Page 170 of Kingdom of Death and Hope

She chuckles and I continue to take several steps back. Avira snaps her fingers and I’m held in place.

“Avira, you don’t have to do this. I have done nothing to you!” I beg and plead. “Just let me go and let’s pretend like nothing ever happened!”

I continue to try and move, but it’s like there is an invisible force around me, holding me in place.

“Done nothing?” Her head tilts to the side as she gets closer to me. “Oh, Adeline, you have done so much. Stealing my book of spells, falling in love with a Fae, and always being suspicious of me.”

She takes several steps toward me and I beg my body to allow me to move but it’s rooted in its spot. All I can do is watch in horror as Avira lifts her finger and gently runs it down my cheek.

The hairs on my body stand up straight as unease fills my body.

Kieran! I call through our bond, trying to get his attention.

Silence.

Kieran! Please find me! Kieran! Answer me! I continue, but it’s no use.

Where has Avira taken us? Why can’t I see anything but her?

“You should have just kept your head down and married the prince. You shouldn’t have gotten involved with the Fae and let them brainwash you,” Avira says sadly. “You should have just ignored them. But it’s too late now.”

“Please, Avira,” I manage to get out. “Just let me go and I won’t tell anyone a thing.”

Tsking, Avira shakes her head and looks at my thigh. “You know I can’t allow that. You have seen and heard too much and now you’re a liability. Who knows what you will do once I let you go. Will you go tell the other townspeople to try and get them to revolt against the royals? Will you get the Fae to bear arms and fight for their freedom?”

“I haven’t breathed a word of anything, you have to believe me. I can continue to keep my mouth shut,” I beg her. “I’ll keep my mouth shut, head down, and I’ll marry the prince next year. Just please let me go. I have done nothing wrong!”

Lie.

By that point the Fae will hopefully be free and the royal family, along with Avira, will be dead or locked away somewhere they won’t ever be able to get out of.

But will Avira ever be put somewhere where she can’t get out of or use her magic to harm people?

The thought terrifies me.

She hums and walks around me. “Too late. You had your chance and you decided to meddle in things, so now I have to get rid of you. The prince will find someone who will be happy to marry him and will follow every little word he says without complaint or hesitation.”

“Avira, please don’t,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes. “I don’t want to die right now. From now on I will follow every little word he says without any complaint or hesitation.”

Another lie.

She chuckles. “Lies. I know you are lying about this and everything else. You won’t be dying right now. I’m going to make sure your death is slow and painful. You are going to wish that you never took the book from me or fell in love with a Fae.”

“I’ll do anything. Please just don’t kill me. I’m not ready to die!” I scream.

Kieran! Please answer me! Please tell me that you can get to me and save me! Kieran! I scream through the bond.

“Anything?” Avira asks as she tilts her head to the side.

I manage to nod my head. Maybe if I can keep her stalling for some time then Kieran can come and save me.

Please, Kieran. Please if you can hear me then follow my voice and save me! I beg through the bond.

“Yes,” I whisper.

But I know that’s a lie.

I’m not ready to leave Kieran behind. We haven’t even been able to have a proper life together. It’s all had to be in secret, and I also don’t want to leave my mother behind. She shouldn’t lose two people she loves in less than a year.