Page 37 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown (Kingdom of Bellhollow #1)

W orry churns through me as I step out of the house.

The prince and his men are back in town.

It is clear from the way the guards are walking in the town.

Why were the guards searching through the forest yesterday?

I can’t help but worry about Kieran and his friends, his people.

Are they all right? Did something happen to them?

I figure if something happened to them it would be spreading across the town like wildfire and I haven’t heard a thing. My eyes move across the Fae, trying to find any familiar faces, but I don’t see any of them.

“Adeline.” Prince Archie raises his voice from afar.

I suck in a breath and turn around quickly. Maybe he didn’t see me and was just calling my name to try and find me. But when I feel a hand on my shoulder, I know it’s not true.

Shit.

“Did you not hear me call you?” Prince Archie asks.

I quickly turn around and bow before standing tall. “I’m so sorry. I was lost in thought and didn’t hear you. I’ve had a busy morning.”

Maybe that will deter him from wanting to talk to me longer than he should.

But deep down, I have a feeling that he is going to take as much time as he wants, no matter if I am busy or not.

I take a deep breath and calm myself before I say something to Prince Archie and regret it. Nothing can go wrong right now.

Prince Archie eyes me, and I hold my breath in anticipation. I hope I was convincing enough that he won’t think twice about why I turned and started to walk away.

“Really?” he asks.

“Yes, Prince Archie. I would never intentionally ignore you. I’ve got several errands I need to run for my mother,” I explain in an even tone.

I don’t want to speak too fast and have him suspect that I’m trying to save face.

What would he do if he found out I ignored him on purpose?

Would he hurt everyone I loved or would he chain me to the stand and whip me like he does to so many Fae?

I’ve only seen a handful of humans getting whipped but it’s not very common.

“Don’t let it happen again.” He looks at me in disgust. “If it happens again, I might think you are doing it on purpose, and we wouldn’t want that, would we?”

I shake my head. “No, we wouldn’t. It won’t happen again, promise.”

Clenching my jaw, I look away for a couple of seconds to regain my composure before looking at him.

“Is that all? I do have some very important errands to run for my mother. Once it gets dark, the temperatures drop and the snow gets worse,” I kindly say. “I don’t mean to rush you, but I want to get to the shops before they start to close.”

Prince Archie sighs and folds his arms over his chest. Shit. Did I say something wrong? Should I have kept my mouth shut and just missed all the shops?

“I would like to talk to you and have dinner again,” he says. “A long dinner together.”

People walk by us, staring and not even trying to hide it. Great. Now they are going to have other things to talk about this week. I was hoping we had gotten over this.

“Could we walk together while I gather the supplies I need?” I ask and hold my breath.

Prince Archie looks visibly annoyed as he stares at me before sighing. “Walk.”

Taking a shaky breath in, I start to head toward the first shop. The closer we get, the more nervous I become. My palms start to sweat, and I quickly wipe them on my dress.

“Adeline! What can I do for you? Do you need more thread for your mother?” The older lady smiles but quickly bows. “Prince Archie. I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there. I’m honored to have you stop by.”

I hope this is not how it’s going to be every time I stop at a shop today. It’s going to get exhausting, and I may just give up.

Prince Archie is ruining everything.

“Hello. Carry on like normal.” Prince Archie waves his hand in the air.

“Could I get some more white and black thread?” I ask. “The same amount as last time, please.”

“You went through this one faster than the last time. Trying to get everything done before the baby comes?” the shop owner chuckles.

“Yes, we are. Trying, but I don’t know how well it’s going.” I smile.

“Well, if you need anything, you let me know. Your mother has done so much for me over the years, and I would love to repay her for everything. A lot of us would.” She hands me the thread, and I give her the money.

“I will let her know. Thank you,” I reply before leaving the shop.

Prince Archie and I walk several feet before he speaks up.

“I would like for you to have dinner with me in the palace,” Prince Archie declares.

I don’t look at him. How am I going to get out of this? I am not comfortable enough to eat with him and his father.

“Adeline?” he prompts me.

“Sorry, but I’m really not comfortable with that idea because I’ve only had one lesson and I was terrible at it.

I bet you heard how many times Hilga had to strike my hand,” I rush out.

“I don’t want to make a fool of myself or be displeasing.

If I could have another two months to be able to practice and have more lessons, I would really appreciate it. ”

Prince Archie stops walking, and I halt next to him. He searches my face, and my stomach sinks. He isn’t going to let me have that extra time.

“Are you trying to get out of it?” he asks. “First, ignoring me, and second, trying to get out of dinner. It’s almost like you don’t want to be near me.”

I shake my head. “I promise I’m not trying to get out of it. I’ve only had one lesson and I don’t feel like I am good enough to eat in front of you or your father. I don’t want to be an embarrassment. I want to make a good impression and I think two more months would be enough time for me.”

Sure, I am trying to get out of it, but there is also some truth behind it. One lesson is not enough for me to be able to eat in front of Prince Archie and the king. No way.

