Page 108 of The Gilded Cage

Kiva stood in the doorway, stunned, as the beaming Jaren strode into the room, waving to all the delighted faces around him.

Children, Kiva mentally corrected — waving to all the delightedchildrenaround him.

One quick glance at the small beds lined up beside each other, the mishmashed art plastered to the walls, and the colorful toys strewn haphazardly across the floor told Kiva that they were in the children’s ward of the long-term patient infirmary.

And at the center of it all was the crown prince, his arms stretched wide as the children scrambled from their beds — some much slower and weaker than others — and hurried over to him.

“He’s always so good with them.”

Kiva turned to find a white-robed Silverthorn healer having crept up beside her, the middle-aged, dark-skinned woman watching the prince with clear adoration — not for who he was, but for what he was doing. Because as Kiva watched, Jaren raised his hands ... and the children started flying.

Squeals of joy left them as they zoomed around the ward, with Jaren seeming to know who needed to be more careful and treating them accordingly. Parents and visitors looked on, all smiling at the prince with love and appreciation, as if they’d seen this before. Numerous times.

It was enough for Kiva to turn to the healer and ask, “Does he come here often?”

“Every week,” the woman replied, motioning for Kiva to step further into the room. “Well, at least when he’s here in the city. He was gone for most of the winter — the children were devastated — but he came again as soon as he returned. He’s so generous with his time, especially since he divides his hours evenly amongst the other places, too.”

Kiva watched as Jaren waved his hand and flowers appeared around the room, joined by blossoming vines that crept across the ceiling and up the walls, the ward coming alive with natural beauty. And with it, Kiva suddenly understood why he’d needed the amulet.

It was a cover.

The public knew Prince Deverick controlled both wind and fire magic, but nothing more. If he’d been here and done this before, he must have come up with a story about the amulet, making them believe his family had imbued it with power for him to manipulate — when really, he wasn’t using it at all.

Kiva’s throat grew tight and she rasped out, “Other places?”

The healer nodded. “Oh, yes. He gets around, our Prince Deverick. He visits all the orphanages, the elderly respites, even helps feed and clothe the homeless down near the docks. Whatever he can do to ease the suffering of others.”

Tears prickled the back of Kiva’s eyes, her throat tightening even more, keeping her from forming a response.

The healer noted her reaction and stepped closer to quietly say, “Queen Ariana is respected well enough, but Prince Deverick? He’s the people’s prince. He’sourprince. The day he inherits the throne will be the best day in Evalon’s history.” She shifted her gaze to Jaren, who had returned all the children to the ground and was now juggling fire balls to their shrieks and laughter. “That young man is destined for greatness. He’s going to be the best king we’ve ever seen. I’m certain of it.”

Kiva couldn’t take any more.

Because as Jaren summoned water droplets and made them sparkle like beads of light, wowing the children anew, she couldn’t help looking at him and knowing down to her bones that the healer was right. Hewouldbe a wonderful king — thebestking.

And her family was planning to take that from him.

Shewas planning to take that from him.

“Goodness, Healer Tura, what did you say to our visitor? She looks like she’s about to be ill.”

Kiva forced her eyes from Jaren to see the Matron Healer entering the ward, evidently recognizing her despite the mask.

“We were just talking about how wonderful the prince is, Matron,” Tura said. Her eyes turned alert as she looked at her charges. “If you’ll excuse me, it looks like young Katra is about to cause some mischief.”

She headed quickly toward a little girl who was tying one of Jaren’s still-growing vines around her own feet, clearly hoping it might rise enough to dangle her in the air now that he’d set all the flying children back down.

“I was hoping to see you again, Miss Meridan,” Healer Maddis said once they were alone. “When I heard Prince Deverick was here with a companion, I hurried over to see if it was you.”

“I’m sorry, Matron Healer,” Kiva said, “but if this is about me attending —”

Maddis waved her hand. “I said you could take your time deciding, and I meant that.” She pulled a jar from her robes, a pale ointment contained within, and held it out. “I came to bring you this.”

Kiva unstoppered the lid, noting familiar scents but unable to identify every ingredient. “What is it?”

“It’s for your hand.”

It took Kiva a moment to process the words, but when she did, her eyes shot up to meet Maddis’s.

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