Her sworn enemy.
“This is my normal face,” Kiva said, struggling not to stare. His deep blue shirt with gold embroidery along the collar looked far too good on him, as did his tailored black jacket and pants. It took a supreme effort of will for her to cast her gaze away.
“Yes, and it’s much too serious,” Jaren stated, reaching out to tuck a strand of dark, windswept hair behind her ear.
Kiva’s stomach gave a traitorous leap, and she frowned inwardly at herself. Casual affection from Jaren wasn’t uncommon. Even when they’d been in Zalindov together, he’d been overly friendly toward her. Since they’d escaped, Kiva had sought to keep him at arm’s length, but her will was beginning to crumble. It was as if he’d been born for the sole purpose of tempting her, of distracting her from her task.
And that was unacceptable.
“Did you have a good day?” he asked, his unique blue-gold eyes capturing hers.
Kiva smoothed her outfit — a simple green dress paired with a thin white cardigan — and weighed her response. Jaren was the reason she was even at Silverthorn; he’d called in a favor, resulting in her being awakened at dawn and bustled out of the River Palace for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend a day at the best healing academy in the kingdom.
There were so many reasons for Kiva to hate the crown prince, but she couldn’t summon the burning resentment that should have consumed her. She blamed Jaren for that. From the moment they’d met, he’d been caring and thoughtful and wholly devoted to her. Even when she’d learned that he’d lied about who he really was, she still hadn’t been able to turn her back and leave him to die of his injuries down in the tunnels beneath Zalindov. She’d tried — desperately — to harden her heart toward him in the weeks they’d spent at his family’s palace in the Tanestra Mountains, and then during their long days of travel to Vallenia, but it was useless. He was just too gods-damned likeable. It made everything Kiva planned to do to him and his family that much more difficult.
Not that she’d ever admit as much — even to herself.
“It was . . .” she started, unsure how to answer. Her day had been amazing, incredible, everything she’d ever hoped for. But knowing what she did about her future, and how she would have to turn down Maddis’s offer, all she said was, “Interesting.”
Jaren’s golden eyebrows inched upward. “A glowing commendation.”
Kiva ignored his sarcasm and asked, “What’re you doing here?”
There was no one near where they stood leaning against the footbridge, but she still peered nervously at those spaced further out in the sanctuary, and the spattering of people walking along the arched stone pathways between the infirmaries.
“I came to pick you up,” Jaren said with a merry wink. “First day of school, and all that.”
Kiva shook her head at him. “You shouldn’t be here.”
“Ouch,” Jaren said, pressing a hand to his heart. “That hurts. Right here.”
“If someone recognizes you —”
Jaren had the audacity to chuckle. “People in Vallenia are used to me and my family wandering freely among them. We only wear masks during special events, so we’re easily recognizable the rest of the time. Don’t worry — we’re not as much of a novelty as you’d think.”
“I doubt Naari would agree with you,” Kiva argued, looking past him. “Where is she?”
Since leaving Zalindov — and in the time they’d been there together — it was rare to see Jaren without his most loyal Royal Guard, his Golden Shield. That Naari Arell was absent now meant one of two things: either she was giving them space and watching from a distance, or —
“Would you be impressed if I said I managed to give her the slip?”
The self-satisfied grin Jaren wore had Kiva tilting her head to the side, a smirk playing at her lips as she replied, “I’d be impressed if you managed to survive her wrath afterward.”
Jaren’s grin fled, a wince taking its place. “Yes. Well.” He straightened his shoulders and rallied. “That’s a problem for later.”
“I’ll say something nice at your funeral,” Kiva promised.
Jaren huffed out a laugh. “You’re too kind.” He then grabbed her hand and started leading her back toward the arched pathway. “Come on, we have to get moving if we don’t want to miss it.”
Kiva tried to free herself from his grip, but his fingers only tightened around hers, so she gave in, resolutely ignoring how nice it felt, and sought to keep up with his long strides. “Miss what?”