Page 92 of The Gilded Cage

“But anyway,” Naari said, tugging at the hem of her leather gloves. “You can see how she and I have unfinished business. One day we’ll finish what we started, and believe me, that day can’t come soon enough.”

It took everything in Kiva to keep from flinching at Naari’s hard declaration. The idea of the two of them facing each other again, of what might happen to either of them ...

Gods, Kiva needed to figure out the mess in her head.

It’s him or us.Themor us. You can’t have it both ways.

She closed her eyes against Zuleeka’s words, exhaustion overwhelming her.

“It’s been a long day,” Naari said, rising to her feet. “I won’t tell Jaren you followed him tonight, but if it happens again — ifeitherof you try to sneak out again —”

“I won’t,” Kiva said quickly. “I promise.”

She was careful not to think about her return to Murkwood Cottage in three days, lest Naari read the lie on her face.

“Get some sleep, Kiva,” Naari said, her voice gentling. “And don’t worry about the Viper and the rebels. I spent most of my life in a kingdom oppressed by corrupt rulers and full of desolate and hateful citizens. I escaped that for good reason, and I’ll never allow it to happen here. The rebels won’t win — ever. You’re safe with us. You always will be.”

With those words, the guard offered a small smile before leaving the room, oblivious to the devastation she left in her wake.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

When dawn arrived the next morning, Kiva nearly wept at the sound of Caldon’s familiar knock on her door. But her lingering fatigue vanished when he greeted her with a tight smile and the unpleasant news that her siblings had replied, accepting her invitation to lunch.

While Kiva had half expected the news, she was still furious that they’d ignored her warnings — Zuleeka especially, after last night. If discovered, all three of them would be charged with treason, the punishment for which was public execution — if the Vallentis family was feeling merciful — or a one-way trip to Zalindov. Both possibilities left Kiva clammy despite the crisp morning air that greeted her as she followed Caldon outside.

Unaware of her inner turmoil, the prince pushed her harder than ever in their training session, making her realize that perhaps he hadn’tcompletelyforgiven her for yesterday, even if he was back to his normal bantering self. By the time they were done, Kiva could only hobble up to the palace, where she gifted herself a long, hot soak in her bathtub.

Too nervous to eat much for breakfast, Kiva did make sure to swallow her prescribed mouthful of Delora’s bitter potion, shuddering at the skin-crawling feeling of it taking effect. It was a means to an end, she reminded herself, and the day would come when she wouldn’t need it. She might even start to cherish her magic, as Jaren did his, training and strengthening it and using it for good without thinking of it as a burden. But with her siblings coming to the palace today, it was more important than ever that she have her power under control — or at least out of the way.

“Knock, knock!” came Mirryn’s voice, prompting Kiva to hide the stoppered vial in her bedside drawer just as the princess burst into her bedroom.

Mirryn smirked as she eyed Kiva from head to toe. “I know I said lunch would be informal, but you might want to reconsider your outfit. We don’t want dear Jaren having a heart attack at the table.”

Kiva tightened the towel she’d wrapped around herself upon leaving her bath. “Please, let yourself in,” she invited dryly. “It’s not like I’d want my privacy or anything.”

“You haven’t had privacy in a decade,” Mirryn said without a hint of compassion, taking a seat on Kiva’s bed. “You can deal with a few more minutes.”

Those few minutes became considerably longer when Mirryn declared herself Kiva’s stylist for the day, demanding she try on outfit after outfit until she found the perfect combination to wear to lunch.

At any other time, Kiva would have asked the princess to leave, but with butterflies somersaulting in her stomach and the familiar comfort of her magic gone — something Kiva hadn’t appreciated until it was no longer there — she was oddly grateful for Mirryn’s ceaseless prattle.

The princess was in one of her better moods, reclining on Kiva’s bed and sharing how the plans for her birthday masquerade were coming together, with it now only three days away. All too soon she cut herself off by declaring it was time for lunch, asking Kiva if she wanted to meet her siblings out in front of the palace or wait for them in the River Room, where a table had been set up.

Kiva didn’t likeeitheroption, but Mirryn chose for her, dragging her outside so they could wait alongside Jaren, Caldon, Tipp, and Naari.

If there was one good thing about that morning, it was that the king and queen had been called away to celebrate the opening of a bridge deeper in the city. Prince Oriel had gone with them, begging for Tipp to join them, but the redheaded boy had chosen to stay and meet Kiva’s family.

“You look like you’re going to throw up,” Caldon commented from Kiva’s side. “Or pass out. I can’t tell which.”

“Could be either,” Kiva muttered, causing him to chuckle. “Maybe both.”

“It’s going to be fine,” he told her in an uncommon show of comfort, nudging her in the ribs. “And if it’s not, then it’s not. What’s the worst that could happen?”

Kiva nearly started hyperventilating at the thought. She looked across to Jaren, longing for his steadying presence, but he’d been distant all day — not cold, but more like he was stuck in his own head. She wondered if it was because he’d been caught — and likely yelled at — by Naari last night, but she had a feeling it was more than that. He was normally so attuned to her, but today he didn’t sense her need for reassurance. Instead, his eyes were glued to the front gates, his face almost hard as he watched two figures approaching on horseback.

Oh, gods,Kiva thought, clenching her hands.Here we go.

In what felt like seconds, Torell and Zuleeka came to a halt before them, dismounting and handing their reins to the waiting grooms. Both siblings were dressed in simple clothes, Tor wearing dark pants and a forest green shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, Zuleeka in leggings and a modest tunic dress, no sign of a weapon on either of them. Or a mask.

---