Page 17 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown (Kingdom of Bellhollow #1)

I just long to always have Kieran’s eyes with me.

I know if I pay someone to do it, they won’t be able to get it right.

Or if they do, it’s going to take several hours of me describing everything and asking for changes when they get it wrong.

I wish I could easily show it to someone so they could see what I am seeing and paint it, but I can’t.

Even if I could, given our current lifestyle, it would land me in trouble, and Kieran would be, too.

“Take some lessons. I bet Jo will teach you,” Skylar says.

“I don’t have an artistic bone in my body, like I said before. I’ve tried over the years, and I just can’t.” I sigh. “I wish for a lot of things but can’t do much of anything.”

“Like what?” Skylar asks.

“I want new clothes. I don’t need them, but I want one good-quality new dress that I can wear to special occasions,” I whisper toward the end. “You know everything I get are hand-me-downs or have been patched so many times it looks like thirty different dresses.”

Skylar stays silent, and I sigh.

“I know I’m thinking about things that will never happen unless I gain some unexpected wealth or save up for thirty years. They are just wishes and dreams. I know they will never come true, and I’m okay with that, but we can dream, can’t we?” I turn toward her and she nods.

“You could have those if you are with the prince,” Skylar whispers.

I glare at her. “You know how I feel about that. I don’t want it. Don’t bring it up again.”

She raises her hand and chuckles. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to strike a nerve.”

I take a deep breath and slowly let it out. There is no reason for me to snap at her, but I don’t want to talk about the prince or anyone related to him. I don’t want him to suddenly appear and ask me when I can start the lessons. I don’t want anyone to ask questions.

“No, it’s okay. I just don’t want to think about him,” I mumble toward the end. “It’s nothing to do with you.”

“I know you don’t want to be with him, but if you do marry him, you will get all those things and more. You would be living the best life,” Skylar points out.

“I would rather be poor for the rest of my life and love the person I spend the rest of my life with than marry someone rich and hate every second of it,” I grumble, irritated we haven’t let this subject go yet. “I don’t love the prince, and I know I never will.”

He wants to kill the Fae without good reason. I don’t want to be with someone like that and will do whatever I can to get away from it.

“We’ll talk about this later.” Skylar squeezes my shoulder. “I need to go back to the booth and help.”

Nodding, she turns and leaves me in the middle of the road. I look over at the booth where my mother is at and smile. She is sitting, waiting for things to start.

I still have some time.

I look back to my right and walk. People briefly look at me but quickly go back to what they were doing when I don’t stop at their booth. I would love to stop and buy something, but money is tight, and I don’t want to make it even tighter.

My eyes find a dark corner where two houses meet, and a small gap is visible.

Movement catches my eyes, and I stop, looking to see what it could have been.

Something is pulling me toward it, like the tug in my stomach before, beckoning me over there.

Taking a deep breath, I make sure no one is really watching me before going over there.

Everything drifts away as I turn the corner and see those beautiful cobalt blue eyes staring at me.

“Kieran,” I whisper.

He smiles down at me and touches my hand, sparks flying across it like it’s done so many times before. My eyebrows pull together as I grip his hand, not wanting him to let go.

“Why are there sparks whenever we touch?” I quietly say, not wanting to bring any attention to us.

If they find out I was talking to him, let alone touching him, it would be over.

I don’t know what they would do to me, but I know it won’t be good for Kieran.

They would likely attack him and may put him to death for touching a human, something I really don’t want.

Not when he has too many answers that I want and when I have a connection with him I can’t explain.

“We are connected and are meant to be together forever.” He bends down to look at me.

I shake my head, not believing it. “No, that can’t be possible. You are Fae, and I’m human.”

There is no way we are meant to be together. Has he just taken an interest in me and wants to be with me, and will say anything to get that?

“I told you before we got our magic taken that humans and Fae were together,” he gently says. “Some got married and had kids. I can introduce you to some half-Fae if you want. Show you that it is possible.”

“It can’t happen. Even if we were really meant to be together, we can’t be. There isn’t any law, but if they found out, they would kill you and do who knows what to me. I could be banished to Tarravega,” I point out, and shudder at the thought of being banished.

That is where all the criminals are sent when they are caught. Some are killed, but some live a life in the banished realm where they could die at any point. I wouldn’t survive a day there.

“We are meant to be together. Have you felt these sparks with anyone else?” he asks.

I shake my head. “That could be your magic trying to trick me,” I mumble.

“Sweets, I would never use my magic to manipulate you. You are too precious to me. I would cut my own hand off before I laid one on you.” He cups my face with his warm hands. “I know it’s going to be hard for you to believe, but I will get you to believe me, even if it takes a lifetime.”

Warmth floods my heart, and I lean into his hand, loving the way the sparks zip across my skin.

