Naari didn’t finish. She didn’t need to finish.
Kiva already knew what had happened.
She was going to be sick. Right there on her lush carpet. What her sister had done —
Naari cleared her throat and unfisted her hand. “Everything after that is a bit hazy. Veris and the other guards had realized something was wrong and were running toward us. Tilda dragged the Viper away and disappeared into the forest. Jaren made sure the best healers worked on me while he hunted down the most advanced prosthetic available. He then made me his Golden Shield, an honor no other Royal Guard has received in over fifty years.” Naari offered a self-deprecating shrug. “I guess I haven’t done too badly.”
Kiva battled back all she was feeling to croak out, “Was — Was tonight the first time you’ve seen the Viper since then?”
“I’ve crossed blades with her a few times in the last three years,” Naari answered. “But like tonight, she always manages to get away, usually just as I’ve got her cornered. She should have been named the Rat or the Weasel, but I suppose she’s slippery like a snake.”
And venomous like a viper, Kiva thought.
“But anyway,” Naari said, tugging at the hem of her leather gloves. “You can see how she and I have unfinished business. One day we’ll finish what we started, and believe me, that day can’t come soon enough.”
It took everything in Kiva to keep from flinching at Naari’s hard declaration. The idea of the two of them facing each other again, of what might happen to either of them . . .
Gods, Kiva needed to figure out the mess in her head.
It’s him or us. Them or us. You can’t have it both ways.
She closed her eyes against Zuleeka’s words, exhaustion overwhelming her.
“It’s been a long day,” Naari said, rising to her feet. “I won’t tell Jaren you followed him tonight, but if it happens again — if either of you try to sneak out again —”
“I won’t,” Kiva said quickly. “I promise.”
She was careful not to think about her return to Murkwood Cottage in three days, lest Naari read the lie on her face.
“Get some sleep, Kiva,” Naari said, her voice gentling. “And don’t worry about the Viper and the rebels. I spent most of my life in a kingdom oppressed by corrupt rulers and full of desolate and hateful citizens. I escaped that for good reason, and I’ll never allow it to happen here. The rebels won’t win — ever. You’re safe with us. You always will be.”
With those words, the guard offered a small smile before leaving the room, oblivious to the devastation she left in her wake.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
When dawn arrived the next morning, Kiva nearly wept at the sound of Caldon’s familiar knock on her door. But her lingering fatigue vanished when he greeted her with a tight smile and the unpleasant news that her siblings had replied, accepting her invitation to lunch.
While Kiva had half expected the news, she was still furious that they’d ignored her warnings — Zuleeka especially, after last night. If discovered, all three of them would be charged with treason, the punishment for which was public execution — if the Vallentis family was feeling merciful — or a one-way trip to Zalindov. Both possibilities left Kiva clammy despite the crisp morning air that greeted her as she followed Caldon outside.
Unaware of her inner turmoil, the prince pushed her harder than ever in their training session, making her realize that perhaps he hadn’t completely forgiven her for yesterday, even if he was back to his normal bantering self. By the time they were done, Kiva could only hobble up to the palace, where she gifted herself a long, hot soak in her bathtub.
Too nervous to eat much for breakfast, Kiva did make sure to swallow her prescribed mouthful of Delora’s bitter potion, shuddering at the skin-crawling feeling of it taking effect. It was a means to an end, she reminded herself, and the day would come when she wouldn’t need it. She might even start to cherish her magic, as Jaren did his, training and strengthening it and using it for good without thinking of it as a burden. But with her siblings coming to the palace today, it was more important than ever that she have her power under control — or at least out of the way.
“Knock, knock!” came Mirryn’s voice, prompting Kiva to hide the stoppered vial in her bedside drawer just as the princess burst into her bedroom.
Mirryn smirked as she eyed Kiva from head to toe. “I know I said lunch would be informal, but you might want to reconsider your outfit. We don’t want dear Jaren having a heart attack at the table.”