Page 16 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown (Kingdom of Bellhollow #1)

“ C ome on, Adeline.” Mother raises her voice. “We need to get to our booth so we can set up.”

I plaster a smile on my face and look at her. “Sorry, I got lost in my thoughts.”

I’ve been doing that recently. Ever since I last saw Kieran, my mind has been wandering to him at all moments. He never gave me the real definition of what a mate is. I know we have a bond, I can feel it when I’m near him, but what could it be?

I want to walk into the forest and somehow demand to speak with him so I can make him answer. But I haven’t been able to get away to go there. The walks I’ve managed to take are small and just in the square. Every second is spent prepping for this big market before the first snow comes.

I also want to know how he still has some magical ability. I haven’t seen any of the Fae display their magic, yet he’s done it several times with me. We are taught that all their magic was taken away.

“Bring the basket of clothes, and I’ll grab some spices,” my mother yells. “Then we’ll have a talk about you zoning out so much while we set up.”

Holding my groan in, I walk over to the basket of clothes and lift it. Hopefully, I can get out of the talk because I don’t know what to say that she will believe. I take a deep breath and walk out of the house and to our stand. Today is going to be a long day, and I’m not looking forward to it.

“Come on, Adeline. We don’t have all day,” my mother scolds me. “What has gotten into you?”

“Sorry, Mother. I don’t mean to be in my head. I’ve just missed being out in the forest,” I lie a little. I do miss the forest, but that isn’t the whole reason.

She sighs and places her hand on my shoulder. “I know you do, and I know it’s going to be hard during the winter, but you can’t be in your head today. We’ve got a busy day ahead of us. You can think about it later when we are done and you are on your way to Hellhollow.”

I help with the stand in record time, trying to make up for the time we have lost with me thinking about Kieran. I need to get a hold on myself and not think about him so much, but it’s hard when he makes me feel so many things.

“I’m going to go look around the market and inform the people about our spices and clothes.” I look at my mother. “Is that okay?”

“Yes, go,” she dismisses me.

After walking around our booth, I take a left, going down the long stretch of booths set up on either side. I love this day where everyone is selling stuff, but I also hate it. It’s stressful, especially this year with my mother being pregnant and trying to get as much money as we can.

Several people greet me as I walk by their booth, looking at what they’re selling and whether we need any of it.

I can’t help but look past the booths to where the Fae are working, trying to find Kieran in the mix.

I want to go over there and ask if any of them know him but we aren’t allowed to do that.

There is no law saying humans and Fae can’t talk to each other, but it’s frowned upon.

People who openly converse with Fae are normally taken by the guards to the king’s palace.

Some are never seen again. What happens to them?

I don’t know. I think they get killed for fraternizing with the enemy, but I have no evidence of it.

Just like I have no evidence that what they are telling us is true, or that what Kieran told me the other day was true. But I believe Kieran more than the king and the prince. He showed me something when he touched my temples. Said he couldn’t lie when he was showing memories.

Everything I was taught growing up all seems like a lie when I really look at it and think for myself. Things don’t add up, but most people don’t have their own thoughts. They just want to live a peaceful life, and they have it right now, even if it’s hard at times.

“How are you doing, Adeline?” Agnes asks as I walk by her booth.

“Good, and you?” I stop, inspecting her fruit.

It all looks absolutely delicious, but fresh fruit is expensive. I save that for my mother when she is craving it. Maybe one day, when I’m married or living in an unmarried house, I’ll be able to buy some fruit for myself and enjoy it. Until then, my mother will.

“Good. Has the prince come to see you recently?” Agnes wiggles her eyebrows.

I should have known she doesn’t really want to talk to me, but is looking for gossip to tell everyone in town. It all boils down to her wanting to be popular and be in the know. She doesn’t care about the truth.

I shake my head. “No, he hasn’t, and before you ask, I don’t know when he is going to visit again. He doesn’t tell me that kind of thing.”

Agnes opens her mouth to say something when Skylar pops in front of me.

“Come on, I need to tell you something,” Skylar announces, dragging me away. “I hope you don’t mind, Agnes!”

