Page 42 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown (Kingdom of Bellhollow #1)

I open and close my mouth several times, not believing what I’m hearing.

“Murder?” I whisper.

“Yes, murder, and hear me out on this,” Kieran says again.

“Why would you think murder?” I ask. “Flynn gave no indication that it was anything but an accident. Going hunting in the forest is dangerous. My father told me all about it when he was teaching me how to shoot with a bow.”

Kieran points a finger at me. “That.”

I look at Kieran, confused and overwhelmed with everything going on. He can’t believe that my father was murdered, and Flynn didn’t tell my mother or me. Why would he keep that a secret?

“You heard the prince say he would kill your father if you started to learn to hunt with a bow,” Kieran gently says.

My mouth falls open as I stare at him. No. The prince couldn’t have possibly known that I was learning how to shoot with a bow. I kept it a secret and only went out when no one was looking or there were few guards in town.

“I know it’s so new and raw to be thinking about this, but you need to. You need to ask your father’s best friend, Flynn, what his injuries were and how he died,” Kieran tells me. “I don’t think it was an accident. I think he was murdered by the prince.”

“No.” I shake my head and take a step back.

“I’m not trying to get you to hate the prince or turn you against anyone, but I need you to keep your eyes open. Things aren’t always what you think they are,” he gently says.

Tears drip down my face once again as I look at Kieran. Why did all of this have to happen?

Kieran cups my face once again, bringing his face close to mine. Our breaths dance together as we stare at each other.

“I know it’s hard, and I’m here for you if you need to talk about anything.

You are strong, and you are going to make it through this.

It may not seem like it right now, but you are.

I have faith in you,” he gently says. “Whenever you are ready to, I would go talk to Flynn. Ask for the truth, but be prepared for what you might hear.”

I open my mouth to respond when leaves start to rustle, gaining both of our attention. Kieran places a kiss on the tip of my nose before disappearing in front of me. I turn around and look in the direction of the noise.

Prince Archie walks out with two guards behind him.

I bow before standing to my full height and picking up my bucket.

“Adeline.” Prince Archie smiles. “I’ve been looking for you everywhere. What are you doing out here?”

I wipe away the leftover tears before gripping the handle. What if he did have my father killed? What if he is responsible for his death and is now checking up on me?Is he trying to see if I figured out the truth?

I want Prince Archie to leave, and I want Kieran back. I want to hear his smooth and deep voice for hours.

“Adeline? I asked you a question.” Prince Archie’s voice is hard. “I would like an answer.”

My eyes widen a fraction before I school my face. “I’m trying to get some fresh air and calm myself. A lot has happened today.”

I keep it vague. No doubt the news has spread across town, but Prince Archie doesn’t live in town or interact with people who live here unless absolutely necessary.

“Right. I’m sorry for your loss,” he says, but there is no sincerity in his voice.

I shrug my shoulders and start walking back to town as he reaches out to me. I don’t want to be touched by him and feel my skin crawl with every second that he touches me.

“Thanks. Sorry, I’m out of it today with the news. I need to go help my mother,” I tell him, my voice quiet. “I’ll be busy for the foreseeable future. I’m going to have to prepare for the funeral.”

I don’t want to think about everything that I have to do.

How are we going to get the meat we need?

I’m going to stretch myself thin trying to go hunting and doing all of my chores but it’s what I have to do and there is no other excuse.

No one else can really help us when they are struggling to provide for themselves.

My back is facing the prince.

“Adeline?” he calls out.

I turn my upper body to look at him. “Yes, Prince Archie?”

His face is hard as he glares at me. “Maybe next time you’ll learn that I mean what I say.”

I blink several times, confused. What could he possibly mean?

“Excuse me?” I politely ask.

He can’t mean that.

“Maybe next time you’ll learn that when I tell you not to learn to hunt, you’ll listen to me.” He takes several paces closer to me.

Gasping, I take a step back and stare at him like he has two heads. He can’t mean it. Was Kieran right?

“Did you?” I whisper, not wanting to say the words.

“Did I what?” he asks. “I didn’t do anything. I told you a while ago that you shouldn’t learn how to hunt and told you there would be consequences. But don’t worry, I will take care of everything.”

