Page 93 of The Gilded Cage

They weren’t the Viper and the Jackal today.

But they also very much were.

Kiva walked forward on quaking legs, forced a welcoming grin onto her face, and channelled Tipp’s over-the-top excitement to exclaim, “I’m so glad you could make it!”

Tor returned her grin, his eyes sparkling with barely suppressed humor as he pulled her into a hug.

“It’s going to be fine,” he whispered, unknowingly repeating Caldon’s words. “Take a breath and calm down.”

She followed his order, feeling only marginally better when she stepped back.

“Hello again, little sister,” Zuleeka said, her expression filled with so much warmth that Kiva blinked in shock, a feeling that only grew when she was drawn into a deep embrace.

Zuleeka was hugging her.

For the first time in ten years.

Startled as she was, Kiva wrapped her arms around her sister, tears prickling her eyes as she recalled what Zuleeka had said when they’d last parted.

I’ll try harder. I promise I will.

Kiva wasn’t oblivious — she knew Zuleeka was playing a role for the royals, acting like the doting sister. But the warmth on her face, the tightness of her hug — that felt genuine. Zuleekawastrying, just as she’d promised. They would both need time to heal from their rocky start, but there was suddenly so much hope inside Kiva that her queasy sense of dread began to fade.

Even so, that didn’t stop her from whispering into her sister’s ear, “I was there last night. You have alotof explaining to do later.”

Pulling away just in time to catch the flash of surprise on Zuleeka’s face, Kiva linked arms with both of her siblings and led them over to where the others stood. “I’d like you to meet my brother and sister, Torell and Zuleeka. Tor, Zulee, this is, um ...”

Words fled her as she realized she had no idea how to introduce the royals to their greatest enemies.

“I’m Caldon,” the prince said smoothly, stepping forward to save Kiva, shaking Tor’s hand and kissing the back of Zuleeka’s. Surprisingly, he didn’t attempt any flirtation, as if he knew the last thing Kiva needed was for him to be propositioning her sister.

“I’m Mirryn,” the princess said, continuing the introductions. She pointed to the rest of the group. “That’s Naari, Tipp, and —”

“Prince Deverick,” Jaren cut in, crossing his arms in a decidedly unwelcoming way.

Kiva rocked back on her heels, startled not only by the formal name, but also by the coldness in his tone. His eyes were like blue ice, the gold rims like blazing flames.

“It’s an honor, Your Highness,” Zuleeka said, curtseying deeply and looking at Jaren from under her lashes. “Thank you for taking such good care of our sister. We can’t tell you how much she means to us — and how grateful we are.”

Kiva felt a twinge of discomfort at the simpering words.

“Now that she’s back, we can be a family again. Just like we’ve always wanted,” Zuleeka said with a bright smile, looking fondly at Kiva.

Jaren said nothing, but his face remained like stone.

Something was very,verywrong.

Had he figured out that it was Zuleeka he’d crossed blades with last night? Did he know the Viper and the Jackal stood before him? Why else would he be soangry?

And yet he didn’t call for the guards, but simply said, “Lunch awaits us,” before turning on his heel and striding into the palace.

“Someone’s got a prickle in his pants,” Caldon murmured to Kiva, but she was too busy trying not to panic to reply.

He couldn’t know. Surely Jarencouldn’tknow. Zuleeka and Torell never would have come if they’d thought there was even achanceof being outed. But if not that, then why was Jaren so upset?

And then there was Naari, who was hurrying after Jaren — Naari who had no idea she was about to dine with her nemesis, the person who had cut off herhand.

The guard might not realize, but Zuleeka had to know who she had inflicted so much damage upon three years ago — and who she had crossed blades with multiple times since then, including just last night.

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