Chapter Twelve-Kenna

Delilah suggested that her and I go outside and explore. The thought of walking around in the fresh air was so exciting that I didn't hesitate. After all the stories that Jed told me the night before, I was interested in seeing how people here lived their everyday lives. Delilah had still not mentioned a thing about what happened between us and I was in no hurry to try an explain something I didn't really understand myself.

We stood up and walked out the door and into the street. I took a moment to appreciate the gloomy sky, looking up and smiling as the first few rain drops landed softly on my lips; I always preferred rainy days.

It felt good to create some distance between myself and Jed. Our kiss last night really confused me. I know that he captured me, locked me up and kidnapped me, pulling me into a world I didn't know how to survive in. However, the up side of all that is that after living my whole life in squalor and serving the Fae as a slave, I was finally out.

Perhaps it was the curse making me feel this way, it was hard to tell; I couldn't help but let my thoughts drift back to the way the shadows danced on his face in the candlelit room and the way his golden eyes seemed to glow when he laughed. It was nice to see him act differently for once. When he smiled and spoke about his old memories his face lit up in a way I'd never thought possible for him.

Apart from last night, he was forever clouded in so much sorrow, I could tell he'd lived a life of pain. I'd seen plenty of pain and suffering on the island to know a tormented soul when I saw one. At times I found myself tempted to ask him what it was that made him so sad all the time.

I noticed it often, even when he tried his best to hide it; it was almost as if I could feel his emotions at times. Like last night when he left and went to the other room, something was haunting him, I'm sure. I was left in the dark with an aching heart, the sadness only leaving me once I'd drifted off into a restless sleep.

Utter exhaustion had me yawning as we made our way down the street.

As we walked, I looked over at Delilah and for the first time wondered if there was something between her and Jed.

She was no doubt beautiful; her make-up was perfectly done most of the time, her hair was silky and glossy; never messy. She was tall and lean, nothing
like my shorter, slightly fuller frame.

As we walked up to a nearby building, Delilah paused, waiting at the entrance. I tried walking straight in to have a look around the odd place but Delilah caught my hand, stopping me as she spoke, "You can't just walk in, we have to wait to be seated." She told me softly.

So we waited at the front door and I inhaled the fresh aroma of coffee as I studied the room to see where it was coming from. A few men and women were gathered in booths eating various items and sipping from cups, the ceiling was low and the floor gleaming white, giving the small space a very homey feel.

Baked goods lined the glass display at the front counter where a young man noticed us, giving us a bright smile as he looked up and grabbed two thin objects before walking over. "Right this way, ladies," he said before leading us down the single row of identical booths, stopping at the very last one and giving Delilah one of the objects in his hand.

She thanked him and looked down at it as he stood holding the other one out towards me, "Can I get you something to drink while you browse through our menu?" He asked us.

I tried to give him a smile, which felt more like a grimace, as I used two fingers to accept the menu.

Delilah told me to act as normal as possible, meaning that everything strange I saw today, I had to pretend that I'd seen a million times before because apparently, this is what normal people did every day. I'm finding her instructions easier said than done.

"Just two caramel cappuccinos please." She said. The man nodded, wrote the order down and walked off, whistling happily to himself.

The seats were soft and covered in bright orange leather, the same colour as the waiter's uniform. I looked to the left through the window beside our table which revealed a busy street full of people; some were visiting surrounding shops, some walked with cups in their hands, busily typing on their phones while others had various items slung over their arms that they were trying to sell to people passing by.

I stared out at all of them in awe, noting that everyone was dressed in bright, beautiful clothing similar to what the Fae themselves wore on the island. This world was nothing like the one I'd grown up in for sure.

"So Jed asked me to speak to you about something important." She told me once the waiter had returned with our order. She leaned forward and studied me closely for a few moments, as if trying to find the right words to speak.

I started feeling uncomfortable, shuffling in my seat as I thought about what he'd want her to speak to me about.

Eventually I realized what it had to be about, it was obvious. I sighed, leaning back as I spoke, "is this about the kiss?"

Her face twisted into an expression of clear jealousy for a split second before she neutralized her expression. That was the moment I realized that she had feelings for Jed. "Oh," I said, "you have feelings for him. Wait, are you two—"

"Yes." She told me, and my heart sank. "We've been together for many years now. Which is why we need this curse broken as soon as possible; you can imagine what a damper it can put on a relationship when he's being forced to kiss another woman."

I ignored the unexplainable hurt I felt and decided to play it as cool as possible. Of course he wasn't interested in me that way, why would he be when someone like her had been by his side each and every day for who knows how long. "I'm sorry, about last night. I think it had a lot to do with that bubbly stuff," I said, "and the curse," I added quickly, "what I'm trying to say is that if it weren't for those two things I would never have—"

She waved it off, taking a sip of coffee before she spoke, "Don't worry about it, I know how he truly feels. Anyways, that's not what he wanted me to speak about. You see, tonight we've been invited to his mother's house."

My eyes widened at that, and I think she must have seen how quickly my face paled because she stopped speaking and laughed, "Don't worry, she's not that bad! Well, she hates me, but she'll probably like you; she's also a hexblood. She's agreed to help us in our search for a solution to this curse, which is great, there's just one problem."

She leaned back and wrapped both hands around her coffee mug before continuing, "She can't know about the Island."

"What? Why? How can she help us if she knows nothing about me? About how all of this started?" I asked.

"Well that's the thing, she kind of already knows about you. Not the real you, just the story Jed told her." She stated simply.

My eyebrows shot up as I leaned forward, "What do you mean by that? What did he tell her?" I asked. I hated lying. Addy always said I was shit at it.

"He told her you'd grown up in a village close to where he settled and invaded his territory as he was preparing to leave for a hunt; which is actually the truth. The only thing we're leaving out is the fact that this village was on an island run by Fae and that you were one of the, uh, workers." She finished.

"Slaves," I corrected her, "Let's not pretend that that's not what I am."

"What you were." She told me, and I suddenly remembered the other island she told me about. "I'll tell you all the details. Don't worry, I'll make sure you're well prepared for tonight," she continued, "Don't forget our deal. Help us break this curse and we'll find the man responsible for your sister's death, I'll take you to the island, and you can live out the rest of your days as a free woman. Everyone lives happily ever after."

My heart lifted at her words as I fantasized about what that would be like for the millionth time. I gave her a smile and nodded. "Right. I'll do what I can. So, where do we start?" I asked, eager to get this over with and start my new life.

I needed to shake the curse and forget about the moody shifter that had been forced into my heart. Perhaps then I'd find the peace I'd craved my entire life.

"First, we need to fix you up. You look like someone who's been dragged through the bush backwards and don't think I didn't notice you didn't use the shampoo I gave you," she said, standing up and leaving a few notes on the table before leading me to the door, "I'm giving you a makeover, and just in time too; Jed has got some hot as hell brothers that will be very interested in you when I'm finished. Who knows," she said with a shrug as she gave me a mischievous grin, "maybe one of them will be the Prince Charming needed to break the curse." She joked, winking at me as I rolled my eyes.

I had no intention of making any connection with any man, ever again. I'd seen what love did to the women in the village, what the mere thought of it did to my sister; she would have sacrificed everything to be noticed by a royal.

Once this curse was broken, I was going to live alone in peace for the rest of my days. No obligations, no complications; that'll be my motto.