Page 102 of The Gilded Cage

Kiva’s heart raced as she considered her options. She could flee, risking an overreaction but ensuring her own safety, or she could sit where Ariana was patting the chaise beside her and have a drink as planned. While her hunger had vanished at the sight of the golden powder, Kiva knew choosing the latter would limit the probability of offending the monarch. But she also knew that angeldust users, especially functioning addicts, were unpredictable, prone to mood swings and violence, often forgetting their actions once the drug passed through their systems. The danger was simply too great for her to chance.

Decision made, Kiva took another step backwards and said, “I’m suddenly not feeling very well, Your Majesty. Please excuse me — I think it’s best if I retire.”

Kiva dipped into a respectful curtsey. Sober Ariana might not expect her to stand on ceremony, but there was no telling how the drug affected the queen’s memory. Rising swiftly again, Kiva offered a shaky smile and turned toward the door.

“Not so fast.”

The three words held no trace of Ariana’s usual warmth and kindness. Instead, they were as cold as ice, imperious and demanding all at once. They stopped Kiva in her tracks — but not because she thought it wise to listen. She was more desperate than ever to flee the room, consequences be damned.

Only, she couldn’t move.

It wasn’t just the queen’s words that had been filled with ice — water had risen from the floor beneath Kiva’s feet and then frozen, trapping her in place.

Panic overwhelmed her as she tried to break free, her efforts futile as the ice block spun slowly at Ariana’s command, turning Kiva to face her once more.

“Are you trying to leave me?” Ariana slurred. “We haven’t had our cocoa yet.”

“No, I, um —” Kiva stuttered with fear.

Suddenly, the queen let out an earsplitting shriek. With a quick, overarm throw, she hurled her goblet at the supper tray, wine and cocoa and cake flying everywhere. Rising, she staggered toward Kiva, her hand slicing the air, the gleam of a golden ring catching in the light.

“Look what you did!Look at this mess!” the queen yelled. “I wanted us to have a nice time together, and you ruined it!Why did you have to ruin it?”

At the savage look on her face, Kiva tried harder than ever to dislodge her feet, but the ice remained fixed, its grip unyielding.

“Your Majesty,please,” Kiva begged, knowing she might as well be talking to a wild animal. “I didn’t mean to. I’m sorry. It was an accident.” The words spilled from her, anything she thought might mollify the queen.

Her relief was nearly crippling when the anger disappeared from Ariana’s features, the ice underfoot cracking before turning back to water and then evaporating entirely.

Despite being free, Kiva didn’t dare move a step.

“Why do you look scared?” Ariana demanded, stumbling through the spilled food and drink toward Kiva. “We’re friends, aren’t we? Don’t you like me?”

“Of course I do,” Kiva answered quickly.

The queen heard the fear in her voice, and her sapphire eyes narrowed. “LIAR!” she screamed. “YOU’RE LYING TO ME! EVERYONE ALWAYS LIES TO ME!”

At her enraged look, Kiva scurried backwards, but she barely made it three steps before the queen stabbed her finger in a sharp motion, bringing Kiva to a halt once more.

Not because her feet were iced.

But because she couldn’t breathe.

Kiva’s hand flew to her throat as she tried to suck in air, but instead, she bent double and coughed out a mouthful of water. And then another. Coughing and coughing, she tried to clear her lungs of the fluid that was suddenly filling them,floodingthem.

Pure terror hit Kiva as more and more water streamed out of her. She searched desperately for something she could use as a weapon, seeing only the upset supper tray. Hacking and spitting, she collapsed to her knees and crawled toward the queen’s shattered wine goblet. She wrapped her fingers around a broken shard of crystal, but a vicious tug on her hair had the makeshift blade slipping from her hand as she was dragged through the spoiled food and away from any chance of defending herself.

“Why did you have to lie to me?” Queen Ariana asked woefully. “I wanted so much for you to like me.”

“Please!”Kiva tried, but all that came out was a watery gurgle.

Burning — her lungs wereburning.

Darkness began to press in at the edges of her vision, and she realized this was it. She had no defense against Ariana’s magic. The water was flooding every part of her, drowning her on dry land.

And then, suddenly, it wasn’t.

With a loudBANG!the doors to the queen’s sitting room slammed open as Jaren sprinted through them. A quick, horrified glance had him waving his hand toward Kiva, her lungs clearing in an instant. A second wave sent his furious mother flying through the air across the room.

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