Kiva’s throat grew tight and she rasped out, “Other places?”
The healer nodded. “Oh, yes. He gets around, our Prince Deverick. He visits all the orphanages, the elderly respites, even helps feed and clothe the homeless down near the docks. Whatever he can do to ease the suffering of others.”
Tears prickled the back of Kiva’s eyes, her throat tightening even more, keeping her from forming a response.
The healer noted her reaction and stepped closer to quietly say, “Queen Ariana is respected well enough, but Prince Deverick? He’s the people’s prince. He’s our prince. The day he inherits the throne will be the best day in Evalon’s history.” She shifted her gaze to Jaren, who had returned all the children to the ground and was now juggling fire balls to their shrieks and laughter. “That young man is destined for greatness. He’s going to be the best king we’ve ever seen. I’m certain of it.”
Kiva couldn’t take any more.
Because as Jaren summoned water droplets and made them sparkle like beads of light, wowing the children anew, she couldn’t help looking at him and knowing down to her bones that the healer was right. He would be a wonderful king — the best king.
And her family was planning to take that from him.
She was planning to take that from him.
“Goodness, Healer Tura, what did you say to our visitor? She looks like she’s about to be ill.”
Kiva forced her eyes from Jaren to see the Matron Healer entering the ward, evidently recognizing her despite the mask.
“We were just talking about how wonderful the prince is, Matron,” Tura said. Her eyes turned alert as she looked at her charges. “If you’ll excuse me, it looks like young Katra is about to cause some mischief.”
She headed quickly toward a little girl who was tying one of Jaren’s still-growing vines around her own feet, clearly hoping it might rise enough to dangle her in the air now that he’d set all the flying children back down.
“I was hoping to see you again, Miss Meridan,” Healer Maddis said once they were alone. “When I heard Prince Deverick was here with a companion, I hurried over to see if it was you.”
“I’m sorry, Matron Healer,” Kiva said, “but if this is about me attending —”
Maddis waved her hand. “I said you could take your time deciding, and I meant that.” She pulled a jar from her robes, a pale ointment contained within, and held it out. “I came to bring you this.”
Kiva unstoppered the lid, noting familiar scents but unable to identify every ingredient. “What is it?”
“It’s for your hand.”
It took Kiva a moment to process the words, but when she did, her eyes shot up to meet Maddis’s.
Unaware of her sudden distress — or perhaps ignoring it — the Matron Healer went on, “It won’t erase the scarring completely, but it will promote regeneration of the cells, helping it to fade over time.” She tilted her chin toward Jaren. “Our prince might like to use some, too.”
And then, revealing she could sense everything churning within Kiva, Maddis gently took her left hand, pulling back the sleeve to expose the Z scar — the same scar Kiva had been certain would doom her if the Matron Healer learned about it.
“Our scars define us,” Maddis said quietly, the tip of her finger tracing the three slashed lines. “They tell a story of courage and survival. They tell of who we are at our deepest being, of the challenges we’ve faced and overcome.” Whispering now, she patted Kiva’s hand and finished, “Not all scars are as visible as this. I daresay you have many more on the inside. But never forget that every scar is beautiful. And you should never, ever, be ashamed of them.”
With the kindest of smiles, Maddis released Kiva and turned back toward the doors, leaving without another word.
Overwhelmed, Kiva just stood there, breathing deeply.
Maddis knew she’d been in Zalindov.
Knew, and didn’t care.
She hadn’t rescinded her offer and told Kiva she could no longer be a student, hadn’t crushed her dreams.
No — only Kiva was doing that. Kiva and her commitment to her family and their mission and everything that was keeping her from the life she wanted, including Silverthorn. Even now, after the betrayal she’d learned of yesterday, after everything she could no longer deny feeling for Jaren, even now she was still faithful to her brother and sister and their plans for vengeance.
Because after ten years, she didn’t know how not to be.