Page 111 of The Cursed Kingdom

I don’t think he’s amusing, and I don’t like him touching my stuff.

“Abby and her little treasures,” he says quietly to himself.

Kie pulls open the top drawer of my dresser and peers inside, the purple tiara long forgotten.

I bite the inside of my cheek as he rifles through my underwear, occasionally pulling out a pair to show me. I already know what underwear I own, and I grind my teeth as he silently teases me with his finds.

He only pulls out the colored, lacy pairs, and I have half a mind to direct him to the large, blood-stained cotton ones shoved into the very back of the drawers. I bet he wouldn’t be smirking at those.

Kie doesn’t linger too long on my underwear, and he smoothly makes his way through my remaining drawers before straightening back up and spinning around to face me. I can tell immediately that he’s planning to leave my room and continue his exploration.

It’s written all over his face.

“You can’t go out there,” I say, pressing myself against the door. Shouldn’t he be eager to get home? He was just told he has to hand over his title and birthright to Mason. Most people would be focused on that, not going through my things.

Kie raises a brow.

“Oh?” he asks. “And why not?”

Because there’s most likely a faerie fugitive resting on the living room couch and I don’t want you to find her. Because you just attempted to give me to Zaha, and I never want to see you again. Because I said so. Because I hate you.

A thousand reasons rush through my mind, but none that will work.

“I live with my parents,” I lie. “Purity is huge here, and they’ll kick me out if they see a man coming out of my bedroom.”

I’m proud of my quick thinking. Kie’s an asshole, but he’s not malicious. After everything he’s already put me through, I don’t think he’s cruel enough to knowingly get me kicked out of my home.

Kie sucks his cheeks into his mouth and glances between me and the silk nightgown still hanging over my bedroom door, clearly debating whether or not to believe me. I pray to the gods, every single one of them, that he does.

After an excruciatingly long pause, Kie dips his chin, conceding. “Very well.” I let out a breath, my shoulders sagging, but it only lasts for half a second. “How did you get into the faerie realm?”

I suppose I shouldn’t be too surprised he’s asking.

I shrug. “I met a man. He said he loved me and brought me to Farbay. Then he left, and I went exploring.”

Kie hums. He doesn’t believe me.

“That’s not—” His eyes dart toward my bedside table, to the several framed photos covering it, as his voice trails off.

I stiffen, my palms sweaty as he stares at one particular frame. I made it in third grade, and it’s covered in vibrant buttons and small puff balls. It’s an attention grabber if I’ve ever seen one, and inside is a childhood photo of Lill and me.

I’ve got my arms wrapped around her neck, practically putting her in a headlock, and she’s giving the camera a toothy smile. She’d be passable as an ordinary human girl if it weren’t for her vibrant, violet eyes and stark-white hair.

It takes less than a millisecond for Kie’s entire demeanor to change, his relaxed smile falling and body stiffening. Before I can follow what’s happening, he practicallyshovesme out of the doorway and storms out of my bedroom. My shoulder slams against the wall with a painfulthud, and I let out a low grunt before hurrying after him.

“Kie!” I shout, reaching for his arm.

He yanks it out of my reach and barrels down my short hallway toward Lill’s bedroom. None of my attempts to stop him are successful as he pushes open her door and looks inside. She’snot there, and he inspects our shared bathroom before making his way to the living area and kitchen.

“Please,” I beg, desperate for him to stop. “Let me explain!”

I feel like a woman begging her boyfriend to hear her out after he walks in on her fucking his best friend, and Kie’s sure acting the part. He refuses to slow, his movements fast and rough despite my best attempts to physically hold him back.

He steps into the living room, and I manage to shoulder him to the side just enough that I can squeeze between him and the wall, placing myself in front of him.

“Abby?”

Lill’s voice is crackly and quiet—and immediately followed up with a hollow cough. It sends a terrible ache down my chest, but there’s no time to focus on her as I plant my feet on the ground and press my hands against the center of Kie’s torso.

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