Page 137 of The Gilded Cage

Zuleeka turned back to meet her gaze, noting how angry she was, and relented, “I’ll tell you, but not here. Next time we’re somewhere safe — and alone.”

Kiva wanted to push for an answer, but her sister was resolute, so she gave a sharp nod of agreement. Despite her capitulation, she wasn’t letting Zuleeka off the hook yet. There were other answers she still needed.

Jerking her head toward Tipp, Kiva asked, “Did you steal the Book of the Law?”

If Zuleeka was startled by the subject change, she didn’t let on. “Not personally.”

“Zul —”

“I might have had a hand in it,” Zuleeka admitted.

Understanding hit Kiva. “Perita Brown was a rebel. She was your palace spy.”

“One of them.”

“Did youkillher?” Kiva gasped.

There was no softness in Zuleeka’s expression when she answered, “She didn’t want this one” — she indicated Tipp — “to get in trouble and was planning to confess. I did what I had to do.”

Kiva recoiled. “Butwhy?Why take the Book?”

Zuleeka wiped her bloodied hands on her pants. “Educational reasons.”

At the look Kiva sent her, Zuleeka huffed and explained, “You mentioned that hidden clause the other night, the Royal Ternary” — Kiva’s heart skipped a beat — “and it got me thinking: What else might be in there? What if there’s another secret clue that could help us?” Zuleeka shrugged. “I figured it couldn’t hurt to take a look.” She offered a sheepish look and said, “I’ll return it once I’m done. I swear.”

Kiva was appalled by the lengths her sister had gone to, but even so, she loosed a relieved breath at her response.

Before she could ask any follow-up questions, Zuleeka put her mask back on and pressed her fingers to her lips, giving a loud whistle. Seconds later, rebels started flooding into the warehouse. Many were splattered with blood, indicating there had been more fighting beyond the stacked crates. Just how many Mirravens had Navok sent? Kiva shuddered, realizing how gravely the northern king had intended to harm Jaren — and Evalon — today.

Another whistle, and the rebels started dragging bodies away, clearing up the mess. A few approached Rhess and Tor, listening as the young woman gave them quiet instructions before they took off again behind the crates.

“What about Mother?” Kiva asked, swinging back to Zuleeka.

“I already said I’ll tell you later about her bargain with —”

“No, what about her magic?”

Zuleeka stilled. “What about it?”

Kiva rearranged Tipp’s weight in her arms, before acknowledging there was no point in holding him anymore, so she gently lowered him to the ground. Meeting her sister’s gaze, she said, “Delora told me about what Mother did — how she used her magic to hurt people. Just like Torvin Corentine.That’swhat killed her, not some rotting illness.”

“Mother made sacrifices for our family that you can’t begin to imagine,” Zuleeka said, her honey-gold eyes darkening. “Don’t for one moment think you can judge her.”

“Are youdefendingher?” Kiva asked. “Shekilledpeople.”

“Look around you,” Zuleeka said, waving to the bloodied space. “These people died today because of you. How is that any different?”

Kiva spluttered, “It’scompletelydifferent. They wanted to hurt us. From what I heard, Mother attacked innocents. A wave of her hand and they weredead.”

“Grow up, Kiva,” Zuleeka snapped. “No one is innocent. Not in this world.”

Kiva flinched at her sudden wrath.

Realizing she’d lost control of her temper, Zuleeka sighed and touched her forehead over her mask. “I’m sorry. I just — I didn’t like seeing Tor like that. I’veneverseen him like that. If you hadn’t been here ...” She met Kiva’s gaze, her eyes haunted. “Thank you, Kiva. I don’t know what I would’ve done if I’d lost him.”

Kiva released a long breath, understanding her sister’s terror, if not her poor reaction. “I just wish you would stop keeping so many secrets from me.”

“Can you really blame me?” Zuleeka asked, sounding weary. “Tell me the truth: are you truly willing to turn your back on the Vallentis family? I saw how much they care for you, and you can deny it all you want, but I saw how much you care for them, too. Jaren, especially. Are you truly willing to take everything from them? Fromhim?”

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