Chapter 36
“Can we go out to the town and talk to people?” I ask Kieran as I walk into our room. “I think today would be a good day to go out and talk to humans and Fae.”
It’s been two months since I died and the curse was broken. Two months of everyone being on edge as things changed.
Fae knew what it was going to be like and were excited. Right from the beginning they wanted to be friends with the humans and coexist together… but the humans didn’t want that.
A lot of them were afraid and hostile toward any Fae who approached them. They didn’t want anything to do with them and were constantly worried about how things were going to turn out for them in the end.
Kieran and I have been going out at least twice a week to walk around and talk to both human and Fae to try and make them more comfortable. I’ve gone out almost every single day to try and show the humans that they don’t have anything to fear.
“Are you sure you want to go out today?” Kieran asks. “You were out all day yesterday with them and came back exhausted. Why don’t you take today off to just relax.”
I shake my head. “We can’t do that. We have come so far. They are getting more and more comfortable with being around the Fae and I don’t want to skip a day and all the hard work go down the drain.”
Keiran chuckles. “It’s not going to go down the drain if you miss one day. There are other people also walking around and helping. You don’t have to carry everything on your shoulders.”
“I’m not, but it’s good for me and you to go out and talk to people to show that there is nothing to be afraid of. We are an example and so are Zahra and Henry. All of us need to be out there to talk to them and show the humans that they have nothing to fear,” I say.
“Okay, but if I see you starting to get tired then we are coming back to the palace and you are resting.” He gives me a pointed look. “I don’t care if you try to change my mind… you won’t. You have been more tired recently and I’m not going to have you run yourself into the ground.”
“That won’t happen because you won’t allow it.” I smile up at him. “You are good at taking care of me. And my appetite has come back! So you don’t need to worry.”
“But you are still underweight and I don’t want you putting too much strain on your body and something happening.” He wraps his arms around me.
“I know but I have you to help me.”
Kieran shakes his head before kissing the top of my head. “Alright, let’s go then.”
I quickly grab his hand as we make our way through the hallways, saying hello to everyone who passes us.
“I still find it so weird to hear people calling me High Lady,” I mumble as we walk out of the palace.
“You are going to have to get used to it,” Kieran tells me.
“Why can’t I just have them call me by my name?” I ask. “What’s so wrong with that?”
“They respect you. They love you.”
“But what if it makes me uncomfortable?”
Kieran stops walking and looks at me. “They aren’t saying it to make you uncomfortable. They are calling you that to show you respect and that they care and love you. They are calling you High Lady because you have earned the title.”
“I didn’t do anything,” I mumble and look away from him. “Let’s get going.”
“Sweets, do you really believe that you’ve done nothing to earn your title?” Kieran asks as he catches up to me. “Do you honestly believe that?”
I nod. “It’s true. I haven’t done much.”
“You have done so much more than you think. You gave them hope when they were losing it. You put yourself at risk every single time you went to the palace to try and figure out how to break the curse. You sacrificed yourself by agreeing to marry the prince so that they didn’t kill me,” Kieran says.
“Oka—”
“You got tortured and didn’t tell Avira any information because you knew if you did that it would be over for everyone.
You died to break the curse, fully prepared to leave everyone behind because it meant us Fae were going to get to live a better life,” Kieran whispers.
“You have done so much and you are still doing things. You have earned the title and more.”
Tears pool in my eyes.
“I know it’s going to take you a while to really believe that you deserve the title and they are okay with that.”
I nod.
“The prince and king are waiting for you,” Elias says.
“What about Avira?” I ask.
“We have people looking for her in her last known location but there isn’t much we can do right now,” Kieran replies. “Do you want to come with me to see the prince and king?”
“What are you going to do with them?”
Kieran grabs my hand. “We are going to have a public execution.”
My jaw drops. “Aren’t you worried how the people are going to react to that?”
“Why would they feel anything but happy that they don’t have to deal with them any longer?” Elias asks. “They should be grateful that we are killing them.”
“A lot of people were very loyal to them,” I point out. “I know the majority didn’t like them, but—”
“We know there are going to be people who will protest the execution, but they won’t be able to do much. It’s happening no matter what,” Kieran says. “We are prepared for the consequences and backlash, but I don’t think there will be much. They haven’t done anything yet.”
“Yet,” I repeat. “They could be plotting something right now and when they hear about the execution that could be the final straw.”
“Sweets,” Kieran gently says as he cups my face. “We are monitoring everyone right now. We are taking precautions and will have lots of people on the lookout when we do it.”
“What if something goes wrong?” I ask. “What if something you don’t expect happens and people die? What then?”
He gently rubs his thumb across my cheek.
“We are going to try our best not to harm anyone. I’ve already told all the guards and Fae that if something happens, not to harm anyone.
