Page 10 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown (Kingdom of Bellhollow #1)

M y mind is constantly on Kieran and what he said. Everything he said. It’s playing in my mind on repeat, trying to figure out the meaning behind all of it… If there was meaning.

Am I looking at it too much? Probably, but I can’t stop myself. He is a mystery and I have a pull toward him. Every time I think about him, my heart flutters and my hands get sweaty with anticipation, wondering if I’ll ever see him again.

I have to, right?

Kieran said he would be there if I needed anything, but what can he do? Did he have ulterior motives?

Sighing, I rub the clothes against the washboard and try to stop thinking about Keiran. But it’s hard when my whole body vibrates at the thought of him. I feel like I’ve known him my whole life even though I met him for the first time last night.

“Are you okay, Addie?” my mother asks as she rinses some of the clothes.

“Hmm?” I stop and look at her. “What did you say?”

“Are you okay? You’ve been so quiet and slower at your chores,” she points out.

“Sorry.” I start to rub the clothes again. “I’ve just been thinking about a lot. So much on my mind.”

“Thinking about what?” She goes back to rinsing out the clothes I just washed.

Do I tell her that I met a Fae man who makes me feel things I haven’t felt before? That he makes my heart flutter? Makes me feel special? Should I tell her I loved the feeling of his hands on me? How I feel a pull toward him, one I can’t explain but know it’s there?

I shake my head. I can’t. Not when I don’t know whether Kieran is playing me or not. I can’t risk her telling one of the guards and Kieran getting killed before I can ask any questions… if I go and see him again. I’m still trying to figure out if it’s smart for me to do that.

“About the winter and what we’re going to do.

I need to make a trip to Hellhollow for supplies before winter hits.

Once the snow comes, I won’t be able walk there, even though it’s the next town,” I explain.

“I’ve also been thinking about everything that needs to be done before the first snow and how we can get all of it done and maybe even more.

If I can get ahead, when the baby comes, I can help take care of you two. ”

I know my dad is going to be around, but I am also aware that he is going to have to go back out in the woods at some point during the winter to hunt. It’s his job after all, and he can’t just take off weeks on end, even in the winter.

All of it is true, but I haven’t given it that much thought. It’s been in the back of my mind, but my thoughts have been occupied by Kieran and his mesmerizing eyes and the mysterious aura around him. He’s everything I shouldn’t want, and yet I’ve found myself yearning for more of him.

“Everything is going to work out. I promise, Addie,” my mother gently says. “You don’t need to kill yourself over all of this. If some things don’t get done, then we’ll find time to complete them. Even if it’s after the baby comes.”

Guilt eats me as the lie settles in. She believes me. She actually believes my lie. But it is better this way. I don’t want her worrying about anything related to Kieran.

“I know it will be, but I can’t help it. You know that, Mother.” I hand her another piece of clothing. “It’s hard for me. I don’t want you to stress about anything.”

My mother stops what she’s doing and places her hand on top of mine. “I know you don’t, but I’ve been through this twice now. Everything is going to be okay, I promise.”

I sigh and nod. I so badly want to sit her down and tell her everything.

I want to tell someone about it—anyone—but I don’t have anyone to tell.

Skylar hates Fae, so she’s out of the question, and so does my sister, not that I talk to her much at all.

She’s off in the castle, doing who knows what for the king.

“I’ll need you the next two weeks as we prepare for the big market. We’ll be selling spices and clothing at this one,” my mother says. “Last time we sold out, and people still came by asking if we had anything. We have the same amount of inventory as we did last time, so I want to make more.”

I calculate what date that will put us at and hold my breath.

This big market is always just before the first snow of the year so people from other towns can come to ours and purchase items and still make it back to theirs in time.

I wouldn’t be able to go to the Hellhollow, since it takes a whole day to get there and back.

Mateo, who lives in the castle, can predict when the first snow will fall, and he is always right. I met him briefly when he was just a kid and before his powers came to be known. Once they realized he could predict the weather, they dragged him to the palace, and no one has ever seen him again.

Will I have enough time to get to the town and back?

“That’s okay,” I softly reply, trying to come up with something to say. “I’ll leave immediately after the market is done, so I don’t get caught in the snow.”

