Page 135 of Kingdom of Death and Hope

“Adeline, it will not. It will help you heal and that is what’s important right now,” she scolds. “And besides, the Fae has been fetching the water every single day. I can let him know that we will need a lot more tomorrow. He won’t complain.”

“Because he can’t,” I chuckle.

“Because he cares about you. I didn’t realize how important you were to them until you were gone. I knew something was wrong when the Fae came over every day to help out with chores and the worried look he always wore. Even though Henry told me that you were fine, seeing the Fae worried made me realize that I wasn’t getting told the truth,” she explains. “And he was the one that suggested I borrow the bucket and give you warm baths before you were even home.”

“Wh-what?” I tilt my head back to look her in the eyes. “He suggested it?”

“He did. He said he didn’t know when you would be home but that warm baths help heal the body and helps you relax. I didn’t know what he was talking about at the time but he was right,” she says as she shakes her head. “Enough about this. I’m going to start washing your hair. If it hurts too much you let me know and I will be gentler.”

I close my eyes as my mother starts running her hands through my hair, my mind spiraling with so many different thoughts about Elias and the other Fae.

But I know I won’t be able to see you for a little while. I do not want you exerting yourself too much while you;re trying to recover from what you went through. When you are healed and can walk without pain, that is when we will meet, Kieran tells me.

I don’t know if I can wait that long, I mumble. I was thinking until I can get up without being in so much pain that I want to pass out.

Adeline.

Yes? I ask hesitantly.

Are you still hiding some of your pain and emotions from me? he asks.

I don’t think so, I say, unsure.

I focus on the wall in my mind and realize that it’s half up.

I guess I got so good at keeping it partially up that it was up without me even thinking about it, I explain.

Take it down. I don’t want you to hide it just like I don’t hide it from you.

Guilt festers inside me. Even though I know I was hiding it to keep him safe and sane, I still feel bad about it. He told me that he would never hide his emotions or pain from me and yet I did it to him.

I think about taking the wall down between us.

I’m sorry. I just wanted to protect you, I mumble. I know we said we wouldn’t put a wall up, but I didn’t want you to come to me when you realized how much pain I was in. I was worried that you would get captured and die.

I know what you were trying to do and I don’t want you to do it again. I forgive you for doing it this time, but never again.

Never again.

Hopefully I can actually keep this promise.

Sweets, how are you still awake with how much pain you’re in? Kieran asks.

I don’t know. I passed out several times when it was all going on and I slept for almost a full day, I reply. But the warm water is helping right now to ease all of it. I don’t really notice the pain unless I’m moving.

Which is why I’m trying not to move much so I don’t feel it. The less I move, the better.

When the curse is broken, she is going to regret ever doing that. The man that did it will also regret ever laying a finger on you, Kieran growls. Everyone who has wronged you will pay for it.

Calm down. While I do agree with you on the people who really did me harm, the people who didn’t do much don’t deserve it. Are you going to go after the person who didn’t pay us for our work? I ask.

If you want me to… I will.

No, Kieran.

I have no problem going to anyone and making them right the wrong that they did. No matter how small it is, he says. You just need to say the word and I will.

Kieran, I don’t want you to go after that person. I don’t like the thought of you going after the man that hit me, but I know you will regardless of what I say. But the other people who didn’t pay something or did something minor, I don’t want you to go after them. My mother and I have already forgotten about what they did, I say.