And as for something going wrong, we have several different ways that we will handle it.
Everything is going to work out. You might be surprised at how the people handle it. ”
I take a deep breath and lean into his hand. “When are you holding this?”
“Right now. A guard has made an announcement that everyone is to gather at the town square,” Kieran replies. “Do you want to come with me or do you want to stay here?”
What do I want to do? I hate violence, but I want to see them dead so I know they aren’t going to haunt me for the rest of my life.
“I’ll come with you,” I whisper.
“Are you sure? There is no shame in staying here,” Kieran says.
I nod. “I’m sure. Let’s go before I change my mind.”
Kieran lets go of my face, grabs my hand, and starts to walk out of the throne room. He leads me down to the dungeon, my hand instinctively tightening around his at the memories of everything Avira did to me.
“What happened to Nas?” I ask as I look at his now empty cell.
“After I brought you to the healer, I sent someone down to get him and put the prince and king in the dungeon,” Kieran replies. “He is safe and healing.”
My shoulders sag in relief. “Good.”
Kieran stops in front of the same cell I was once placed in. Sitting on the cold, hard ground are Prince Archie and the king.
“You’re okay,” Kieran whispers. “Nothing is going to happen to you.”
Taking a deep breath, I relax my hand around his and look at the two people in the cell.
Prince Archie glares at Kieran and our connected hands before looking up at me. “I thought you didn’t know him.”
Kieran squeezes my hand.
“That was all a lie to keep him alive,” I reply, my voice wavering in the beginning. “I knew you would kill him on the spot if I said I knew him.”
“She’s my mate,” Kieran says. “You never had a chance with her. It was all a front while we worked behind the scenes to get here.”
Prince Archie growls and lunges toward the bars. Kieran quickly steps in front of me before anything can happen.
“I knew I should have forced you to marry me sooner!” Prince Archie yells. “I knew I shouldn’t have trusted or listened to you! You whore.”
Kieran lets go of my hand and grabs Prince Archie’s shirt. “You will not call my mate a whore.”
“But that’s what she is! She was with me while also being with you! Who knows how many other men she has been with!” The prince chuckles toward the end. “Are you sure you want to be with a woman like that?”
“Kieran,” I say gently. “Please. It’s not worth it. You and I both know that I was with no one else,” I whisper.
Kieran lets go of his shirt and turns to the guards. “Take them out and bring them to the town square.”
“What are you going to do with us?” the king finally asks.
“You are going to be hanged for all your crimes,” Kieran responds.
“You can’t do this! We are royalty!” Prince Archie yells.
Kieran sighs. “Please bring them out to the town square.”
He grabs my hand and pulls me out of the dungeon and straight to the town square where everyone is already gathering. Nerves flow through me as all their eyes land on us, following our every movement. We stand hand in hand on the small stage.
The guards bring Prince Archie and the king up to the gallows and everyone gasps.
“Atention everyone!” Kieran yells.
All eyes turn to him.
“For the crimes of hurting the Fae, humans, and forcing people to do anything they wanted, Prince Archie and the king are going to hang,” Kieran announces. “For not taking care of the people.”
I hold my breath as I look at the crowd, their attention is focused on Kieran.
“What do you have to say for yourself?” a man yells, and our eyes connect. “Adeline!”
Kieran steps in front of me, but I gently place my hand on his back and step out from behind him.
“They have committed countless crimes over the years. Banishing people who shouldn’t be banished to Tarravega. Taking people who had magic into the palace to never be seen again. We lived in fear and it’s time to end that,” I reply calmly. “They have done enough damage.”
The whole crowd is silent as they look up at me, making nerves fester inside with each passing second.
“Hang them!” a female yells. “It’s no secret that everyone hates them.”
My gaze connects with Agnes.
“They have killed, punished, and banished so many people. Our people. Fae and Human. They should answer to those crimes!” she continues to yell.
“Everyone,” Prince Archie speaks, but his father shushes him. “Father! You can’t be serious.”
The guards place the noose around their necks.
“Wait!” Prince Archie screams. “You can’t kill me!”
“Kill them!” Agnes starts chanting and before I know it, everyone is chanting.
My hand tightens around Kieran’s as I look away from Prince Archie and the king.
“Do you have any last words?” Kieran asks.
“No,” the king says. “I have no regrets.”
I look up at Kieran to see him nodding his head, the sound of a lever moving before I hear unpleasant noises.
I bury my face in Kieran’s chest, taking a shaky breath in.
You’re okay, he whispers through the bond as he places a hand over my ear, blocking out the sound. Everything is over.
Are they dead? I ask.
Yes.
I pull my head away from Kieran’s chest and briefly peek over at their bodies hanging, wanting to confirm they are really dead.
Now all that is left is Avira.