Page 73 of The Gilded Cage

Kiva whimpered. “Would you care if I told you the only part of me that doesn’t hurt is my hair?”

“I’d care,” Caldon answered. He grinned and added, “Because as long as any part of you doesn’t hurt, that means I need to push you harder tomorrow.”

Kiva didn’t have the energy to reply. Or cry, which was what she really felt like doing. Never before had she been more grateful for Rhessinda’s quick-acting muscle relaxant powder that was waiting in her room — if only she could summon the strength to get there.

“All right, Sweet Cheeks, I’ll help you out, just this once,” Caldon said, hauling her up to her feet.

“You’re too kind,” Kiva groused — or she tried to, but her words ended in a pain-filled groan as she sought to keep her legs from crumpling beneath her.

“Usually, yes,” Caldon agreed. “But today it’s also for self-serving reasons.”

“With you, it usually is.”

“Be nice,” Caldon said, “or I won’t play tour guide.”

It took Kiva a second to realize what he’d said. “I’m sorry, what?”

“Your boyfriend felt bad about leaving you,” Caldon informed her, wiping a speck of dirt off his training shirt, “so he asked me to entertain you while he’s gone. Show you the city, introduce you to the best of Vallenia, that kind of thing.”

The pain fled Kiva as dread took hold. “That’s really not necessary.” Quickly, she added, “And he’s not my boyfriend.”

Caldon waved a hand. “Semantics.”

“Seriously,” Kiva said, “I’m fine keeping my own company.”

“Be that as it may, I made my cousin a promise,” Caldon said, collecting her wooden sword and nudging her toward the training yard exit. “Until Jaren returns, you and I will be spending some quality time together. Lots and lots of quality time.” With another easy grin and a quick wink, he finished, “Consider me your new best friend, Sunshine. Where you go, I go. Doesn’t that sound fun?”

For the next few days, Kiva couldn’t sneeze without Caldon being close enough to offer her a handkerchief.

Each morning, they continued their training, with Kiva only surviving the new sword practice thanks to heavy doses of Rhess’s pain-killing muscle relaxant. As soon as Caldon declared their sessions over, he barely gave her enough time to clean up and change before he was upholding his promise to Jaren by whisking her off into the city.

Kiva didn’t have a spare second to eventryto sneak away, and while she’d experienced no further magic bursts in that time, she was increasingly aware of the power lurking beneath her skin, like a whispered reminder that it was there — and it wanted out. Recalling how her mother had apparently used “little magics,” Kiva wondered if doing the same might help keep hers from bursting free. But the fear of discovery kept her from any such attempt, and she cast the thought from her mind.

When Saturday morning arrived — five days since Jaren’s departure — Kiva was desperate enough to hatch a drastic plan. Jaren had said he’d be away for four days, possibly more, and that meant he could return at any time. When he did — along with Naari and Captain Veris — it would be so much harder for her to leave the city undiscovered.

During her brainstorming, she’d considered using Silverthorn as an excuse again, just like when she’d snuck away to Oakhollow. But with Caldon shadowing her steps, she knew he would only follow her. Even so, Kiva had decided that the academy would still help her evade the prince, if in another, more extreme way.

The first part of her plan began when she finished her morning training and Caldon revealed the places he planned to take her that day, starting with the Temple of the Forgotten Gods, then heading over to the Singing Gardens. After that, they would take a dip in Sarana’s Baths, and finish with a hike up the Warrior’s Steps to catch the sun setting over the city.

Kiva felt tired just thinking about it all, and she used that emotion to turn pleading eyes on him and say, “Do you mind if we stop at Silverthorn on our way? I want to pick something up.”

“Are you being vague on purpose?” Caldon asked, running his fingers along his wooden sword.

Kiva placed her hands on her hips and shamelessly lied, “I was trying to spare you the details, but since you’re such a busybody, I have cramps and want to grab some moonflower.”

Caldon frowned. “You should have told me earlier. I would have gone easier on you if I’d known you were in pain.”

“I’m in paineverymorning with you,” Kiva returned, feeling a sliver of guilt at his unanticipated compassion. “You’ve never cared before.”

“That’s different,” he said. “And you know it.”

If Kivahadbeen suffering from her monthly cycle, she might have been emotional enough to hug him. Instead, she swallowed her gratitude and agreed to meet him after she’d bathed.

The second part of her plan took place when they arrived at Silverthorn, with Kiva loosing a relieved breath at seeing Rhessinda sitting on the same bench as the first time she’d sought the healer out.

“Do you mind giving me a moment with her?” Kiva asked Caldon, gesturing toward Rhess. “I, um, just want to talk to her about some of my, uh, symptoms.”

The prince seemed surprised by her fake embarrassment, and she swore inwardly, realizing that, as a healer, she should have been perfectly at ease talking about all bodily functions. Thankfully, Caldon let it go and halted on the path, leaning against one of the stone arches to wait.

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