A shiver makes its way up my spine as I think about the last time I went to the town before the snow fell.

Last year, during the last hour of my walk, it started to snow, and with the freezing temperature, it wasn’t a good combination.

I almost froze to death, and I don’t want to experience that again.

My mother was terrified, trying to warm me up slowly so I didn’t lose any fingers or toes.

It was some of the worst pain I’ve ever felt.

“I have a jacket I can give you. The one I’ve been working on for the past couple of days to bring you more warmth,” my mother says.

I shake my head. “No, it’s okay. You should sell it, someone will pay good money for it.”

“We don’t need the money from that,” she quietly says.

“You don’t know that. I just…” I sigh. “I don’t need it. I’ll be fine. I’ll be back before the snow even starts. I have my jacket.”

There are several holes in it, but I’m not going to tell her that. It’s over six years old, and I desperately need a new one, but she’s about to give birth. It can wait a little longer.

“Don’t try to pull that on me.” Her voice hardens. “I’m your mother. I was your age at some point.”

I wince. “Sorry, mother. I really didn’t mean to insult you… I just didn’t want you to worry. If I leave right after the market and walk a little faster than normal, I should make it to the town by the time the store is closing, and I’ll leave right after to head back home.”

Normally, I leave before the market, but this year is different for various reasons.

“Everything is going to be fine,” I try to reassure my mother. “Trust me? I don’t need another jacket because I won’t get caught in the snow. I’ll be fine.”

My mother doesn’t say anything as she rinses the clothes in the now-soapy water.

“I need to get some more water,” I quietly say. “For you. I’ll be back in thirty minutes max.”

“Can you take two buckets?” my mother asks. “So we can finish faster and move on to something else.”

I nod and pick up the two empty buckets near the end of her station.

My father built a washing station for my mother before my older sister was born, and it had withstood over thirty-five years with minimal damage.

The only problem is it doesn’t have running water so I have to go to a stream in the forest to collect it.

Water from the well isn’t to be used for washing clothes.

It is one of the rules the higher-ups in the town made years and years ago.

If we all use the water for cleaning clothes, baths, washing dishes, drinking, and so many other things, we will be without it soon enough.

Some people go to a different stream closer to the town, but it was always so busy and you had to wait in line.

Why would I do that when I could easily walk to another stream and not wait? It gives me time to be in nature and think about things.

“Be careful. I’ll start washing the next batch and hanging up the clean ones while you’re gone,” my mother offers, slowly walking to where the clean clothes are.

“Don’t tire yourself out too much,” I reply.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and I look around, trying to find Kieran’s eyes. It has to be him. I only ever feel this way when I find his eyes. But as I search I can’t find Kieran but that doesn’t mean he isn’t there, hiding.

Brushing off the giddiness inside me, I continue to walk to the stream.

Normally, I only carry one bucket at a time since they get so heavy but my mom didn’t want that.

I could have argued, I probably should have, but I didn’t.

It is getting harder for her to stand on her feet for long periods of time.

No matter how much I tell her I can do the wash by myself so she can do something sitting down, she tells me no every time.

Sighing, I make my way through the forest and stop when I get in front of the stream, but I don’t bend down.

I take a second to breathe in the fresh air without any prying eyes.

There is something special about being alone for a couple of seconds, away from all the chatter of the townspeople.

A time when it’s just me and nature, no one else.

“It’s dangerous for you to be out in the forest alone, Sweets.” His voice is smooth and right next to my ear.

Gasping, I drop the buckets and turn around, but he is five feet away from me. How did his voice sound right next to my ear?

“Don’t be afraid,” he gently tells me. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’ve already told you that in many different ways, and I think me not harming you last time just shows that I’m truthful.”

“But you did threaten me.” I can’t help but say.

He tsks. “I didn’t threaten you. I merely told you it was dangerous to be out in the forest alone. What if you didn’t have me to protect you?”

“I didn’t have you several months ago or even years ago. What difference does it make now? I haven’t gotten hurt,” I point out, picking up both buckets, but I keep my eyes on him.

Kieran smiles. “Things are changing, Sweets.”