Page 148 of The Gilded Cage

Before Kiva’s alarm could grow, Caldon’s fire hit Zuleeka square in the chest —

And did absolutely nothing.

Zuleeka slashed a grin, fishing something out from beneath the high collar of her navy ballgown.

Kiva’s remaining breath fled at the sight of the amulet.

Heramulet.

But how —

Inhaling sharply, Kiva recalled the long embrace she’d shared with Zuleeka that afternoon, when her sister had been whispering assurances in her ear, her hand on the back of Kiva’s neck the whole time.

Working at the clasp.

Kiva hadn’t realized. Even when she’d donned her ballgown and looked in her mirror, she’d been so startled by her transformation — and so exhausted from healing Torell — that she hadn’t noticed it missing.

“Thank you for the gift, sister,” Zuleeka said, stroking the powerful crest. “I never would have made it this far without its protection.”

Jaren’s eyes shot to Kiva, disbelief and uncertainty emanating from him. She wanted to scream that Zuleeka was lying, to even just shake her head, but she couldn’t move.

“I don’t have long,” Zuleeka said, returning the amulet beneath her dress. “I have business in the western palace.” Another slash of a smile, and then she pulled up her skirt and removed a dagger —thedagger — from her thigh holster.

Kiva made a panicked sound in the back of her throat, and Caldon launched another fireball, but it just bounced straight off Zuleeka again.

“Recognize this, Prince?” she said to Jaren, tapping the jewel. “Unfortunately for you, the blade your general possesses is a fake.Thisis the real dagger gifted by the gods. It’s been in my family for hundreds of years, passed down from generation to generation.” Her eyes flicked to Kiva’s, a smirk growing as she corrected, “Ourfamily. I think it’s time you and your beloved were properly introduced.”

Kiva made another distressed noise, but Zuleeka merely gave a poisonous smile and said, “Deverick Vallentis, meet Kiva Corentine — Torvin Corentine’s descendant and my dear rebel sister, who has been working tirelessly to bring you and your family to your knees.” Zuleeka winked at Kiva. “Well done, sister. I couldn’t have done this without you.”

Kiva barely heard Zuleeka, her gaze locked on Jaren, allowing her to see the devastation ravishing his features, his heart breaking before her eyes.

“It’s a stinging betrayal,” Zuleeka went on mercilessly. “But it gets worse.”

She dragged the tip of her dagger over Jaren’s chest, his breathing turning shallow — whether from fear of the weapon or from the pain of what he’d just learned, Kiva wasn’t sure.

“You see, my dear sister helped me steal the Book of the Law,” Zuleeka went on.

SHE’S LYING,Kiva wanted to scream.

“And coupled with this” — Zuleeka indicated the dagger — “I now have two items from your not-so-secret Royal Ternary. That leaves only one left.” She cocked her head. “Tell me, Your Highness, have you seenyoursister today?”

This time it was Caldon who made a strangled sound.

“With so many people coming and going for the party, it was almost too easy to steal her away,” Zuleeka said, grinning. “The poor little princess is having the most awful birthday, but I daresay your mother will give me anything I want in exchange for Mirryn’s safe return, don’t you think?”

Gods,gods,Kiva thought, recalling what Mirryn had said about Ariana just yesterday:I know she’d bring down entire kingdoms if anything ever happened to Jaren or Ori or me. She wouldn’t hesitate to do whatever it took to make sure we were safe.

The queen was going to hand over her Signet — there was no way she wouldn’t.

This was all Kiva’s fault.

And she couldn’t let it continue.

You’re different from them, Kiva, the light to their darkness.

Delora’s words fueled her desperation, stirring the magic in her blood and urging it to rise. It hadn’t worked around whatever Zuleeka had done to their grandmother, but Kiva refused to let that stop her. She would try, and keep trying, drawing on every drop of golden power in her veins to break free of the darkness trapping her. Trapping themall.

“As helpful as it’s been,” Zuleeka continued speaking to Jaren, “I’ve heard the power in this amulet has an expiration point, and you’ve certainly already tried to speed it along, given how much magic you threw at me when I first arrived. That must have been exhausting.”

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