Page 51 of The Blood Traitor

She couldn’t keep the tears from welling this time, knowing he was only staying there for her.

“Gods, don’t start crying again,” Caldon mumbled, somehow sensingher overflowing emotions, even with his eyes closed. “Come here.” He reached out blindly and drew her closer until her head rested on his shoulder, and only then did he repeat, “Sleep, Kiva.”

And so, curled up next to him, she tried to calm her aching heart enough to follow his command.

Despite her best efforts, it took Kiva hours to fall asleep that night. When she finally woke in the morning, the first thing she noticed was that both Tipp and Caldon were gone.

Hurt flooded her as she realized Tipp must not have wanted to see her, but before she could let the pain take root, the door to the room opened. She looked up, her hopes rising, only to see Ashlyn step through, dressed in the same leather-like armor as her guards, only her outfit was white, rather than black, making the weapons strapped to her body stand out in stark contrast.

“Wow, you look thrilled to see me,” the princess said dryly.

“Sorry,” Kiva said, standing up and stretching her stiff muscles. “I thought you were someone else.”

Ashlyn’s face turned sympathetic. “They just need —”

“Time,” Kiva said glumly. “I know.”

Thankfully, the princess didn’t offer false comfort. “I brought you some breakfast. Cal said he forgot to get you some food last night, so you need to eat.” She held out a plate, then lowered a canvas bag from her shoulder to the ground. “I brought some of my clothes, too. When you’re ready, I’ll take you to the bathing chamber, but I want to check your burn first to make sure it’s healed enough to get wet.”

Kiva wrinkled her nose as she took the food. “You’re very pushy. Just like your brother.”

“He and I are as similar as we are different,” Ashlyn said, a pained note in her voice.

Carefully, Kiva hedged, “Can I ask —”

“Eat,” Ashlyn ordered, making it clear that she didn’t want to talk about Caldon. “We have a lot to do today, starting with Galdric.”

At the mention of the ex-rebel leader, Kiva obediently started shoveling eggs and beans and toast into her mouth. She finished the plate in record time and then, at Ashlyn’s urging, pushed aside her collar so the princess could inspect her wound. The tight fit of the material made it difficult to see the whole burn, so Kiva had to unlace the front of the dress and wriggle out of the sleeves, leaving her standing in the middle of the room holding the bodice to her chest, her bare back facing the door.

She didn’t hear it open.

But she did hear the growled, “What thehell?”

Kiva whipped around, her eyes as wide as saucers. She gripped the dress tighter, quickly checking to make sure it was fully covering her front, even knowing that a greater damage had already been done.

Because Jaren was standing in the doorway, and given what he’d said — andhowhe’d said it — he’d clearly seen her shoulder.

In three long strides he was standing before her and ordering, “Turn around.”

Kiva was frozen to the spot.

“Jaren —” Ashlyn tried, a careful warning in her voice, but he cut her off.

“Kiva,turn around.”

It was the sound of her name on his lips that unfroze her, and her eyes shot to his. There was something in his expression that she didn’t dare read into, needing to protect her broken heart.

But even so, she saw it.

He was concerned — forher.

And for some reason, that terrified her.

Kiva began trembling visibly enough that Jaren noticed. His facechanged then, gentling slightly, transforming him not quite into the Jaren she’d once known, but close.

Quieter, he said, “Please, Kiva. Turn around and let me see.”

She couldn’t deny his soft, pleading voice, so she turned, baring her shoulder to him, and hearing his swift intake of breath.

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