Page 131 of The Blood Traitor

“I know more than you think,” Kiva said, passing a trio of Gray Guards, their eyes frightened. “For example, I know the reason she tried to free me from Zalindov was so I could saveyou.”

Scoffing, Zuleeka said, “I don’t need anyone to save me. Not when I can do this.”

With a wave of her hand, the two anomalies nearest to her were released, but new shadows speared toward them, causing them to clutch at their chests, gasping and choking, before they crumpled to the ground.

Dead.

Kiva tried not to react, but horror flooded her at her sister’s merciless attack. They hadn’t even been able to defend themselves. And Kiva — she could have stopped it. But she’d been too slow, hadn’t eventhoughtof calling her own magic. It was a mistake she couldn’t afford to make again.

“Mother lost sight of our goals,” Zuleeka said, her eyes even more crazed now, as if every bit of magic she used darkened her soul further. “She couldn’t appreciate the true power we possess — Torvin’s deadly power, now ours to command. Mine and yours, Kiva.” She leaned forward, her face feverish. “You don’t need to save me, little sister — not when you canjoinme.”

Once again, Kiva was careful not to react, even as everything within her recoiled.

“Let go of your weak healing magic and embrace the shadows,” Zuleeka continued, her voice worshipful. She held out a hand, summoning a wisp of darkness and staring at it adoringly. “Together, we’ll be unstoppable — and we’ll take everything that belongs to us.”

Kiva tensed at the sight of the shadows, but steadied herself.Wait,urged a quiet voice in her mind.

“That’s the thing, Zulee,” Kiva said softly. “Itdoesn’tbelong to us.” She looked toward the armies still battling on the grounds, with them having no idea that the bridge was facing an entirely different threat. “Those are your rebels down there, but they’re not fighting for you. That’s Tor leading them, having earned that right — having earned theirrespect.But even so, that doesn’t mean he’s earned the kingdom. It’s not ours; it wasneverours. And I think Mother realized that. She was willing to give it up if it meant keeping you from destroying yourself.” Whispering now, Kiva held out a hand and said, “Let me help you, Zulee. Just like Mother wanted.”

For a moment, Kiva thought she might have been getting through to her sister.

But then Zuleeka’s face darkened and she said, low and dangerous, “Mother never should have turned her back on our bloodline. She was a traitor — and so are you. If you won’t join me, then you can joinher.”

With that, Zuleeka flung out her hand, her dark, deadly magic closing the distance between them. But Kiva was ready. Her heart ached as she thought about Caldon, how he’d made her practice over and over with his flames shooting toward her. He was the reason she was able to react fast enough now, sending her healing light forward to meet Zuleeka’s shadows, dissolving them in the air.

The look of stunned surprise on her sister’s face would have been satisfying at any other time.

“Looks like you’ve learned some new tricks,” Zuleeka hissed, her honey-gold eyes flashing.

And then she attacked again.

Shadow after shadow speared toward Kiva, with her own power pouring out, keeping the death magic at bay — but onlyjust.The assault was unending, causing sweat to drip down her brow, her hands to shake, her knees to weaken. But still, strike after strike, she continued to summon her light and hold her sister back.

Then, suddenly, Zuleeka loosed a frustrated roar and banished the darkness over the bridge, inviting the reawakened chaos. The soldiers and anomalies were disoriented for the briefest of moments before they launched back into their own attacks, with Cresta and Navok furiously renewing their duel. Kiva could see Jaren sprinting toward her, but he was waylaid by a group of Gray Guards, forced to engage or be skewered by their blades. And then she couldn’t watch him anymore, her sister’s shadows coming at her again, more viciously than ever before.

“Why — won’t — you — just —die!” Zuleeka grunted between attacks, moving closer with every strike. Soon she was within spitting distance, and that was when she did something Kiva didn’t expect — she touched a Royal Guard running past, her magic working too fast for Kiva to keep the woman from death, after which Zuleeka snatched up her fallen sword and stabbed it forward.

Kiva jumped to the side and frantically scanned the ground for a weapon, but then Naari was there, leaping to intercept Zuleeka’s blade.

Zuleeka roared again and fought back with a vengeance. Seeing them pivot around each other made Kiva remember the feud between them — how years ago, Zuleeka had taken Naari’s hand, and just months ago, had forced her into a magical coma. Naari was out for blood now, but Zuleeka was a deadly opponent, her magicandher swordsmanship a lethal combination.

Kiva did everything she could to keep the shadows from touchingNaari as she battled Zuleeka, remaining close enough to nullify her sister’s dark power all while dodging the magical and mundane attacks occurring around them. Her own power began to splutter, but she reached deep within herself, begging for more, despite knowing she couldn’t continue for much longer. What they were doing wasn’tworking.Even with Naari’s help, Zuleeka wasn’t weakening, and no one else was free to lend their strength against her. Jaren was still surrounded by guards, his magic fully depleted. Cresta was lost in her duel with Navok, her entire focus on her brother. Everyone else was out on the grounds, too far away to offer any aid. And Kiva’s magic... what remained was like a candle flickering in the wind.

Love. She needs to focus on love.

Caldon’s voice whispered across her mind, causing a sob to catch in her throat. She couldn’t think about him now, or how one of the last things he’d said was that he wouldn’t let her face Zuleeka alone:We’re in this together, Sunshine. You and me.

Only, hewasn’tthere. And shewasfacing Zuleeka without him.

Kiva’s heart cracked all over again.

But she now also knew what she had to do.

Love. She needs to focus on love.

Despite her training, all the magic she had left was currently being fueled by desperation — but it needed more than that. For light to grow, it neededmorelight.

I want you to think of a memory,Jaren had told her, weeks earlier,a good one.

---