Page 89 of Kingdom of Death and Hope

“Everything is going to be okay. You will be with me the whole time.”

CHAPTER 31

Nerves run through my body as my mother and I stand in front of the main doors. Are we really going to go outside and talk to everyone? I don’t know if I can do this.

Everyone will be looking at us, asking questions, and it may get ugly.

No.

I can’t think like that. They know me and my mother. They have known us our whole lives and we have never done anything wrong.

“Everything is going to be okay,” Mother says. “I’m right here. Let me do all the talking.”

“No,” I whisper.

“Adeline, let me. I have known them for longer and they trust me. We’ve all helped each other out in life so let me do the talking,” she says. “If they ask you a question then you can answer it.”

I look over my shoulder at Kieran and he nods.

Do as she says, he says through the bond.

“If you need to sit down you just let me know and we’ll get you a chair.” Mother pats me on the arm. “The first thing I’m going to explain is that you were hurt and lost a lot of blood so they know that you aren’t well.”

“You’re going to tell them about the witch?” I ask. “How is everyone going to react to that?”

Everyone thinks Avira is still part of our family.

“Everyone has always known there was a witch among us. We knew that she placed a curse on the Fae but no one ever knew who,” she explains. “I’m not going to say who the witch is, not until we can get whatever spell she placed on the people away.”

Nodding, I grab her hand and give it a little squeeze.

“Ready?” Elias asks as he stands at the door.

“Wait,” I quickly say and look back at Kieran. “What happened to Henry? Where is he?”

The last time I saw him was when we came into the palace and Avira showed up.

“Is he okay?” I ask when Kieran doesn’t say anything.

“He was found unconscious when we got here. He has a concussion, and a broken leg,” Elias says before Kieran can respond.

“He is being treated by one of the Fae doctors and is looking like he will get better in a month or so. He can’t put any weight on his leg but Zahra is taking care of him,” Kieran explains.

“The first thing he asked about when he woke up was where you were,” Elias chuckles. “Oh, Zahra was mad.”

“Does she hate me?” I ask.

Kieran shakes his head. “No, she doesn’t.”

That is the last thing I want to happen. There is no way I am trying to steal her man.

I already have mine.

“Does she blame me for what happened to him?” I whisper.

Kieran walks over to me and cups my face with his hands. “She is not mad at you and she does not blame you for what happened. She knows Avira is at fault and that is who she blames.”

Nodding, I take a deep breath.