Page 47 of The Blood Traitor

Kiva swallowed and explained, “She said they’d help Navok’s forces invade if he got her into Zalindov — and if a Corentine ended up on the throne. She, uh, didn’t know about the Royal Ternary” — Kiva avoided looking at Jaren — “so she thought it was the best chance she had. Or at least, the quickest.”

“Why would Navok agree to that?” Eidran asked, his head tilted in thought. He’d kept so quiet for most of their conversation that Kiva had nearly forgotten he was there. “He’s wanted Evalon for too long to just conquer us and then hand over the crown.”

Kiva dreaded sharing the answer, but once again, Ashlyn didn’t hesitate.

“Navok retrieved Kiva from Zalindov to marry her,” the princess said. “That was the deal Tilda made. Her daughter, for our kingdom.”

Kiva stared at the ground, uncomfortably aware of everyone looking at her.

“She didn’t,” whispered Torell’s agonized voice. “Kiva — tell me she didn’t.”

She said nothing. Did nothing. Just stood there, wishing for the earth to open and swallow her whole.

“And I thought my family had problems,” Cresta murmured.

That made Kiva finally look up, ignoring everyone but the redhead as she said through clenched teeth, “You’re not helping.”

“It doesn’t matter now.” Ashlyn’s voice was deliberately light, as if to ease the sudden waves of emotion in the room — emotion that wasn’t coming from just Kiva and Torell.

Kiva didn’t want to look, wasafraidto look, but her gaze moved to Jaren without her permission.

His face —

Hiseyes—

He turned away and ran his hand through his tousled gold-brown hair. When he turned back again, his expression was blank once more.

But Kiva had seen it.

She hadn’t imagined it.

He’d been horrified — forher.

And he wasn’t the only one. Because unlike Jaren, Caldon didn’t have a reason to deny what he felt, and the way he was looking at her...

“I’m all right,” she said quietly, to him — but also to Jaren. “Ashlyn got me out in time.”

“Not quite in time,” Ashlyn said. “Hedidmanage to torture you first.”

Kiva’s body locked, and she snapped, “Ashlyn,” forgetting that she probably shouldn’t speak to a princess — and a general — in such a tone.

But Ashlyn held her indignant gaze and said, “They need to know.”

“Why?” Kiva demanded, throwing out her arms and wincing when the move pulled at her shoulder.

“They need all the facts so they can help us figure out why Navok agreed to the deal,” Ashlyn said calmly. “And don’t tell me you believe he said yes just so he could ally with the rebels. We both know it’s more than that — something to do with your magic. Why else would he have been so desperate to see you use it? And so furious when you wouldn’t?”

“Please,” Kiva said, rubbing her forehead, “can we just —”

“And you’re not the only thing we need to worry about when it comes to Mirraven,” Ashlyn went on, ignoring Kiva’s pleas. She turned to her brother and Jaren, and grimly revealed, “Navok has been collecting anomalies. Not one or two, but dozens. More than we ever thought existed. More thanshouldexist. I don’t know how he’s finding them, but their numbers are growing, and they’re seemingly loyal to him.”

“Dozens?” Jaren repeated, eyes wide. “How is that possible?”

Anomalies were supposed to be incredibly rare. Kiva was still amazed that she’d encountered two in her lifetime — Xuru and Galdric.That Navok had founddozens... Anxiety welled within her as she wondered what he was planning.

“I wish I knew,” Ashlyn said, visibly unsettled. “Voshell found out and was furious. He feared Navok might use them as leverage against the whole of Wenderall, including Caramor, so he confronted him and demanded a guarantee of safety for his kingdom. But Navok didn’t like that Vosh wasn’t acting like a weak-minded pawn, and when Vosh threatened to break their alliance, Navok laughed and said, ‘Go ahead’ right before he —” Ashlyn exhaled unsteadily, before finishing, “Navok attacked him. If Serafine hadn’t interrupted them, Vosh would be dead right now, rather than on his way back to Terith and preparing to close Caramor’s borders. Mirraven’s closest ally — Navok willfully destroyed that. And he did itlaughing.That means there’s more going on here than any of us realize.” Her focus returned to Kiva. “And something tells me it all has to do with you.”

Everyone in the room was as still as a statue listening to Ashlyn, even Cresta, who had paled significantly toward the end of the princess’s speech, as if finally realizing the gravity of what they faced.

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