Page 31 of Ruined Kingdom

“My mother…” I studied the locket in my hand. The delicate design was almost rubbed away from age. “So that’s why the Fae King was willing to strike a bargain with my father over my life. He must have known there was something special about my mother … about me. Could this mean that my mother is still alive?” The question lingered in the air longer than I was comfortable with.

Tieni's face drooped as she shook her head. “I've never known a creature like a Dark Fae to leave a meal unfinished. You were lucky that the Fae King was weak when he had a hold of you. He probably didn't have the power to drain you entirely, but that means there is no hope that your mother is still alive.”

The small glimmer of hope that had sparked in my chest for a short moment was immediately diminished. Hot tears welled up in my eyes, blurring my vision as I tried to blink them back, but there was no controlling them.

I wasn't even sure what brought on the tears: the fact that I had family here or the resounding disappointment that my mother was truly gone.

Tieni pulled me into her arms and hugged me as tightly as she could. “I just wanted you to know that you weren't alone. You have your grandmother and your grandfather here.”

Grandfather? That’s right! General Eugin and Tieni are married, aren’t they?

“Tieni!” A woman came down the hallway hollering.

“Good heavens, can’t I even have a moment with my dear granddaughter without interruptions?” She held my face with her warm hands before getting up from the bed and wiping her face.

I was so busy crying that I didn’t even realize she was crying, too.

She led me outside and flagged down the maid that was calling to her.

The maid pulled up her dress so that she could run to us. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but the King is requesting Sophia immediately.”

I turned to Tieni with a new question on my mind. “Did Kaine know all this time?”

Tieni averted her eyes. “I never told him. I suspect I will be getting an earful for that if he ever does find out.”

“What do you mean if?”

“This is your secret. No one but you are entitled to it. Whether he finds out or not, that isn’t my decision to make. It’s yours.” She grasped my hands in hers and shook them to further stress the sentiment.

My body flooded with warmth as she said this. This was the first time someone had given me a choice for my own life. Of course, I planned on telling Kaine, but the point was that I got to be the one who decided. “Thank you, Tieni.”

“You are more than welcome, my dearest. Now, you better go find Kaine before he thinks I’ve kidnapped you.” She patted my hands and snickered a little at her own joke.

8

KAINE

“Are you sure everything is handled? Everything must be exactly as I specified.” I stressed the importance of these tasks to my staff.

Garmilen assured, “Of course, everything is handled. I’m no amateur.”

I turned to check the time.

With each passing second, my heart felt like it was being squeezed.

There was no time now. It was now or never.

“Very well.”

I exited my study without another word. All I could think about was what I had to do next. I made my way to her room, only to find that she wasn't there. I didn't think anything of it until I checked the library and found that she wasn't there either. Now, I was beginning to become concerned.

If she wasn't in the library, where in the hell could she be?

I heard footsteps coming down the hallway and poked my head out, only to find that it was one of the maids. “Laurin, have you seen Sophia?”

“No, sir. I have not,” she replied politely but with a slight panic in her voice.

“I need you to find her. It is of the utmost importance.”

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