.” Henry stands up and walks out of the cell, turning the lock into place.

If only he could sneak me out of here and let me hide in the forest with the Fae. But I know Avira would search for me everywhere and destroy anything in her path.