Page 149 of The Gilded Cage

Jaren had fought her — of course he had. Naari, too, given the state of the guard. But neither of them had succeeded. Not with Jaren’s own magic protecting Zuleeka. Magic he’d givenKiva.

“I’m glad I had a warning from my sister about that,” Zuleeka went on slyly. “All four elements — it’s far too much power for one person. I knew that the moment she told me about your secret.”

Jaren’s eyes slashed to Kiva again, and again she wished she could scream that it wasn’t true. Kivahadn’tshared about his magic. But then ... how did Zuleekaknow?

“Fortunately, I have a way to fix that,” Zuleeka said, waving the dagger. “I’ve been trying to get my hands on this for years — not because it’s part of your Ternary,thatcame as a pleasant surprise — but because the Eye has a much more useful power, one that my mother told me all about.Hermother had the audacity to hide it from us, but as you already know, Kiva has been a wonderful spy in so many ways. She might as well have handed it right to me.”

Zuleeka had lied about wanting the blade as a symbol to the rebels. Lies upon lies. But Kiva couldn’t dwell on them now, instead strengthening her attempt to summon her magic, straining against the darkness that held her at bay.

“In all the legends you’ve heard about Sarana and Torvin, did you never wonder why Torvin didn’t return to take back his kingdom?” Zuleeka asked conversationally. “It’s because of this.” She touched a finger to the glittering jewel. “The Eye of the Gods — their gift to Sarana.” With a gleeful smile, she revealed, “A weapon forged to take away her husband’s magic.”

Jaren’s face turned white, and Caldon sucked in a sharp breath.

“I’d always intended to use it on you one day, takingyourmagic away,” Zuleeka declared, “but this opportunity is too good to resist. Why take your magic when I can just kill you?”

Kiva stopped breathing, her power slipping away like water through her fingertips.

Zuleeka pressed the blade up against Jaren’s heart, looking back and asking, “Any final words, sister?”

Kiva’s mouth loosened, but she didn’t speak, forcing aside her terror and concentrating,concentratingon the burning beneath her skin, the tingling at her fingertips, pulling power from the very essence of who she was. But still, the blackness swirled around her, no sign of her golden light even though she could feel itright there,just out of reach.

Your magic is pure, your heart is true. You have to fight it.

Kiva didn’t need Delora’s encouragement, already fighting with everything she had. Sweat dripped down her face, mixing with her tears — which only flowed faster when Zuleeka shrugged and resealed her lips, turning back to Jaren and crowing, “I guess she doesn’t care enough to say goodbye.”

You’re different from them,Delora had said,the light to their darkness.

Zuleeka drew back her dagger arm.

Be the light in the dark.

“Farewell, Prince,” Zuleeka said, her snake-smile growing.

Be the light in the dark.

Zuleeka’s dagger sliced through the air —

BE THE LIGHT IN THE DARK.

— and with an almighty scream, golden light burst from Kiva, the darkness vanishing under its sheer force, releasing her, releasing Caldon, releasing Jaren, leaving no trace of her sister’s corrupt magic to be seen.

But then Zuleeka’s blade stabbed into Jaren’s flesh.

Right into his heart.

A wave of power erupted from him, sending Kiva and Caldon flying into the wall, the windows shattering, the chandelier crashing to the ground. Zuleeka alone remained standing as Jaren slid to his knees, his mouth open in a gasp of pain, his now-free hands clutching at the dagger lodged in his chest.

“NO!”Kiva shrieked, her ears ringing, head pounding, not just from the strength of his shockwave, but also from how much it had cost her to banish Zuleeka’s magic.

She tried to get up, a sob leaving her when she couldn’t stand, but she needed to get to Jaren —she needed to get to Jaren.

Caldon was groaning, bleeding from his head, barely conscious. He couldn’t help her. She had to —she had to—

Crawling on hands and knees, heedless of the broken luminium shards cutting her skin, tearing her dress, she scrambled toward Jaren, reaching him just as Zuleeka viciously tore out her blade and declared, “Save him, or stop me. The choice is yours, sister.”

And then Zuleeka was gone, donning her mask — herVipermask — and sprinting out of the room to go make her bargain with the queen.

But Kiva didn’t care.

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