“Fae and humans used to live in peace. We always wanted it when humans came into our realm for sanctuary. We didn’t turn you away but built you homes so you could live on our land,” he explains.

“It wasn’t until the witch’s sister died that everything changed, like I told you before.

That was the turning point, and mistakes happened.

My father made a mistake and deeply regretted it, but no one blamed him, not even my mother. ”

His father? Who was his father? What mistake did he make?

With every new piece of information Kieran gives me, I end up with more questions than answers.

New information pops up that I can’t ask anyone since they weren’t alive during that time to see if it is true or not.

The only person I can ask is Kieran and I don’t even know if I can trust him fully with what he tells me.

“Wait,” I whisper, my eyes going wide as I stare at Kieran. “Your father made a mistake?”

He nods and stares at me, letting my mind whirl.

“That means…” I trail off.

“Yes?”

“That means you’re the High Lord of the Fae,” I state in utter shock.

How have I managed to catch the eye of the High Lord? Why do I feel like I have a connection with him? And why didn’t he tell me in the beginning who he was?

“Yes, I am, but that doesn’t change who I am to you.” He keeps his hands on my face as I try to get out.

By now, Kieran is kneeling on the ground, but he’s still taller than I am.

“No matter what or who I am, I am still your mate and will always be. That is what comes first, and then my title for you,” he gently says. “I want you to think about everything you have seen. I want you to really think about what I’ve told you, and we’ll talk again tomorrow.”

I shake my head and pull away. “I may not be home,” I mumble. I don’t know why I told him that. “I’ve got to go to Hellhollow for some supplies before the heavy snow comes.”

Worry flashes across his face, and I sigh.

“I’ll be fine. I do this every year.” I take another step back as I leave out what happened last year. I don’t need reminding of that before I go on the same trip.

“Be safe and think about everything I’ve said. We’ll talk soon.” He stands to his full height.

“Wait!” I slightly raise my voice.

“Yes?” He turns toward me, a smile blossoming his face. “Do you want to make out right here and now? Have you changed your mind and want me to push you up against the wall and kiss you? Do you want to feel my body against yours?”

My cheeks warm at the thought of him pushing me up against the wall and kissing me. Agreement is on the tip of my tongue as I stare at him.

“I think you do,” he whispers, his face mere inches from mine now. “You want me to do all that. One day,” he promises. “One day, I will be able to do all of that and more for you. I will be able to show you just how much you mean to me and everything I want to do with you.”

My breathing picks up with every word he says. My body gets all hot and bothered, thinking about what he would do to me if there were no rules against Fae and humans interacting.

“Stop,” I choke out, but I don’t want him to stop.

I want him to continue to tell me everything he wants to do with me.

Kieran smirks. “I’ll stop for now, but don’t expect it next time.”

Closing my eyes for a brief second, I take a deep breath and calm my racing mind and body.

“What did you want to ask me?” He pulls his face an inch away, but I move back, not wanting to be apart from him.

A soft smile spread across his face.

Breathtaking.

“What did your father do?” I ask.

The smile disappears from his face. “He was the one who caught the attention of the witch’s sister.”

“Oh,” I whisper. “I’m so?—”

He gently places his finger across my lips, silencing me. “You don’t need to be sorry. It hurts talking about it, but I wanted you to know.”

Kieran pulls away and stands to his full height once again.

“Thank you?” I hesitantly say.

“Anything for you,” he mumbles. “Now, go back to your mother's booth.”

Nodding, I turn around and head back, not stopping for anyone or looking up to catch anyone’s attention. My mind is whirling with all the new information. He’s the High Lord of the Fae, the most important person of their kind, and I caught his attention. We feel a connection together.

“There you are.” My mother smiles. “I was about to get Skylar to go look for you.”

“Sorry, I’m here.” I get behind the booth.

I turn to my mother before turning away, wanting to ask her questions, but not knowing if I should. Would she suspect anything if I asked a question?

“Spit it out,” my mother finally says.

Sighing, I look at her. “Are the tales true?” I whisper, not wanting anyone to overhear us. The street is so loud and busy that I doubt they will.

“Is what true?” She fully turns to me.

“About the Fae being cruel and rude?” I blurt before I can stop myself.

“What has gotten into you? Why do you want to know?” She looks at me oddly.

I shrug. “I’m curious. We are taught and told they are cruel, but I haven’t seen anything to show that they are.”

She sighs. “I don’t know. I wasn’t alive during that time period. There are always two sides to every story. One is the Fae wanted control while we wanted peace, and the other is we lived in peace until the king got greedy and decided to take over.”

“What do you?—”

“We shouldn’t talk about this here. All that matters is we are safe.” She gives me a pointed look and turns to the waiting customers, selling our spices and clothes.