Page 52 of The Blood Traitor

“Who did this to you?” he asked, in that same quiet tone, but now it was brimming with something else: anger.

Kiva’s mouth was too dry to speak, so Ashlyn answered for her.

“I told you last night — Navok wanted to see her healing magic. When she refused, he had one of his anomalies hit her with a fireball, burning straight through to the bone. He didn’t realize she can’t heal herself. And before you ask, it happened yesterday. I had to give her Serpent’s Kiss just so we could escape last night.”

“Serpent’s Kiss?” Jaren repeated, sounding horrified. “Are you insane? You could have killed her!”

“It was that or leave her there to marry the bastard,” Ashlyn defended. “Since when do you care, anyway?”

The words were said as a challenge, but they prompted an icy silence, during which Kiva couldn’t bring herself to turn back around and face Jaren. She didn’t know what his reaction meant, whether his concern was out of habit, or whether some part of himdidstill care for her. Either way, her heart felt lighter than it had in months, until —

“Galdric is awake.” Jaren shared his reason for being there, his tone now emotionless, as if Ashlyn’s question had indeed reminded him about his feelings. “He won’t talk without Kiva being present. Everyone is waiting for you both.”

Kiva spun around just in time to see Jaren disappearing through the doorway.

Ashlyn winced. “Sorry. I saw the look on his face, and I just — I thought that would go differently.”

“It’s not your fault,” Kiva said, releasing a frustrated breath. “I’m as surprised as you that he...” She trailed off, feeling foolish for eventhinkingthe word “cared.”

“Love isn’t something you can turn on and off at will,” Ashlyn said gently. “From what I just witnessed, whatever Jaren once felt for you hasn’t changed, no matter how hard he might be trying to ignore it.”

“That’s what makes this so hard, though,” Kiva said, staring woefully at the empty doorway. “He’s torturing himself. No —I’mtorturing him, just by being here. I’m a constant reminder of everything he’s lost.”

“I think you might not be giving him enough credit,” Ashlyn said, helping relace Kiva’s dress. “Jaren is one of the smartest people I know. You lied to him and betrayed him, but from what I’ve heard, you also chose him over your own family. Andyoudidn’t stab him with the Eye of the Gods — you saved his life. He’s acting emotionally right now, but he’ll come to his senses. You’ll see.”

Kiva appreciated Ashlyn’s confidence, even if she struggled to feel the same way. And yet, as she followed the princess to the communal bathing chamber and showered quickly before donning her new clothes — leathery white armor almost identical to Ashlyn’s — she couldn’t help envisioning Jaren’s face again. Not the angry, blank expression he’d worn for most of their reunion, but the gentle, softer look he’d revealed upon seeing she was injured.

Thatwas her Jaren.

He was still in there.

And that, more than anything else, allowed her to hope.

Chapter Thirteen

Galdric was waiting for them in the command center, sitting comfortably at the head of the rectangular table. His bruises had faded slightly, his hair was clean and tied back in a leather band, his beard was trimmed short and neat, and he’d been given a fresh set of clothes, making him look like an entirely new person.

The moment Kiva entered the room beside Ashlyn, Galdric’s brown eyes locked on her — as did everyone else’s.

Just like last night, Jaren, Caldon, and Eidran were all there, but to her surprise, so were Torell and Cresta, both unbound and, like Galdric, much cleaner and wearing new clothes — in black, like Jaren and Caldon and the rest of the outpost soldiers. When Kiva looked at Ashlyn in question, she just shrugged and said, “We have bigger problems to deal with right now. We can decide their fates later.”

Kiva offered a grateful nod and moved directly toward her brother. No longer fettered by ropes, he drew her into a tight embrace, but released her immediately when she sucked in a pained breath.

“What’s wrong?” Torell asked, looking her over.

“Nothing,” Kiva said, ignoring her aggravated shoulder. “Just stiff from sleep.” She turned to Caldon before Tor could call her on her lie and asked, “Where’s Tipp?”

“He’s with Naari,” Caldon answered, causing renewed guilt to churn within Kiva. “He, uh, got up early and didn’t want to wake you.”

Now Caldon was the one who was lying, but Kiva repressed what she was feeling and focused on why they had all gathered, returning her attention to Galdric.

He was still watching her closely, so she walked toward him and took a seat at the table, with everyone else doing the same around her.

Before she could decide how to begin her questioning, Galdric spoke first.

“Whatever you think you know, you’re wrong.”

The words echoed around the room, causing Kiva to frown, and she wasn’t alone.

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