Prince Archie nods. “All right. I’ll ask you again in two months to see how you are progressing. I expect you to be improving with every lesson. I will be asking Hilga for reports after each session.”

Now I just need to learn a little with each lesson, but still not be good enough to eat in front of him and the king in two months. A balance that I will have to play with very carefully.

“All right,” I reply as I feel Kieran’s eyes on me.

I quickly turn my head and catch his eyes before looking away and back at the prince. But suck in a breath when Prince Archie glares at Kieran.

“Guards! Grab him!” Prince Archie yells and points to Kieran.

Gasping, I take a step forward, but Kieran shakes his head. Shit. I shouldn’t have looked over. I shouldn’t have. I knew better with the prince right next to me. How could I be so foolish?

Two guards bring Kieran over, and it takes everything inside of me not to beg and ask Prince Archie to let him go, to tell him that Kieran has done nothing wrong. But I stay silent and don’t look at Kieran.

“You are to get whipped for looking at Adeline,” Prince Archie declares.

I take another step forward and look at Kieran this time, tears pooling in my eyes as I stare at him. But he just stares at me.

No. Do not get in the way. Kieran’s voice fills my head.

I close my eyes and take several deep breaths, trying to calm myself.

Don’t react. Do not react. But everything in me wants to tell the prince not to do this, that he didn’t do anything and doesn’t deserve it.

But Kieran told me not to, and I shouldn’t.

I know I shouldn’t since I could get into major trouble and put everyone in my life in danger. It’s not only I who will get hurt.

“Twenty lashes and everyone is to watch, Fae and human,” Prince Archie yells.

I take a step back, but I run into a figure. Looking behind me, I see the same guard who walked me to the gates from the palace after my lesson standing right behind me.

“You aren’t going anywhere,” he says. “The prince said everyone here is to watch and that includes you, especially you. The Fae looked at you, and he is going to get punished. They need to know humans won’t walk away, that they will stay and watch.”

But everything in me wants to leave and not come back. I don’t want to watch him be punished for just looking at me. Am I going to feel his pain like he feels my emotions?

The guard grips my arm and starts dragging me toward the center of the town where they whip people.

“Please,” I silently beg. “I don’t like violence. Please just let me slip by and get out of here before it starts.”

“No,” he snaps. “You will be watching, and there is nothing you can do about it. Now, look and watch.”

I hesitantly turn my head toward the center of the town to see Kieran getting chained to the pole.

He’s on his knees, his bare back fully on display.

Sucking in a breath, I can’t tear my eyes away from the scars littering his back.

So many raised scars, like he’s gone through this a thousand times already.

“You are all here today because this Fae ,” he spits. “This Fae dared to look too long at one of you, and he must be punished for it. Twenty lashes to the back.”

My hands shoot up to my mouth as I watch a muscular man walk up to Kieran with a whip. Is he really going to be whipping Kieran?

I watch in horror as the burly man brings down the whip on Kieran’s back, cutting into his skin and dragging it across, taking some flesh with it.

Tears stream down my face as the man continues to whip Kieran’s back.

Grunts from Kieran fill the center of the town, along with the cracking of the whip but nothing else.

I quickly turn and try to get past the guard, but his hands grip my shoulders, keeping me in place.

“You are to stay and watch,” he growls. “Unless you want to be placed in the center as well and whipped.”

He turns me around right as the whip lands on Kieran’s back once again. Gasping, I can’t take my eyes off him as several more land on him. Tears pool in my eyes as I continue to watch. Inside, I’m begging myself to stop watching, to close my eyes and look away from this cruelty, but I can’t.

My eyes are fixed on Kieran, as if he is my lifeline.

I search his face, hoping for him to look at me, but he keeps his head down. I want him to look at me, so I know he’s okay. I can’t feel any of the emotions going through him. Why? Why can’t I feel the pain he is going through? Has he somehow blocked his emotions from me?

Tears fill my eyes as the whip lands on his back several more times. Blood is running down his back and onto the cobblestone road.

“It’s almost done,” the guard says. “Just a couple more.”

I don’t try to blink away the tears as the man whipping Kieran goes harder on the last couple. My heart breaks for Kieran, and all I want to do is run up to him and take care of everything. I want to make sure afterward that he gets the best care, that he’ll heal up in no time.

“Are you crying for the Fae?” Prince Archie spits as he stands right next to me.

I shake my head, my heart breaking at what I’m about to say. “No, I don’t care anything for him. I’m just not used to violence and don’t like the sight of it.”

Wiping the tears away from my face, I look at Kieran’s, but I can’t see it very well. His shoulders are covering most of his face.

“Good. They do not deserve our pity. I will be back soon,” Prince Archie says, pulling my attention from Kieran. “I will be in contact.”

I bow before standing tall and looking at Kieran when the prince and his guards walk away.

The man whipping Kieran unties his hands before walking away.

I stand there, staring at Kieran as he slowly gets up, his whole body stiff.

Kieran turns away, never looking at me as he goes back to his people, and my heart breaks a little.