“Remember the Eye of the Gods? The gift they gave Sarana and Torvin?” Jaren tapped the diamond-like jewel. “It came forged into a dagger — so I guess a more accurate name would be the Dagger of the Gods, but that’s a bit morbid.” He cocked his head to the side. “Didn’t I tell you?”
Kiva shook her head. Then shook it again.
No.
No, no, no.
“This one is just a replica.” Jaren tapped the jewel again. “As I said the other day, Ashlyn has the real one.”
He was wrong.
So, so wrong.
Because Kiva had seen the real one.
In her grandmother’s cottage.
The one Ashlyn had was a fake. It had to be, or Delora wouldn’t have been so determined to hold on to hers — and to keep it from the rest of their family.
“All the legends are different,” Jaren went on, not noticing how pale Kiva had become, “but while some stories claim Sarana attacked Torvin with her magic, others claim she used this very dagger, nearly killing him with it. Or, well, not this dagger. But the one Ashlyn carries.”
Kiva barely heard him. Instead, she was thinking about how Zuleeka had coveted the weapon for years, believing it symbolic to the rebels but having no idea of its true value.
Until two nights ago.
When Kiva had stupidly, stupidly shared about the Royal Ternary.
Ice filled Kiva as she realized that one of the two other objects was already in Zuleeka’s hands, her explanation for stealing the Book no longer seeming so trustworthy.
In fact, Kiva was positive Zuleeka had lied.
It wouldn’t have mattered if the Eye really had been hundreds of miles away, the Ternary incomplete without it, but now . . .
I need to grab something before the party, but I’ll meet you at the palace.
Zuleeka’s words from that afternoon all but shouted in Kiva’s ears, a terrible premonition coming over her when she remembered her sister had tried to get the dagger many times, but had never succeeded, claiming Delora kept it hidden.
It is hidden, Kiva’s own voice echoed in her ears. She keeps it in a hollowed black book called 1,001 Pies and Pastries.
Staring in dismay at Jaren, Kiva choked out, “I have to go.”
Jaren’s eyebrows shot upward. “Go?”
“Bathroom,” she blurted.
“I’ll wait for you here,” Jaren said.
“No, no, you should rejoin the party,” Kiva insisted, trying to keep her panic from showing. “See if Mirryn has arrived yet.”
Jaren leaned in to kiss her cheek, his voice rumbling with meaning as he repeated, “I’ll wait for you here.”
Kiva ignored the desire that rose anew within her, scrambling instead for anything that might excuse how long she would be gone. “I need to track down Tipp and make sure he’s not getting into any trouble, so I may be a while.”
Jaren chuckled, misreading her anxiety and assuming it was about what they’d just done. With the memory of his kisses still on her lips, she wished she could stay and continue what they’d started. But her mind was focused on a cottage in the swamp, her blood pulsing with desperation to get there.
I’d rather die than see that dagger in your sister’s hands, Delora had declared, the memory only adding to Kiva’s dread.
“Take as long as you need, sweetheart,” Jaren said. “I’ll be waiting for you.” He pressed his mouth to hers, the lightest of touches and yet so full of promise, before finishing, “I’ll always wait for you.”
His words washed over her, the warmth of them nearly chasing away the cold that had swept in upon her first seeing the dagger.
Nearly — but not quite.
And because of that, Kiva forced a wobbly smile to her face and turned from him, keeping her steps even until she was out of sight around the corner.
Then she ran.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
Kiva didn’t waste time changing into clothes better suited to riding, instead running straight out of the palace, her slippered feet sliding on the path. She swiftly intercepted a stableboy leading a guest’s horse away, taking the reins and exclaiming, “Family emergency!”
The prepubescent boy gaped as she mounted, silk skirts and all, and tore off toward the gates and out into the city.
Her previous two ventures to Blackwater Bog had taken twenty minutes at a sedate pace, but with urgency thrumming within her, Kiva galloped recklessly along the moonlit road, every part of her screaming to hurry.
If Zuleeka had gone for the dagger . . . If Delora had tried to stop her . . .
Kiva didn’t know which of her fears was the worst, but all of them led to what might happen if Zuleeka retrieved the Eye, leaving only one part of the Ternary — the queen’s Signet — between her and the entire kingdom.