Kiva nodded, stunned by his embrace, by his forgiveness.
“You’re right — you screwed up today,” Caldon went on. “But you’re also right that, if ever there was a reason to act as foolishly as you did, then at least it should be for family.” He stepped back, putting some space between them, while still remaining close. “Jaren came and told me everything I missed. I hope your siblings come tomorrow, if only so we can see if they’re worth all the fuss you caused today.”
Kiva’s insides tumbled at the reminder.
“Are they?”
She blinked at the two almost snapped words. “Are they what?”
“Are they worth it?” Caldon asked, his face serious. “You risked a lot to reunite with them. But despite that, you came back to us afterward. You’re staying with us, not them — that says something.”
As Zuleeka had said over a week earlier, Kiva could hardly spy on the royals from inside the rebel camp. And yet . . . She considered Caldon’s words, wondering where she would choose to live if it were up to her.
She knew the answer immediately, panic hitting her as she realized how comfortable she was at the palace — not because of how lavish it was, but because of who she shared it with.
Everworld help her.
Needing to regain a sense of control, Kiva forced a wry grin to her face and asked, “Are you kicking me out?”
Caldon rolled his eyes. “It’s becoming a full-time job to look after you, so no.” His head angled to the side. “Not unless you give me a reason to.”
“I’m not that much trouble,” Kiva argued, if only to keep from admitting that there were multiple reasons why he should keep her away from his family.
“I beg to differ,” he said. “Kidnapped by rebels, attacked by Mirravens, disappearing to places unknown in misguided attempts to visit —”
“Wait,” Kiva cut in. “What do you mean, attacked by Mirravens?”
Caldon leaned a hip against his desk. “I think there was more to your abduction than we understand. Jaren, Naari, Veris — they weren’t there. But after I cleared the building of rebels and came to get you, that next group that ambushed us . . . I don’t think they were connected to the first. I think they wanted something different. That’s why I was so worried about you today — I thought Mirraven had captured you.”
Kiva blanched, recalling that Caldon had already aired his suspicions after the incident and he’d been ignored. But if what he said was true —
“Why would Mirraven want me?”
Caldon sent her a sharp look and countered, “Why would the rebels want you?”
Kiva couldn’t answer that, since she couldn’t admit to their fake abduction.
“So you see,” Caldon went on when she didn’t reply, “keeping an eye on you is much easier when I know where you are. Or at least where you should be.” His pointed gaze caught hers. “Stunts like today don’t help.”
Kiva looked guiltily at the ground. She wasn’t sure if she believed Caldon’s claim about Mirraven — the rebels had been recruiting further north, and Zuleeka could have easily left more people behind than she’d implied. That was much more likely than Kiva being targeted by a second, unknown group on the very same night. The coincidence was too great, and she resolved to put it from her mind, having enough to worry about without adding hypothetical concerns to the list.
Yawning loudly, Caldon pushed off from his desk and moved toward the door. “As much as I’ve enjoyed this midnight chat, I need my beauty sleep. Let’s get you back to your bed. Big day tomorrow.”
“It’s all right, I can make it on my own,” Kiva said, butterflies swarming anew at his reminder.
“Move your ass, Sunshine,” Caldon said, opening the door and giving a jerk of his chin, apparently not taking no for an answer.
Kiva was just relieved that he’d called her Sunshine again, her butterflies fading as warmth crept back in.
Shuffling past him and out into the slumbering hallways of the barracks, she couldn’t resist repeating, “Why don’t you live in the palace?”
This time, Caldon answered. “I do have rooms up there. Have you seen my wardrobe? Where do you think I keep most of my clothes?” He raised a comical brow, and Kiva stifled a grin. But then she sobered as he went on, “I prefer it down here. I grew up moving from barracks to barracks, so it reminds me of that. Of a different time, of things I —” His voice caught. “Of things I don’t want to forget.”