And it wasn’t only Jaren. If her continued numbness was any indication, Caldon had also clawed his way into her heart, if in a more platonic way. Try as she might, she couldn’t stop replaying his parting glare and his quick, angry departure.
Clearing her throat, Kiva stepped back from Jaren, longing to escape into her room and be done with the day.
“Is that it?” Mirryn asked incredulously from the couch. “Aren’t we all curious about how her reunion went?”
“Mirry,” Jaren said, quietly but firmly. “If Kiva doesn’t want to tell us, then she doesn’t have to.”
“I’d like to know.”
The words came from Naari, who until now had remained silent. One look revealed that she was still upset, having explicitly told Kiva to be smart, to be safe — neither of which she’d been that day.
“K-Kiva?” came Tipp’s hesitant voice. “Will you t-tell us? Please? What happened with y-your family?”
Jaren’s open expression said the choice was hers, but after what she’d put them through, Kiva felt compelled to answer.
“It went . . . well,” she said. “We ate scones and drank tea and talked for hours.”
Now she was mixing her stories. If she wasn’t careful, she would be caught in one of her many tangled lies.
“Your brother and sister, right?” Jaren probed. “That’s what Tipp told us.”
“Yes. Zuleeka and Torell.” Kiva only felt safe sharing their names because the Royal Council hadn’t yet been able to identify the Viper and the Jackal, and Tor had confirmed they’d kept their identities secret so they could move freely around the kingdom.
“And where, pray tell, did you meet these siblings of yours?” Mirryn asked, peering at Kiva over her wine.
Since Torell and Zuleeka were safely hidden deep in the forest, she offered another partial truth by saying, “Oakhollow.”
Naari made a startled sound. “You rode to Oakhollow on your own? Do you know how many people get lost in those woods?”
“I didn’t go into the woods,” Kiva said, continuing to lie. She almost wished she’d admitted to visiting her grandmother in Blackwater Bog right from the beginning, but then she recalled that at least four elderly residents now knew her secret. If someone were to travel to the swamp and ask questions . . . No, it was safer for Kiva to continue talking about her siblings, both of whom would be much harder to locate.
Or that was what Kiva thought, until Mirryn said, “I think you should invite them here for lunch. Tomorrow.”
Kiva’s eyes unconsciously widened. “Pardon?”
“It seems only fair,” the princess said. “You’ve gotten to know our family — we should get to know yours.”
“I — um —” Kiva tried to think up an excuse, but her mind was blanking.
“That’s settled, then,” Mirryn said, rising elegantly. “Send them a missive. I’ll have the kitchen staff prepare something delicious. We’ll make an event of it.”
“No, please, I don’t —” Kiva tried.
Mirryn waved her now empty goblet. “I’m kidding. We’ll keep it informal. No need to look so panicked, Kiva. It’ll be fun.”
Fun was the last word Kiva thought it would be, but Mirryn sashayed out the door before she could protest.
“They might not be able to make it on such short notice,” Kiva said weakly to Jaren and Naari. Tipp alone looked excited by the idea of meeting her siblings, his vibrancy returning now that he knew she wasn’t in any serious trouble.
“All you can do is ask,” Naari said, gesturing to the small desk in the corner of the sitting room. “Write your note, and I’ll have the royal courier deliver it tonight.”
Feeling pressured, Kiva moved toward the desk, her mind screaming that this was a bad idea. But with no valid reason to object, she reluctantly took her seat and pulled out a fresh sheet of parchment, frustratingly aware of Naari moving closer as she began to write.
Dearest brother and sister,
It was so wonderful being reunited with you today. Thank you for welcoming me into your home in Oakhollow, and for offering comfort when I struggled to control everything I was feeling. I’m confident the coming days will be better.
In return for your kindness, I wish to invite you to lunch at the River Palace tomorrow. Please reply at your earliest convenience, but I understand if you are unable to attend.
With love,
Kiva
“All done?” Naari asked, shamelessly reading over her shoulder.