“Take care of everything?” I ask, not understanding what he is talking about.

“I will provide for you,” Prince Archie says.

“I don’t need anything, but thank you for the offer,” I politely reply.

His face hardens even more, and he takes another step closer to me. “It wasn’t up for debate. I will be taking care of you and your mother from now on. I will make sure you have the food you need.”

I bow. “Thank you,” I say, grateful. “I have to go back home now though. There is a lot to do.”

Prince Archie nods, and I turn quickly, not daring to look back at him. Did he really have my father killed? My mind is so full of questions as I walk toward Flynn and his wife’s house.

I need answers.

Flynn has to have them or else I don’t know who I am going to get the truth from. Kieran doesn’t know everything.Even though the prince partially confirmed it, I need to know for sure.

“Oh, you poor thing.” Flynn’s wife pulls me into a hug when I stand before their front door. “I was expecting you.”

My eyebrows knit together as she pulls me into the house and closes the door, locking it behind us. Why did she lock the door? Why were they expecting me? What is happening?

Flynn sits in the middle of the kitchen, holding a hot cup of tea. We stare at each other for several seconds, neither of us saying a word. What am I supposed to say to him? I don’t know who I can trust.

Should I ask him anything? Kieran told me to, so he must know I won’t get into trouble, right?

“What did you say to me before you left?” I ask, finally managing to find the courage to speak.

He sighs and places the cup on the table. “I think you should sit down.”

I shake my head. “What did you say to me before you left our house?” I ask again.

“Just tell her, Flynn.” His wife helps me sit at the table. “She deserves to know what you said. She’s here now.”

“I told you I was really sorry and if you needed to talk, come to me,” he finally replies.

“What happened to my father?” I inquire, not waiting a second.

I need to know.

I need to know if Kieran is telling the truth and knows what’s going on.

“Are you sure you want to know?” Flynn searches my face.

“Yes, Kier—” but I stop myself. “Something isn’t adding up. The regret on your face as you told us. The way you were wringing your hat and didn’t have any tears in your eyes.”

“We are all in shock,” he replies. “None of us knew what was happening until he was dead and they were talking to us.”

I repeat his words over and over in my head, trying to make sense of who they were. But nothing makes sense, unless he is referring to the prince and doesn’t want to say his name.

“Who are they ?” I ask. “Why were they talking to you? Why didn’t they kill you guys as well?”

Flynn shakes his head and points at me. “You need to be careful. You need to be extremely careful with what you do and what you say. Promise me.”

“Be careful with what?” I draw my head back and look at him like he’s crazy. “You aren’t making any sense. What is going on? How did my father really die? Why are you telling me to be careful?”

Flynn grabs hold of my hands and gives them a little squeeze. He looks around the room before his eyes settle on me again. “The prince. Be careful around the prince and what you do and say. Promise me that.”

“I promise,” I reply.

I already am careful around him. I don’t trust Prince Archie and anything he does or says. I get the same feeling I get around my sister, and it’s not a good one.

“What happened to my father?” I ask. “It wasn’t an accident, was it.”

He shakes his head. “It wasn’t. The prince had him murdered and made it look like an accident.”

Tears pool in my eyes at those words. I would have never questioned Flynn if it weren’t for Kieran telling me to. How did he know?

“The prince showed up out of nowhere and told us not to say a thing about it being murder,” Flynn explains. “You need to go before they discover you know he was murdered. They are watching me. I don’t want any of us to end up dead. Be safe.”

I stand, not knowing what to do next. What can I do? Prince Archie is powerful, and I am just a commoner. I hold no power anywhere. Flynn pulls me into a short hug before walking me to the door.

“Thank you,” I mutter, not knowing if I really feel grateful.

I don’t dare look around the town as I walk back to the house. What if the prince is looking at me right now, wondering what I’ve learned in that house? I don’t want to give anything away.

The closer I get to the house, the more I start to feel the tugging in my stomach.

Kieran .

Wrapping my arm around my stomach, I don’t look up to meet his eyes. I don’t want to get him into any more trouble.

I stop in front of my house and take a deep breath. I desperately want to look back at Kieran, tell him everything he said was right, but I push open the door, closing it behind me.