Page 42 of Ruined Kingdom

“I see where you’re going with this, but unfortunately, I can’t seem to find the right time to tell him that I’m not at all what he thinks I am.” My frustration was boiling over, and I let slip something that had been eating away at me. I didn’t realize it was an issue until just now.

Tieni wasted no time picking up on it, either. “That’s what you’re worried about? Do you think he’ll be disappointed? If anything, finding out that you’re like him should thrill him!”

“It’s not just that. He’s renewed his faith in mortals because of me. What if his views change because of this? What if he decides he doesn’t care if the Dark Fae begin killing humans?” The questions buzzed around me in my head until I was dizzy.

“You know him better than anyone else… Do you really think that he’ll just abandon them over something so small? Less we forget that you are still half-mortal, and so is your father and Lexi. He wouldn’t let you down like that.”

Her words did manage to bring me comfort, but now that I was pulling up all the dark questions I had buried in me, others began to surface. “I’ve been withholding something from him.”

Tieni’s face changed to that of shock, but she still leaned in to let me know that she was listening.

“Yenisey… She’s the reincarnation of Lilliana. The Fae King did as Kaine requested and brought her back to life for him. He just never told him because he needed him to suffer. He needed to break Kaine down until there was nothing left.” I wrung out my fingers nervously. The more I spoke, the more horrible it sounded.

I’d kept this a secret from everyone, including Yenisey herself, even though she had a right to know who she was and where she came from. But what if she decided that she wanted to return to her position by Kaine’s side?

“Let’s keep this conversation between us. There’s no need to add fuel to the fire.” Tieni’s voice changed.

I couldn’t recall a time when she’d ever sounded so serious.

It gave me a chill just to hear it.

Did she think that Kaine would change his mind if he knew?

The thought alone felt like a dagger to my heart. The icy cold sting of betrayal and disappointment ate away at me for the rest of the ride.

“I notice you’re still not wearing the necklace I gave you.” Tieni graciously distracted me from my abysmal thoughts once more.

I patted my chest as if it was going to magically appear there. Of course, I hadn’t worn it. I still hadn’t come to terms with everything Teini had told me, including her being my grandmother.

It was still just so surreal. And with everything else that had been going on, I’d hardly had the time to work through everything.

She pressed her lips into a hard line before continuing. “I must implore you to wear it at all times from here on out. This will protect you in your times of need. Our family’s power is channeled through it.”

“I had no idea.”

“I figured telling you that I was your grandmother and that you were part shifter was enough truth to drop on you for one day. I thought it could wait… I thought he had more time, but that isn’t the case anymore. It was different before because Kaine was there to protect you, but he might not be anymore.” Her eyes fluttered away from me and glazed over.

I knew instantly where her mind went.

She was thinking about Kaine’s transformation at the Binding Ceremony. She’d also seen how different his shifted form had looked then. She knew something was terribly wrong with him.

“I understand. I’ll make sure to put it on when we get home, and I won’t take it off again.” I promised her, which brought her out of that horrifying memory.

She gave me a weary smile and took a deep breath. “Good. That’s good to hear.”

The carriage stopped suddenly, and I was flung forward off of my seat. My only saving grace was that I raised my hands and pushed against the other side of the cushioned bench.

I fell back into my seat, disheveled and stunned.

Tieni couldn’t stifle her laughter despite her great efforts. “Not used to carriages, are you?”

“I think I prefer warping through portals.” I was only half-joking. From the constant jolting that has resulted in nausea and a headache to the much longer travel time, I wouldn’t willingly get into another one of these.

Tieni pulled out her fan from her skirt and fanned cool air into my face, which alleviated some of my symptoms.

The carriage door swung open, and I wasted no time climbing out as I couldn't bear another second in this small space.

Any thoughts of illness disappeared as soon as I looked around at where we were.

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