Page 154 of Kingdom of Death and Hope

I plop it in my mouth and sigh in content as the lemon and sweet taste bursts in my mouth.

“This is so good,” I mumble. “If I bring more ingredients for her, do you think she can make more?” I ask before I can stop myself.

Kieran chuckles. “I can ask her if you want, but I have a feeling she will say yes.”

“Perfect,” I say to myself and look at him. “I could get addicted to these very easily.”

“When the curse is broken you can have them made any time you want. We will always have a stock of them so you never run out,” Kieran replies.

Excitement runs through me and I can’t help but clap. “Now that is something to look forward to.”

“You aren’t looking forward to always being by my side? You aren’t looking forward to walking down the street with me while we hold hands?” he asks.

I gently slap his arm. “You know I am looking forward to that and more. I have so many things to look forward to but I’ve never tasted a candy like this and I want more. I want to be able to eat as many as I want in a day and not have to ration them.”

My mind is already thinking of only having one piece of candy every day or every other day when I get them from Kieran.

“Was this her favourite candy to make before the curse was placed?” I ask.

He nods. “She had several different ones she made, but everyone loved these and they would sell out if you weren’t fast enough.”

“Maybe when I bring the ingredients next she can make them but give them to the Fae that are here,” I suggest, looking away from him. “I bet you guys haven’t had it in forever and you should have something that you look forward to. A reminder of what is to come.”

“Sweets, you don’t have to do that.”

I hold my hands up and shake them. “But I want to. They have accepted me without even meeting me. They look out for me, even if they can’t do much, when I’m out in town. I want to give them something in return.”

Kieran cups my face and gives me a peck. “You are so sweet, Sweets,” he mumbles. “I have a feeling I’m going to be in trouble when the curse is broken.”

Gasping, I pull away from him. “What does that mean?”

Kieran chuckles and shakes his head. “It means I have a feeling you are going to buy a lot of candy and give it out to people. But once they find out you like this candy, they are going to buy sweets and give them to you as well.”

“I don’t want to do this if they feel like they are going to have to do it back.” I look down at my hands. “I just wanted to do something nice.”

“They aren’t going to do it because they feel like it but because they want to. The very brief moment my dad and mother were together, free, the Fae doted on my mother. They brought her candies and food. When they found out that my mother was craving a certain food while she was pregnant with me, they made sure that it never sold out and that there was always some during day and night so she could have one.”

“They sound so nice.”

I long for the day when we can all be free and help each other out without fear. To not be making ends meet and wondering when we can eat next.

“Soon, Sweets… Very soon everything is going to change,” Kieran whispers.

CHAPTER 16

“Mother, I want you to try this,” I say, holding out the other piece of lemon candy.

Kieran and I went back and forth for a while on who was going to have the last piece. I wanted him to have it so he could have something sweet, but he said the lady made it for me and only me.

“What is it? Where did you get it?” she asks.

“It’s candy and I got it from him. It’s so delicious.” I place the candy in her hand. “Go on… try it.”

Mother looks at it for several seconds before hesitantly putting it in her mouth.

“Oh, this is delicious,” she whispers, her eyes going wide.

“The next time I meet with him I’m going to bring the ingredients so he can have the lady make more,” I say, wiggling my eyebrows.