Page 213 of Kingdom of Death and Hope

“Yes, we can.”

“You can carry me until then,” I mumble and snuggle into his chest, ignoring the feeling of people’s eyes on me.

I have no doubt that people are going to be talking about it. They were already talking about how Kieran and I got into a fight.

Nothing will ever be kept a secret here. Not unless we do it in a private room.

His chest vibrates as he laughs. “Your wish is my command.”

It doesn’t take us long to get back to the palace and into our room.

“Will it always be like this?” I ask as he sets me down on the bed.

“Like what?” Kieran looks at me as he pulls up a chair to sit in front of me.

“Them knowing that we got into a fight. Them knowing that something is going on between us. Will we not have any privacy?” I fidget with my hands as I wait for his answer.

“Most likely yes… with us walking off and our mood changing then they will most likely know that we got into an argument,” Kieran replies. “But whenever we do we can go to a certain spot so people don’t see us and they won’t be able to tell.”

I hum in agreement. Maybe that would be for the best. I don’t want them to know every time we get into an argument. Then I would never want to get into an argument again and be walking on eggshells the rest of our lives with the conversations we have together.

“Everything is going to work out,” he whispers. “We’ll get used to it and we will find out different ways to hide it from them so they don’t know. But right now it seems like they are keeping tabs on us because in a way they are.”

“Why?” I mumble.

“Because the curse is broken. Because we are finally free to be ourselves and you and I are the High Lord and Lady. We are going to rule over them and they are worried that us getting into arguments in the beginning will put a strain on everything, and they are worried we might not make it through.”

“You know we will.” I give him a knowing look.

“We do but they don’t. We haven’t said anything about how we are doing and that we are going to stay together no matter what. They are in the dark and are just worried about us. But we don’t have to worry about anything,” Kieran says. “We are just going to have to show them that they don’t have anything to be worried about.”

“Easier said than done.” I chuckle. “I’m joking. We don’t get into many arguments anyway. So I think it will be easy if we just walk around and be ourselves.”

Kieran kisses the side of my head. “Exactly. And when we talk to them they’ll realize just how much we love each other.”

“I love you,” I whisper as I look up at him.

“I love you too.” He gives me a quick peck on the lips.

We sit on the bed in silence for several minutes as we just stare at each other. Having the freedom to just do this is amazing, not having to worry about always being on guard in case someone walks by us.

“I’m sorry for not listening to you fully and trusting you,” he says after some time. “I just didn’t want you to go through anything that you might regret. I don’t want you to have blood on your hands and have nightmares after. To take a life… there are consequences after. You aren’t the same.”

“I know.”

“And I’m worried that you won’t actually be able to do it and she will attack you. You weren’t able to kill a deer,” he points out.

Sighing, I nod. “I know but this is the only way. If it’s what I have to do in order to get rid of her then I’m willing to do it. And I don’t think I will be able to sleep properly for the rest of my life if I don’t do it.”

Kieran cups my face and gently rubs his thumb across my cheek all while staring into my eyes. “Are you sure?”

I nod. “I’m sure and it’s the only way she is going to fully die.”

“We can keep her alive and in a cell hundreds of feet below the ground, heavily guarded.”

“Kieran,” I whisper. “I won’t be able to rest if I know she is still alive. I’m always going to be looking over my shoulder to see if she has escaped or asking the guards if she is still down there. I don’t want to live like that. I don’t want our future kids to live like that.”

Kieran sighs. “I wish there was another way.”