Page 61 of The Gilded Cage

It took several moments before he whispered, “I’m tired, Mouse. I’m tired of seeing good people suffer for a cause I’m not even sure I believe in. A cause I’m not sure I’veeverbelieved in.”

Kiva stilled at his back.

As if the admission had loosened his tongue, Tor went on, stronger, “Zuleeka told you today to choose, but I was never given that option. Nine years old, and I became a rebel by default, shaped and molded to become their weapon. Theirgeneral.” His distaste at the title was clear, but then he released a long breath and acknowledged, “I’m who I am today because of what they taught me. I’m strong, I’m capable. I’m a leader. A warrior. I’ll always be grateful for that. But this life isn’t one I ever would have chosen for myself.”

“Tor,” Kiva whispered, holding him tight.

He sighed and pushed away a low-hanging branch. “It is what it is. And I’m lucky, compared to many.” A pause. “Compared to you.”

Kiva’s brow furrowed. “Me?”

“I would give anything,everything,to have kept you out of Zalindov,” Tor said, every word filled with pain. “I would have traded my life in an instant if I’d known they would let you go. I hate —” His voice broke. “Ihatethat you were alone in there for so long. I can’t imagine what you went through to survive. I don’t even knowhowyou survived.”

“I’m not sure, either,” Kiva admitted, shadows of memory filling her mind. “But I did, and we’re together again now — that’s all that matters.”

Tor took a hand off the reins to squeeze her fingers at his waist. “If anything happens to you —”

“It won’t,” Kiva told him firmly, ignoring that she had unpredictable magic and was attempting to overthrow a kingdom, committing treason by merely breathing. “But what are we going to do about you? It sounds like you’re having second thoughts.”

“How I feel doesn’t matter. I’ve committed my life to this cause.”

“A cause you just admitted you don’t believe in,” she pointed out.

“And yet, I’ll do what it takes to see it through.”

His words were unyielding but completely without passion, as if he’d resigned himself to his fate.

Kiva’s heart ached for the little boy she’d once known, his dreams having been stolen the same night she’d forfeited hers.

Quietly, she asked, “Why are the rebels fighting for us? I know whywe’reon this path, but why does anyone else care enough to risk their lives?”

“To them, we’re royalty,” Tor answered, his voice now carefully devoid of emotion. “For hundreds of years, all they’ve wanted was a Corentine back on the throne. Or at least, that’s the case for the most fanatical of Torvin worshipers, the ones whose families have stayed dedicated from generation to generation.”

“But what about the newer recruits who don’t care about bloodlines?” Kiva pressed. “Is it because they don’t like the Vallentis family?”

“There will always be people who disapprove of how a kingdom is run, regardless of who sits on the throne, so that’s true for some,” Tor confirmed. “Others just want anarchy for the sake of anarchy. But the rest ... Never underestimate the power of hope, Mouse.”

Kiva frowned into the thinning trees. “Sorry?”

“The rebels weren’t always so destructive,” he said. “Back when we first started to actively recruit, people joined us because Mother offered them something they desperately wanted — she healed them of their injuries and illnesses, just like Torvin did before he was exiled. But then —”

Tor stopped suddenly, but Kiva nudged him. “Then what?”

He waited until they’d splashed through a shallow creek before answering, “At first, Mother didn’t ask for anything in return for her magic. Whenever we traveled to a new village, she healed everyone who came to her. But then one day she began to say they needed toearntheir healing by proving themselves loyal. People were so desperate to help their loved ones — and themselves — that they joined our cause, waiting for the day Tilda Corentine would reward their devotion. As the time passed, she stopped healing people altogether, and started thriving on the chaos caused whenever the village guards were provoked, almost like she thought the bloodshed would turn more people to us. In some cases it did — but at what cost?” Tor shook his head. “To this day, I’ve never understood her strategy, but despite the unrest, people keep joining us in the hope that they’ll be healed.”

“But ... Mother is dead,” Kiva said carefully. “And neither you nor Zulee have magic.” Her eyes widened. “They’re not expectingmeto —”

“No, no.” Tor halted her growing panic. “Most of them haven’t heard about Mother yet. And like I said, she hadn’t healed anyone in a long time — long enough that the rebel leaders endorsed Zulee and me taking over despite us having no magic. It’s enough that the peoplethinkwe do, as Corentine heirs.”

His voice was bitter, revealing exactly how he felt about the deceit.

Kiva closed her eyes, now having a better understanding of the rebels but almost wishing she’d stayed oblivious. In her quietest voice yet, she breathed, “What happens if we succeed?”

It was a question she hadn’t allowed herself to consider before, partly for fear of how it made her feel. For so long she’d wanted vengeance, wantedjustice,and yet she couldn’t envision what the future might look like if her familydidmanage to take the throne.

“Honestly, I don’t know,” Tor said, with another loud sigh. “In theory, you, me, and Zuleeka would rule together.” He sounded as if he was swallowing nails, and Kiva couldn’t help feeling the same. The idea of ruling the kingdom, even if it was her birthright ...

An image of Silverthorn crept into her mind, a reminder of everything she’d be giving up. Her hopes, her dreams, her ambitions.

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