Page 141 of The Gilded Cage

His face lit with such hope, suchjoy,that for one moment, Kiva could only stare, but then he pulled her closer and whispered back, “Then follow my lead.”

Kiva had no idea what she was doing, but she let Jaren guide her around the dance floor, spinning and twirling to the music. He didn’t care when she stood on his toes, or that it felt like everyone in the room was watching them. He only cared about her, and the way his eyes never left her — notonce— told her as much. It was all too easy for her to fall into the same enchantment, forgetting her troubles and sinking into the moment. Into Jaren.

When the song ended, he smiled, wide and glorious, and led her straight into the next dance.

And the next.

And the next.

They didn’t stop until they were interrupted.

“All right, cousin, I think it’s time you let someone else show your girl how toreallydance.”

As if being pulled from a dream, Kiva’s eyes fluttered when Caldon’s voice drifted to her during a pause in the music.

“Sunshine, may I?” the prince asked, offering his hand.

Jaren held her tighter for a moment, before sighing and loosening his grip. “I’ll go wish my sister a happy birthday,” he said, drawing Kiva’s fingers to his lips and placing a perfunctory kiss on the back of her hand — something that felt anythingbutperfunctory to Kiva, leaving tingles in its wake.

“Good luck with that,” Caldon said dryly. “Dearest Mirry hasn’t graced us with her presence yet. My guess is she’s waiting to make a grand entrance.” He tilted his head toward Ariana, Stellan, and Ori, his voice lowering. “Your father’s looking a bit peaky, though. You might want to suggest they retire early. Ori’s miserable anyway since they won’t let him leave their sides, and Flox keeps escaping to play in the mist, scaring the life out of the guests when he curls around their feet.”

Kiva coughed to hide her laugh, but she sobered quickly when Jaren’s concerned gaze shot toward his family.

“I’ll go speak with them,” he said, before offering a gentle smile to Kiva and sending a meaningful look to his cousin. “Take care of her.”

“Goshdarnit, there go my plans to toss her in the Serin,” Caldon deadpanned.

Jaren didn’t deign to reply and took off into the crowd.

Caldon snickered, drawing Kiva into his arms as the music started again. “I like him like this,” he said. “It’s so easy to rile him up these days. You’ve been a real gift to us all, you know that?”

Kiva deliberately stood on his foot and smiled sweetly as she replied, “I’m so pleased to be of service.”

The prince hummed an amused sound, spinning her away, then back into his arms. “I’ve been looking for your brother and sister.” His teeth flashed in a grin. “Mostly your brother. But no sign of them yet.”

Kiva’s stomach tumbled. “Tor’s not coming.”

Caldon’s brows rose above his golden mask. “Oh?”

Weighing her response, Kiva realized that if there was one person she could tell about her abduction — without having to lie about how she’d escaped — it was Caldon. And at leastsomeoneat the palace would know Mirraven had attempted to trap Jaren. But that wasn’t the only reason Kiva decided to share.

She quickly — and quietly — summarized her day, before finishing with, “So I could really use your help. With Tipp. Maybe if you come with me tomorrow, you can be there when I explain?”

Caldon had cursed multiple times during her tale, but none so creatively as when she’d shared about Tipp learning who she was.

“I don’t know which part worries me the most,” Caldon murmured, guiding her around another dancing couple. He didn’t answer her question, instead saying, “I’ll have Veris double the city patrols to make sure there are no more Mirravens lying in wait, but you need to push your sister for details about the bargain your mother made with Navok.”

Kiva nodded. “I will. But right now, Tipp takes priority for me. So will you help?”

Caldon led her into another spin. “I don’t know how much good it’ll do, but yeah, I’ll come with you.”

Kiva wilted with relief. “Thank you.”

“Are you sure he’s safe wherever he is tonight? I don’t like that —”

“I know, I hate it too,” Kiva interrupted, chewing her lip. “But Rhess promised to watch over him.”

Caldon looked skeptical now that he knew the truth about the other girl, but despite Rhessinda’s treachery, Kiva trusted her, especially having witnessed how deeply she cared for Torell.

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