“Thank you for getting me away,” I say when we are finally far enough away.

The hairs on the back of my neck stand on end, and I look around, trying to find Kieran’s eyes. I can feel him staring at me, and I’m desperate to look into his beautiful eyes and feel the sense of calmness wash over me.

“Are you okay?” Skylar asks. “I saw her start talking to you, and I knew I needed to get to you quickly before she could ask too many questions.”

“Yeah, I’m fine thanks to you saving me. I didn’t know how I was going to get out of that without being rude to her.” I sigh and look around again.

I can’t feel Kieran’s presence, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t somewhere around here. Just one look to see if he is fine and I’ll be okay. But the longer I search, the more I realize I’m not going to find him.

“Are you sure?” Skylar worries. “What are you looking for?”

Taking a deep breath, I look at her. “I thought I saw someone I knew, but I must be mistaken. It could just be my imagination as well. I’m exhausted, and I have to make my way toward Hellhollow after I help mother clean up.”

Skylar has worry in her eyes. “You do know it’s going to be snowing at some point tomorrow?”

I clench my jaw. “Yes, I do. But everything is going to be fine. I’m leaving right after the market today, and I’m not going to stop until I get there. And after I buy everything I need, I won’t stop either. I’m going straight home so I can hopefully beat the snow or not be in it long.”

It is a concern of mine, one I’ve been thinking about when my mind hasn’t been on Kieran.

Last year, I almost didn’t make it home, but it was better it me than my mother.

I don’t know how my dad would have coped with her dying while he was gone.

He would be sad if I were gone, but Mother is the love of his life.

“Are you sure?” Skylar breaks me out of my thoughts. “Can it wait until after the snow?”

Shaking my head, I take a deep breath and hold my groan in.

“It can’t. I wish it could, but I’ve put it off.

We need the spices and fabric for the winter so we can get a head start on some things for the next market.

It might just be me selling that day. It depends on how well my mother is after the baby is born. ”

So many things are up in the air right now and it is stressing me out.

I wanted to go earlier this month, but I knew with the market so close I wouldn’t be able to get away for an entire day.

Mother needed all the help she could get to get everything done.

Not when she gets more tired with each passing day as she grows closer to her due date.

“Do you want me to come along?” Skylar inquires as we walk closer to my booth.

“No, you don’t need to do that. I know you have things around here you need to get done after the market. I’ll be fine on my own as long as I leave after I get everything we haven’t sold packed away,” I say, faking happiness in my voice.

I’m trying to stay positive that I’ll make it to the other town, get everything I need, and get back to Bellhollow before the major snow starts to fall.

I can’t think of the possibilities of it snowing earlier and getting caught in it.

I can’t. Not when so much is riding on me getting everything we need.

“Are you sure?” She gives me a doubtful look. “I can totally not work this afternoon, so I can keep you company.”

I nod. “I’m sure. It won’t just be tonight. We won’t get back until really late or early tomorrow morning, and you won’t want to go to work exhausted. You also can’t afford not to go into work tomorrow or today.”

She relies on her wages, and I would feel guilty if she comes with me and loses all that money. I don’t want to make life harder on her.

“Promise if it starts to snow before you leave that you’ll stay the night in the town and make your journey home tomorrow?” Skylar grabs my shoulder and makes me face her. “Promise me. I don’t want you to die.”

Even if I stay the night in the town, the next morning will probably be worse. While I’ll have the sun to keep me a little warmer, the snow will be even worse than if I leave when it starts to snow.

“Adeline,” she scolds. “Promise me you’ll stay the night if it starts to snow.

Don’t take any chances while it’s nighttime.

You know fewer people travel at night during this time, and I don’t want you to get hurt or not make it far and get stuck and die.

Go in the daytime if it starts to snow before you leave.

Your mother will understand if you stay the night. ”

“Okay, fine. If it starts to snow a lot before I make the journey back, I won’t go,” I finally say, not really promising anything.

Looking over to my right, I see some beautiful artwork and I stare in admiration.

“I wish I could paint,” I change the subject. “I really want to be able to paint like that, but I have no artistic skill in my body.”