Page 120 of The Blood Traitor

Kiva doubted he had a plan other than to get them aboveground, but she said nothing and just bounded after him, aware that Cresta’s patience was wearing thin. She wasn’t sure why the ex-quarrier was so on edge and could only assume it had something to do with their Zalindov days and the redhead’s overzealous thirst for violence. Cresta needed to be part of the battle, not watching from the sidelines. But Kiva knew they wouldn’t be remaining that way for long. Because as soon as Navok realized they were there... as soon asZuleekarealized they were there... and specifically, thatKivawas there...

Cresta would have her chance to fight; Kiva was sure of it.

Sprinting to the end of the tunnel, the four of them ran up yet more stairs until they were finally aboveground again, in the shining white and gold entrance hall of the western palace. But before they could make it any further, the ornate front doors burst open, and Eidran and Captain Veris stumbled backwards through them, fighting off six gray-clad opponents, none of whom, thankfully, appeared to have any magic.

Jaren, Naari, and Cresta lunged forward, unsheathing their swords and jumping straight into the fray. Kiva barely had time to blink, let alone consider how she might help, before all six Gray Guards wereon the ground. She didn’t look at them as she moved stiffly to join her friends, her healer’s compassion at war with her logic, even if she knew there was nothing she could do for them now.

Veris was panting fiercely, but he still managed to bob his chin in a short bow toward Jaren. “Your Highness, General Ashlyn said you were on your way.”

Eidran’s chest was heaving as he looked at Jaren and reported, “The anomalies’ training is limited, but their numbers are overwhelming. And they came with an entire legion of Gray Guards. We won’t be able to hold them off for much long —”

That was all he managed before more gray-leathered warriors flooded through the doors, weapons raised, the battle outside now feeding into the palace.

Jaren shoved Kiva back just as two men roared and charged toward him. He dispatched them with ease, before taking on two more, all while Naari and Cresta fought fearlessly beside Veris and Eidran. But no matter how many Gray Guards they brought down, still more appeared through the doors.

“Where’s Navok?” Cresta shouted to the captain, barely audible over the sounds of crashing steel and pained groans.

Veris didn’t question who she was, only yelled back, “Last I heard he was locking Serafine in the library, but that was a while ago — he could be anywhere now!”

Cresta grunted as she kicked a man in the chest, sending him flying. Before anyone could stop her, she bolted out of the entrance hall — not through the doors to the battle on the grounds, but deeper into the palace.

“Cresta!” Kiva screamed after her, incredulous. Did she really expect to find Navok in the multi-floored labyrinth of the palace? There weretwo sides,for everworld’s sake. As Veris had said, the Mirraven king could beanywhere.And even if Crestadidfind him, what did she intend to do?He would almost certainly be surrounded by anomalies — she wouldn’t even getcloseto attacking him.

But as much as Kiva feared for her foolish, headstrong friend, she was now also concerned for the rest of them, since still more warriors were pouring through the doors, and this time there were magic wielders among them. Unable to just stand there and watch, she rushed forward, scanning the ground for a fallen weapon. But before she could make it two steps, the marble tiles cracked open under her feet and she had to scurry backwards again.

“Where’s my sister?” Jaren yelled to Eidran, hacking at the vines trying to creep up his legs.

“Queen’s chambers,” Eidran called back, flinging a dagger toward a fire elemental, his aim lethal. “She’s unguarded, but —”

He didn’t finish before he was thrown across the room by an air anomaly, who Naari immediately turned her attention to, cutting the woman down before she had another chance to use her magic.

Eidran shook himself off and leapt back into the fray, just as Jaren ran out of it, dashing over to Kiva and tugging her behind a pillar, momentarily hiding them from sight.

“We need to go,” he said, panting.

Kiva took in the war zone happening around them and shook her head. “They need you here.”

“But —”

“I can’t help with this fight,” Kiva cut him off, “but I know how to get to the queen’s chambers. Eidran said Mirryn is unguarded — I’ll be fine. I can do this.” Her pulse spiked at the thought of going on alone, but they would only be apart for a few minutes, and what she’d said was true — he was needed here, and she was not.

Jaren glanced at their struggling friends, before turning back to her, his eyes conflicted. But he finally nodded and reached into his pocket, withdrawing the leather pouch containing the first three rings andpressing it into her palm. “Get the Signet, then come find me.” He leaned in and gave her a fierce, desperate kiss, before pulling back again and ordering, “If Zuleeka comes out of hiding, you run. You don’t face her without us there to back you up, understand?” He didn’t wait for her to agree before he touched the amulet at her chest. “And whatever you do, don’t take this off. Mirryn is worse with a blade than you are. As long as you’re wearing this, she won’t be able to hurt you.”

Since the amulet was still imbued with Caldon’s and Ashlyn’s magic, Kiva knew it would keep her safe from anything but water. She wasn’t afraid of facing Mirryn, but as she stared back at Jaren, her courage wavered at the thought of leaving him, however briefly. She didn’t fear for herself, but shedidfear for him.And not just him — there was also Naari and Eidran and Veris, who were fighting just beyond the pillar; Torell and Ashlyn and Rhessinda, who were outside battling on the grounds; and Cresta, who had vanished to gods knew where. Kiva’s only relief was that Caldon, Tipp, and Galdric were still making their way to Vallenia, safe from the innumerable enemy that the rest of their friends were facing. But that wasn’t enough to calm her, not when everyone else was in such imminent danger.

“Go, Kiva,” Jaren said softly, seeing the worry growing in her eyes. He kissed her once more, the barest of lip touches. “Go.”

With that, he turned and ran straight back into the fight, where even more Gray Guards had arrived, but so too were there now more silver-armored Royal Guards to help balance the numbers. Regardless, Eidran, Veris, and Naari were being swarmed, and Jaren immediately dove in to aid them.

Kiva allowed herself two seconds to watch his sword fly, seeing how capable he was even without his magic and telling herself that nothing would happen to him, nothingcouldhappen to him, before she spun on her heel and sprinted away.

She barely noticed the white and gold hallways blurring by, the portraits on the walls, the statues standing at attention, focused only on racing as fast as she could along the lengthy palace corridors and up the red-carpeted staircases. Higher she rose, her lungs screaming with every floor she passed, until finally she was bolting along the passage she needed, the gilded doors of the queen’s chamber now in view and coming closer with every step.

Kiva paused only long enough to shove them open, sending them slamming back against the walls as she bounded straight through.

But what she saw on the other side had her staggering to a halt.

“What?” she breathed, the word more a gasp given her heavy panting.

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