Chapter 33
“Kieran, can you tell them it’s okay? I know Flynn and he would never hurt me,” I ask.
“You guys can stop,” Kieran says.
The guards move behind us and I see Flynn right in front of me.
“How are you?” he asks as he takes a step closer. “What has happened? I heard you were in the palace when everything went down but I wasn’t able to see you or your mother. You weren’t answering at your house either.”
“I’m sorry for worrying you,” I say. “I was hurt and put on bed rest for almost the past two weeks. I’m okay now.”
“What happened?” he asks.
Ever since my father died, Flynn has taken on being the father figure for me. He’s never going to replace my father, but it’s nice to know that when I do need help with something I can go to him and his wife.
“I broke the curse on the Fae and got hurt in doing so. Everything is okay but Kieran didn’t want me to do anything while I recovered,” I tell him.
“Kieran?” Flynn’s eyebrows bunch together.
“Right. Flynn, this is Kieran, my mate. Kieran, this is Flynn, my father’s best friend and hunting partner. He was the one that told me it wasn’t an accident.” I choke on my words.
“Nice to meet you, Flynn. I heard her father talking about you once a long time ago,” Kieran says. “You and your wife are welcome to come into the palace at any time if you want to talk to Adeline or her mother.”
“Why are they in the palace and not at home?” he asks. “Did you force them to go there?”
“Flynn.” I take a step forward but Kieran pulls me back to his side.
“It’s okay,” he says before looking at Flynn.
“No, I did not force them. Adeline was unconscious, and when she woke up she needed to be close to me in order to heal all the way. As for her mother, I gave her an option to stay in the house or move to the palace for the time being while everything is being sorted out. I didn’t want it to get out that Adeline was my mate and people go after her mother and younger brother. ”
“Is that so?” Flynn crosses his arms over his chest.
“Yes, it is. If you would like to ask her mother, you can go and do so. She is probably out in the garden,” Kieran replies. “They are free to move back to their house at any point under the condition that they will have guards near them, so no harm comes to either one of them.”
“Why do they need guards?” Flynn interrogates him. “Why are you taking care of them?”
“Flynn, I’m his mate. I love him and he loves me. We are destined to be together,” I explain.
“I’m asking him,” Flynn says. “I want him to answer me. Man to man.”
“More like Fae to man,” I mumble.
A guard chuckles but quickly covers it up with a cough.
Kieran squeezes my hand. “She is my soulmate and I want her protected at all times. With the Fae taking back over, I was worried that the humans might try to hurt them before we could explain everything to them. I did not want any harm to come to her or her family. That is why they need guards when they go out. As for me taking care of them, we are family. I want what is best for them at all times.”
Flynn hums and continues to look at Kieran. “I don’t know if I like this.”
“If you have any questions, feel free to stop by any time and ask me. You will never be turned away,” Kieran says.
“Unless he is in an important meeting or we are on a date,” I quickly chime in.
“Adeline,” Flynn says.
“I’m just being honest. There are several important meetings going on right now that he can’t miss.
We want to show the people that things are going to get better for everyone.
That humans and Faes are going to be equal,” I explain.
“You are important to both of us, but right now it is hectic and he can’t miss these without it affecting the people’s trust. And us being on dates is important and I don’t want it interrupted. ”
“Sweets.” Kieran gently says my name.
“I know you are stepping up for my father and are worried about me, but I am happy with him. He takes great care of me and makes sure that I’m healthy and doing okay.”
“I don—”
“Flynn, it’s okay. I’m glad you are doing this, but I just wanted to let you know that while he says you can come at any point to talk to him, there are times when he might not be able to see you right away. Kieran won’t say it, so I will,” I say confidently.
“Your father would be proud of you,” Flynn whispers before looking at Kieran. “We should have an afternoon together to get to know each other.”
“You let me know when you are available and I will set some time aside for it,” he replies.
Flynn nods. “If you have any problems, let me know. I will be there in a heartbeat for you and your mother, plus baby James. And if he does anything bad to you, let me know and I will come and beat him up.”
The guard next to me stiffens and I take a step in his direction, trying to block Flynn.
“Flynn,” I say. “Don’t say that in front of the guards.”
“It’s okay,” Kieran says. “If I ever do something to harm you or your family he is more than welcome to come and beat me. I will gladly stay still to allow him to do it.”
My mouth falls open as I look at Kieran. “Are you serious?”
He nods. “I never want to harm you or your family. If it ever happens, I want there to be consequences.”
“I’m starting to like you a little more,” Flynn whispers. “I have to go, but I’ll let you know when I’m free.”
Flynn walks off before I can say anything.
