Page 60 of Kingdom of Betrayal and Unknown (Kingdom of Bellhollow #1)

“I understand. I just wish you would believe me when I tell you that I’m not talking to them. I go into the forest to either get ice or water and walk around. That is all and nothing more or less,” I explain. “Now, I really must get back to Mother.”

“I was actually on my way there. I want to see the baby and ask if there was anything I could do to help,” Avira starts walking with me.

I draw my head back, eyebrows pinching together as I look at her. “Wh-what?”

“I’m trying here,” she sneers at me, her true colors once again showing. “I’m trying to be better, so I am visiting to see how Mother is doing.”

I slowly nod, not believing a word Avira said. There is no way what I said yesterday changed her mind in less than a day. I’ve been trying to show her this for our whole lives.

“I know it seems out of the blue, but what you said really got to me. I didn’t mean to miss Father’s funeral. I even told the king that I was going to go but got the dates mixed up.” she actually looks sad as she says those words.

“And yesterday?” I stop in front of the house. “You disappeared as Mother started to go into labor. Where were you then?”

“Mother knows that I don’t do pregnancy and giving birth very well. I’m never having children. I don’t want to go through all of that,” Avira explains. “I thought she would have told you.”

Mother isn’t telling me much these days or talking to me either. It has gotten a little better since she had the baby, but I think it’s just because she needs my help.

Kind of hard to ask for help if you don’t talk to the person.

“She hasn’t,” I mumble.

“She probably thought it was my information to share,” Avira brushes it off.

I can’t help but just stare at Avira, feeling strange that we are getting along right now. Never in my life did I think this was going to happen. Is she really changing?

“Stop looking at me like that, and let’s get inside.” She rolls her eyes and walks into the house.

I follow closely behind, wanting to keep a better eye on her in case she tries something. I don’t know what Avira is up to, but she couldn’t have changed overnight, right?

“Avira!” My mother lovingly says.

Jealousy takes hold of my heart and squeezes as I see her face light up. I haven’t seen her smile like that for so long and now she is really happy to see Avira?

“Come meet your younger brother.” She beckons her over.

“Do you have a name yet?” Avira asks.

Mother shakes her head. “Not yet, but soon I will. I’m just waiting for your father to talk to me and help me decide.”

I look at her in worry. Does she think she has been talking to Father? Is that normal, or is it her way of coping right now?

“He will in no time,” Avira gently says. “So precious.”

“I know you don’t like babies, but you were once one. So small and in need of protecting from the world,” Mother whispers as she looks down at the bundle of joy in her arms.

In need of protection. That is what he is going to need for a long time, and I don’t know if Mother and I will be able to give him that. What if a war starts or the prince becomes king and does terrible things?

“If only Father were here to see him.” Avira takes several steps away from Mother.

“He would be if the prince didn’t kill him,” I mumble under my breath to myself.

Everyone believes it was an accident, but only a handful of us know it wasn’t.

I want to scream in the middle of town that the prince killed my father, but what good would it do?

I would surely get whipped for accusing him of something I can’t prove, and I know Flynn won’t risk his family to back me up.

“What did you say?” Avira turns to me.

Shaking my head, I take a step back. “It was nothing.”

Her eyes narrow, but I don’t waver.

“I’m going to talk to Adeline outside for a second. Do you need anything before we go out?” Avira turns to Mother.

“I’m fine for now.” She smiles before turning to me. “Be good and try not to get into too big of an argument with your sister.”

Forcing a smile on my face, I give her a curt nod before heading outside, Avira following close behind.

“What do you want to talk about now?” I ask, folding my arms over my chest.

“What did you say in there about the prince killing Father?” she quietly asks.

“Exactly that. The prince killed Father while he was out in the forest,” I state.

“No, he wouldn’t do that,” she brushes it off.

I thought she might have been one of the people who would know the truth. She does work closely with both of them. She would have had to hear them talk about it. Unless she really doesn’t want to believe them and that they are bad.

“I wouldn’t lie to you!” I raise my voice. “He told me himself. I talked to another person who saw it.”

Warning bells go off in my head after I say those words, but I push them down. She needs to know who she is working for, who she wants me to marry.

“No, I’m not going to believe it. He wouldn’t have killed him for no reason. He is interested in you.” Avira moves her hands in the air as she talks. “We are done talking about this. You need to get it out of your head that he killed Father because he didn’t.”

I open my mouth, but before I can say anything, Avira turns her back and walks off.