Page 62 of The Gilded Cage

Her future.

But then more images came to her.

Kerrin with a sword through his chest.

Faran being dragged off by the Royal Guard.

Tilda covered in blood, blind eyes staring at nothing forevermore.

Three lives, all gone.

Kiva could no longer deny that, like Tor, she was having second thoughts. But she also couldn’t forget the atrocities that had been committed against her family, the heartache she would never heal from. The Vallentis family had done that to her.

And that was why, even if her heart was divided, she had no choice but to do the same to them.

Even if it cost her everything.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Torell left Kiva at the Tippled Boar after making her promise not to return to Oakhollow, claiming the risk of discovery was too great. In return, Kiva handed back Zuleeka’s mask and agreed to send any messages through the innkeeper, before giving her brother a warm hug goodbye.

Rhessinda found her in the tavern’s courtyard shortly afterward and maintained a mostly one-sided conversation on the ride back to Vallenia. By the time they dismounted outside Silverthorn’s stables, the sun was dropping below the horizon.

Sensing Kiva’s anxiety, Rhess shooed her away. “I’m here every day for the morning shift — come find me if you want a break from palace life,” the healer invited. “We can go get chocabuns.”

“Sounds perfect,” Kiva said, before taking off down the hill and hurrying along the River Road, reaching the palace in record time.

She’d barely unfastened her cloak when an angry knock sounded at the door to her room.

Kiva froze, a million fears hitting her all at once.

What if someone had seen her leave the city?

What if they’d followed her to Oakhollow?

What if she’d been spotted in the rebel camp?

What if the mask hadn’t fooled them?

What if —

“K-Kiva, I know you’re in there! I heard you c-c-come back!”

The breath whooshed out of her as she opened the door to find Tipp standing there, his freckled face set in a frown.

“You’ve been g-g-goneall day.”

There was no denying the accusation in his tone, but Kiva was unsure why it was there.

“I went to Silverthorn.”

Not a lie. And yet, she still hated herself for the half-truth.

“I w-w-wanted to show you what Ori and I d-did in art class today, and you weren’t here!” Tipp cried. “I always know where t-to find you, and I c-couldn’t!”

Kiva suddenly understood why he was so upset.

For three years, Tipp had been able to seek her out anytime he’d needed her. At Zalindov, she’d always been in the infirmary. At the winter palace, they’d barely left each other’s sides as they’d acclimatized to their new freedom. Even when they’d reached Vallenia, Kiva had never disappeared for as many hours in a row as she had today.

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