“Kieran, you can’t be serious,” I finally say.
“I’m dead serious and I will let every Fae know so if it ever happens—which I hope it never does—I don’t want them to interfere,” he replies.
“You have already gotten whipped twice because of me,” I point out. “I don’t think you should get harmed any more.”
“If I ever harm you, I want Flynn to come,” he says. “Enough about this. Let’s go get the ingredients and hand them to Nila.”
“Don’t you think this is too much?” I ask as I look at the bags in Kieran’s hand. “I think this could feed hundreds of people.”
“But it’s only going toward you, me, and your mother. You love this candy and I don’t want you to run out,” he replies.
“I don’t want her to work too much,” I whisper.
Kieran stops walking and turns to me. “Sweets, she will be more than happy to make this for you. She was over the moon when she heard you loved them a lot.”
“I just feel bad,” I mumble and look away from him.
“Don’t.”
“Easier said than done.” I roll my eyes.
“Is this her?” a lady asks. “Is this the High Lady?”
My head pops up and I look around. A group of people are standing several feet away from us, looking directly at me. My hand automatically finds Kieran’s arm as I grip onto it.
“This is the High Lady, Adeline,” Kieran replies. “She’s a little shy and might get overwhelmed but you can say hi and introduce yourselves.”
“I’m Nila, the one that made candy for you several weeks ago.
I’m so glad you enjoyed them.” An older lady walks up to me and wraps her arms around my body before I can do anything.
“Any time you want candy, you just let me know and I will make it for you. No matter the flavor, you just let me know.”
“Oh, thank you,” I whisper, not knowing what else to say.
They know me and my name and who I am.
“I’m her daughter, Piper.” Another lady steps forward and waves. “Normally we would hug, but I don’t want to overwhelm you.”
“Hi.” I force a smile on my face.
Everyone else introduces themselves and I say hi to each and every one of them. By the time they say all of their names, my head starts spinning with too much information.
Kieran steps in front of the other people, blocking my view of them and cups my face with his warm hands.
“Are you okay?” he gently asks as we lock eyes.
“A little overwhelmed,” I reply honestly. “It’s a lot but I’m okay.”
“Do you want to take a break and go do something else?”
I shake my head before leaning into his right hand, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. “I’m okay. We still need to give her the ingredients and I would feel really bad if we just left right after that.”
How rude would it be for me to meet them for the first time, drop things off, and then just leave like they didn’t matter?
No.
I can’t do that. I need to show them that I will be a good High Lady and that everything is going to be okay.
“I don’t want you to overwork yourself,” Kieran whispers.
“I’m not working,” I mumble back.
I open my eyes to see Kieran giving me a knowing look.
“You know what I mean. You are still recovering from not sleeping well for the past several months and coming back to life,” Kieran says.
“She died?” Nila raises her voice. “When did this happen? Are you okay? How are you alive?”
I grip Kieran’s arm and stare into his eyes. I had completely forgotten that they could hear us talking.
Kieran steps to the side of me and faces them. “When the curse was broken, she died. That is how the curse was able to be broken.”
Everyone gasps and looks over at me, their eyes filled with tears.
“Are you alright?” Piper asks. “Why are you out here right now and not resting at home?”
“That’s what I’ve been asking,” Kieran says.
“Kieran,” I mumble and glare at him. “You aren’t helping.”
“Dear, you should be home resting right now. You don’t have to come out and meet us.
We are willing to wait until you have gained your full strength back and aren’t as overwhelmed with everything,” Nila says as she grabs my right hand and gently pats it.
“We have waited hundreds of years, and waiting a couple more days isn’t going to hurt us. ”
“I’m okay though,” I whisper.
She gives me a knowing look. “I know you probably feel restless, but you still need to rest and not push yourself. Listen to your mate and allow him to take care of you. It’s one of the many things he wants to do for you.”
“She’s right. I don’t mean to confine you, but I want you to get the rest that you need. You are finally getting full nights of sleep and you need plenty of those before you will be really recovered,” Kieran says.
“There is just a lot to do right now,” I mumble.
“And there are several people who can step up and help out. We are here to help everyone, and that includes you.” Nila pats my hand.
“I know before this you stayed to yourself and had to do things on your own, but that’s not the case any longer.
We are here to help you and we want to. It would be our honor if we could.
You don’t have to hand everything over but you can start off small. ”
“She’s right,” Piper chimes in. “So right now you don’t have to feel like you should stay with us because it’s our first time meeting. Go home and get some rest. We’ll have plenty of other days where we can meet and talk to each other.”
I look at everyone and they all nod their heads. “Okay.”