Page 83 of The Blood Traitor

But this time, nothing happened, the amulet making the flames fizzle out to nothing.

“WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?”

Kiva was shaking like a leaf, but at the sound of Jaren’s infuriated roar, she lowered her arms to find him racing over to them, his sword glinting in the early morning sunlight, his face drained of color. When he was only a few steps away, he slowed, his gaze shifting to the amulet, before touching on every other part of her, checking her for burns that didn’t exist. His cheeks flushed as realization hit him, and he avoided her eyes as he said to Caldon, his voice tight, “Make sure you keep replenishing the amulet. If it runs out —”

“I’d never let anything hurt her,” Caldon said, offended. Lower, he added, “Unlike some people, who are doing all the hurting.”

Jaren stiffened, and still without looking at Kiva, he turned and jogged back toward the sparring area.

“Hey — Jaren —wait!” Kiva called, shooting an angry look at Caldon before hurrying after the crown prince. She was still trembling from what had just happened, and with every step she took nearer to where Jaren had halted, she second-guessed her timing, but she also knew she had to speak to him before she lost her chance — and her courage.

Jaren continued to avoid her gaze, but he’d obeyed her call and was waiting for her to catch up, so she straightened her spine and approached, all while hearing the memory of his infuriated, panicked roar in her ears.

Hope rose to near bursting within Kiva, and she was desperate toask about his reaction, but when she came to a stop in front of him, halfway between where Caldon stood and where the others were still sparring in the early morning light, all the words left her.

“Did you want something?” Jaren asked when she remained silent for too long, his fingers flexing around the hilt of his sword.

There was impatience in his tone, enough that Kiva winced inwardly and blurted out, “Galdric thinks we’ll have traveled far enough later today for him to windfunnel us the rest of the way to Ersa.”

Jaren said nothing, so Kiva toed the sand with her boot and continued rambling. “It’ll be good not to have to ride through the Forsaken Lands. Everything I’ve heard about them has been —”

“I need to get back to Naari,” Jaren interrupted, definitely impatient now. “Is that all?”

Kiva swallowed, her eyes flicking over to where Naari was busy sparring with the others, revealing Jaren’s lie. He just wanted to be anywhere that wasn’t withher.

But enough was enough.

Inhaling deeply, Kiva said, “No, that’s not all.”

Jaren sheathed his sword and crossed his arms, waiting.

Kiva, however, suddenly became aware of Caldon’s eyes on them, and also the sneaky but still obvious glances that the sparring partners were sending them, Torell, Ashlyn, Cresta, even Naari herself. Eidran alone seemed to be minding his business, fully absorbed in his training — or, more likely, choosing to give them privacy.

Coming to a decision, Kiva said, “Do you mind if we —” She reached for Jaren as she spoke, an instinctive move to guide him away from the curious eyes. But her words broke off when he physically jerked away from her.

Kiva’s hand fell, his reaction like a punch to the stomach. But she rallied and said, “Can we talk? Just for a moment?”

“We’re already talking.”

He was offering her nothing now, his tone and face emotionless.

She wasn’t sure how to proceed — orifto proceed. But she also knew she didn’t want to keep going as they had, so she tipped up her chin and said, “Away from the others.”

Not giving him the chance to reply, she left the open training area and headed deeper into the oasis, aiming for the secluded water’s edge. She couldn’t hear his footsteps behind her, but she also couldn’t bring herself to check. It was only when she stopped in the shade of a date palm nestled right up against the water that she looked to see if he’d followed.

Relief left her in a quiet exhale, but then the breath became trapped in her lungs at the still-emotionless look on his face.

“What do you want, Kiva?” he asked, his tone bland. Bored, even.

There was so much Kiva wanted — but mostly, she just wantedhim.Her resolve strengthened as she recalled the image of his face after he’d seen the burn wound on her shoulder, the way he’d thanked her with such meaning after she awakened Naari, his gentle guidance and instruction with her magic, and just minutes ago, the roar of him shouting at Caldon. Those were not the actions of someone who didn’t care about her.

Setting aside her fear and doubt, she looked straight into his eyes and said, “I’d like to talk about what happened. With Zuleeka.” Her heart was racing now. “I’d like to — to apologize for my part in that. I’d like to explain.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Why?”

Kiva blinked. “Why?”

He crossed his arms again, causing her gaze to unconsciously follow where the muscles tensed and shifted, before she gave herself a mental slap and told herself to focus.

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