Page 136 of Kingdom of Death and Hope

Fine, but if you ever change your mind, I don’t mind going after them.

What am I going to do with you? I sigh.

Keep me. Love me. Take care of me. Spend the rest of your life with me.

“Is everything okay between you two?” Mother asks.

“He just wants to go after people and I’m trying to stop him,” I reply without thinking.

My eyes widen, and I tilt my head back, locking eyes with Mother.

She smiles softly. “Just like how your father and I were. He wanted to go after everyone that wronged us and I managed to hold him back so he didn’t end up in prison for his whole life or get banished to Tarravega.”

“He, what?” I whisper.

That is something I didn’t know about my father. Was he really driven for revenge on people that did wrong toward anyone he loved?

Mother continues to massage my head as she talks. “He had a couple Fae friends that he saw when he went hunting and knew things that most people don’t. He didn’t like the injustice everyone was getting and wanted to get back for everyone that had been done wrong. I stopped him several times from hurting a guard or going after the prince when he walked through town. He wanted life to be fair for everyone as much as it could be. He wanted the Fae not to be slaves anymore but free like they were all those years ago.”

“That’s why you weren’t shocked when I told you things,” I whisper more to myself as it dawns on me.

I always wondered why she didn’t panic when I talked about the Fae and having some friends. I thought she just panicked in private and wanted to be calm in front of me so I wouldn’t bottle everything up.

She hums. “Correct. You are so much like your father.”

Tears sting my eyes and I quickly close them and relax into the water. Who did father know of the Fae?

“Did he ever say the names of the people he knew?” I can’t help but ask.

“He didn’t. Your father was just as paranoid as you are when you talk about them. He didn’t know if there was anyone listening and always made sure it sounded like he was talking about his hunting friends so if anyone overheard they didn’t find him suspicious,” Mother explains.

Sighing, I hum, my mind whirling with so many different questions. I know Kieran knew my father from years ago when they crossed paths, but have I met my father’s other Fae friends?

“Why don’t you ask your mate when you see him next?” mother asks quietly. “I bet he has the knowledge of who your father was friends with, and if he doesn’t he can surely ask.”

“I think I will,” I say.

Are you going to ignore what I just said? Kieran asks.

The corner of my lips turn upward. If Kieran had it his way we would talk all the time so there would never be a moment of silence. I want the same, but being so far apart and having to concentrate on what is going on in front of me and what he is saying is hard, and I can’t do it without giving away that I’m occupied.

I was talking to my mother, I reply.

About me? I can hear the smirk in his voice.

Yes.

Hmm, do I want to know what you two were talking about? he asks.

Just how similar you are to my father with wanting revenge on people.

It won’t ever change. If you want me to go after someone, you let me know.

Thank you, I mumble.

Anything for you, Sweets. Now, get some rest.

CHAPTER 10