Page 58 of The Blood Traitor

For a long moment, Kiva did nothing, just stared down at her friend and the dark shadows swirling around her. But then she reached out and linked their fingers together.

“Galdric’s right,” Kiva said quietly. “Iamscared of my magic. I’m scared ofmyself.” She exhaled and admitted, “But I’m more scared of losing anyone else who I care about.” She squeezed the guard’s hand. “I need you back, Naari.Weneed you back.”

Her words didn’t pull Naari from her unnatural slumber, but she hadn’t come to the infirmary just to talk to her friend.

You are who you decide to be, Kiva,Galdric had told her that morning.Good or bad, it’syourdecision.

As anxious as she was about what her magic could do and who she might become, right now, Kiva knew herself. She’d been through hell to get to where she was, suffered more in ten years — even in tenweeks— than many people did in an entire lifetime. There was no part of her that was tempted to evenconsiderusing her power for evil.

Kiva had made mistakes. Terrible, awful, life-ruining mistakes. But for better or worse, she’d always done what she thought was right. Her magic didn’t define who she was, nor did it have the power to decide her fate.

Tilda had chosen to embrace death magic, however briefly. Zuleeka had chosen the same dark path. But that wasn’t Kiva’s choice — and it never would be.

You’re different from them, her grandmother had said, just before she’d died.The light to their darkness.

Standing there, looking down at Naari, Kiva felt something settle within her. Her magic was a gift, not a weapon. She had no reason to fear it; it was a part of her, as real and as life-giving as the very blood in her veins.Shedecided what to do with it, no one else.

And she was determined to use it for good.

Past, present, and future — she wouldalwaysuse it for good.

Starting right now.

Inhaling deeply, Kiva tightened her grip on Naari and closed her eyes, calling to the magic in her blood. She didn’t allow her mind to wander down the path of fear, refusing to give power to the darkness of possibility.

Whispering to herself, Kiva chanted, “I am good. I am in control. And I am not afraid.”

She’d thought it would be difficult, that she would have to fight for it and wrestle it into submission, but it was as if her magic had been waiting for her to finally summon it, to embrace it, toacceptit. Almost immediately, her fingers began to tingle and warmth flooded her veins, right before golden light seared through her closed eyelids as her power flowed out in gentle, healing waves.

Kiva nearly wept at the feeling coursing through her, the purity of her magic, thegoodnessof it. It wasn’t evil —shewasn’t evil.

A half sob, half laugh left her as she willed her power to destroy Zuleeka’s shadows and release their hold on Naari.

The guard’s fingers twitched.

Kiva jumped and opened her eyes just in time to see her healing light fade — taking with it any trace of the death magic.

Zuleeka’s shadows were gone.

Kiva had done it. It hadn’t even beenhard. She’d just had to believe in herself — to not beafraidof herself.

“Naari?” Kiva whispered, swaying slightly, having forgotten how exhausted she always felt after using her magic. “Naari, it’s Kiva. Can you —”

Amber eyes shot open.

In an impossibly fast move, Naari launched herself out of bed and tackled Kiva, the two of them tumbling to the ground, the sheets tangling around their legs, the curtains tearing and falling down on top of them.

“What are you—” Kiva gasped out, but that was all she managed before the guard’s fingers wrapped around her throat.

Kiva had a single moment to panic before Naari’s weight was suddenly gone, her hands ripped from Kiva’s neck as she was hauled upward and away.

“Naari, stop!”

If Kiva hadn’t already been incapacitated by fear, she would have frozen at the sound of Jaren’s commanding voice. Through the darkened infirmary, she could see him wrestling with Naari, trying to contain her.

“Let me go!” Naari snarled. “Her sister is the Viper! She’s a Corentine! She —”

“Stop!” Jaren repeated, more firmly. “I know.Weknow. Just stop, and I’ll explain.”

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