Page 15 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown (Kingdom of Bellhollow #1)

“The witch Prince Archie was talking about is powerful, and she lived peacefully with us.” Kieran looks off in the distance.

“What happened?” I ask.

For some reason, I trust and believe he is going to tell me the truth about what really happened and won’t lie. Maybe it’s foolish of me, but the king and prince are lying to us daily about things.

“The witch had a sister, but her sister was only half mortal, half witch. People everywhere knew it, but it didn’t bother anyone,” Kieran explains.

I knew there was a witch, but I didn’t think she was still alive or that she had a sister.

“Well, her sister loved a Fae all those years ago, but he didn’t feel the same way. He had a mate who he loved and adored, but her sister didn’t accept it. She got between the two mates and ended up dying.” Kieran closes his eyes and takes several deep breaths. “That was when peace ended.”

I open and close my mouth several times. I have never heard this side of the story. Why are they keeping this a secret?

“And then?” I ask. “How did that break the peace? What happened next?”

“So eager.” He smiles, looking at me with such fondness. “Most people don’t want to know the truth, and yet here you are, so eager to know what really happened all those years ago.”

I look away, taking a breath in.

“It’s not a bad thing,” he gently encourages and I look up at him. “It’s a good thing you want to know the truth. I will gladly tell you everything you want to know… over time.”

“Thank you,” I whisper, lost in his eyes.

We sit in silence for a couple of minutes as Kieran looks off into the forest.

“Is it hard living here?” I ask before he can continue on with the story. “Hard living here when you used to roam the streets free?”

He gives me a small smile. “Sometimes it is,” he honestly says. “Sometimes, I wish I could go back in time before the spell and live my life, but then I wouldn’t have met you.”

Blushing, I look at my hands in my lap. I wasn’t expecting him to say that.

“Recently, I haven’t wished I could go back in time, not since I met you. I never thought I would meet my mate, but you’re here, sitting right in front of me,” he gently whispers like I’m going to disappear in front of him in the blink of an eye.

“You probably would have met me if the spell wasn’t placed on you,” I brush it off.

“I don’t think I would have. So much has changed, and so many new people are here.

Not many people have married Fae; no one has since the spell was placed on us.

Things would have been different if humans had married Fae.

Your mother could have married a Fae and you wouldn’t be here,” he points out.

“Fae and humans got married?” I whisper, looking at him with wide eyes.

I heard rumors, but I didn’t think it was true. I figured it was one of those instances where Fae bought humans to have kids with, not that they were willing.

“Yes, they did. It wasn’t as common, but some people fell in love and did.” He smiles. “Now, back to how the spell was cast on us.”

“Yes, please tell me. The guards will be back soon to grab the basket and blanket.” I lean forward, waiting for him to tell me the rest of the story.

I don’t want our time to be cut short, but I know it’s going to. Time has already passed since Prince Archie left, and I know we don’t have much more left. I wish they weren’t slaves so I could talk to him freely, but if they weren’t, we wouldn’t be in this situation.

“Well, the witch loved her sister so much,” Kieran explains.

“So much that when she died, the witch wanted revenge, and she got it. She plotted hard and got the king to fall for her spell. Masked herself as his mate, and when he was there, he stepped into her hold and she cast a spell on him to take away all the Fae magic. Didn’t tell anyone how to break the curse. ”

My heart breaks as I look at him. “Mate?” I ask.

Kieran has said it several times, and I don’t know what it means.

I tried going to the library one night to see if there was a description of it written in the dictionary, but there was nothing of the sort.

Is there another name for it that I don’t know?

Is it just a made-up word he’s using to confuse me?

“If you don’t believe what I said, go to the library. They should be keeping a detailed account of what really happened. While they won’t want the public to know, they have to keep a detailed account for the kings.” Kieran ignores my question.

“I wish, but they keep that section under lock and key,” I sadly say. “No one is allowed to get near it or ask for anything.”

I haven’t asked to see it, but the year before, someone did, and they ended up getting banished to Tarravega. That had set everything in place to prevent people from asking about anything relating to it. Everyone just went on with their days and pretended like nothing happened.

Creepy.

Something is definitely wrong with what they are telling us, but I already knew that. Anyone with ears or eyes could hear or see that the authorities are keeping something from us.

“Come see me again and I’ll show you more.” Kieran stands. “We better get going or else the guard is going to ask questions and lock me up.”

Rising, I crane my neck to see his face. “Mate. What does that mean?” I ask. “And how do you still have power and are able to show me everything?”

He smiles. “The witch took almost everything, but she didn’t take away all of it. She did make our wings disappear. I can feel them, but I can’t use them.”

I grow frustrated as he continues to not answer my question. Kieran turns to leave, but I grab his wrist, keeping him from fully turning. He’d have no problem getting out of it, but he stops and looks at me.

“Mate. What does it mean?” I ask.

He cups my face with his hands, and I lean into his right one, loving how his skin feels against mine. “We are mates. We share a bond with each other,” is all he says before he walks away, leaving me in the forest by myself.