Kiva’s magic faded, leaving her lightheaded and swaying, with Jaren reaching out to steady her. There was a worried look on his face, as if he hadn’t been the one to have half his torso melted away only moments ago.
“I’m all right,” she told him, but her voice sounded faint. She needed to rest. They all needed to rest. But Navok’s army was relentless — as was Navok himself. He and Cresta were still dueling fiercely, both now covered in bloody cuts and grazes, neither appearing to be making any headway.
But then they stopped.
Everyone stopped.
Because suddenly, out of nowhere, the bridge was covered in shadows.
No, Kiva thought as her limbs froze unnaturally in place, her terrified eyes meeting Jaren’s. Both of them were still on the ground, with her crouched beside him, but they had a view straight over to the eastern side of the bridge. The space there was much clearer now, with the western half and the midsection being the most congested. It meant Kiva had no trouble seeing around the small handful of inert warriors, her gaze settling on the person strolling unhurriedly between them.
Zuleeka.
Chapter Thirty-One
Kiva’s dread was like a snake squeezing her chest as she watched her sister move slowly forward.
Zuleeka’s black hair was braided over one shoulder, her moon-pale skin almost luminous against her dark armor and the shadows swirling all around her. With every step, she ignored the soldiers and guards and anomalies who were like statues, many of them having weapons raised mid-strike. She didn’t even spare them a glance.
Not now, Kiva thought desperately, aware of how drained her power was. She’d been counting on Zuleeka remaining locked away, seeking to protect herself until the battle was over, just as Ashlyn had said. But here she was, her hawkish face tilted to the side, her honey-gold eyes shining even from a distance.
“I thought I saw your magic through my window,” Zuleeka called across the bridge. “Have you come to play, little sister?”
The snake around Kiva’s chest tightened as she realized Zuleeka had been drawn out by her own healing glow, the sight too tempting to resist. There was madness in her eyes, but Kiva didn’t know if it was a result of the dark magic corrupting her blood, or if she’d finally realized that all the power in the world couldn’t keep her in command of a kingdom. Regardless of who won the battle that day, Evalon was no longer hers.
But seeing that madness, Kiva knew Zuleeka didn’t care. She wasn’t going to surrender.
And there was only one person who could stop her.
Summoning her magic, Kiva freed herself from the shadows holding her. It was effortless now, her training having paid off, even if it cost her in strength. But she ignored the lightheadedness and stood. She also ignored the way Jaren was looking at her, his eyes pleading with her to free him, to not do this alone.
But this was one battle he couldn’t protect her from, and she wouldn’t risk Zuleeka using him against her.
Not this time.
“We don’t have to do this, Zuleeka,” Kiva said, walking slowly toward her sister. She knew the words would fall on deaf ears, but she was stalling, trying to give her magic a chance to replenish as much as it could. “Mother never wanted this for you. For either of us.”
Zuleeka bared her teeth. “You don’t know what she wanted.”
“I know more than you think,” Kiva said, passing a trio of Gray Guards, their eyes frightened. “For example, I know the reason she tried to free me from Zalindov was so I could save you.”
Scoffing, Zuleeka said, “I don’t need anyone to save me. Not when I can do this.”
With a wave of her hand, the two anomalies nearest to her were released, but new shadows speared toward them, causing them to clutch at their chests, gasping and choking, before they crumpled to the ground.
Dead.
Kiva tried not to react, but horror flooded her at her sister’s merciless attack. They hadn’t even been able to defend themselves. And Kiva — she could have stopped it. But she’d been too slow, hadn’t even thought of calling her own magic. It was a mistake she couldn’t afford to make again.
“Mother lost sight of our goals,” Zuleeka said, her eyes even more crazed now, as if every bit of magic she used darkened her soul further. “She couldn’t appreciate the true power we possess — Torvin’s deadly power, now ours to command. Mine and yours, Kiva.” She leaned forward, her face feverish. “You don’t need to save me, little sister — not when you can join me.”
Once again, Kiva was careful not to react, even as everything within her recoiled.
“Let go of your weak healing magic and embrace the shadows,” Zuleeka continued, her voice worshipful. She held out a hand, summoning a wisp of darkness and staring at it adoringly. “Together, we’ll be unstoppable — and we’ll take everything that belongs to us.”
Kiva tensed at the sight of the shadows, but steadied herself. Wait, urged a quiet voice in her mind.
“That’s the thing, Zulee,” Kiva said softly. “It doesn’t belong to us.” She looked toward the armies still battling on the grounds, with them having no idea that the bridge was facing an entirely different threat. “Those are your rebels down there, but they’re not fighting for you. That’s Tor leading them, having earned that right — having earned their respect. But even so, that doesn’t mean he’s earned the kingdom. It’s not ours; it was never ours. And I think Mother realized that. She was willing to give it up if it meant keeping you from destroying yourself.” Whispering now, Kiva held out a hand and said, “Let me help you, Zulee. Just like Mother wanted.”
For a moment, Kiva thought she might have been getting through to her sister.
But then Zuleeka’s face darkened and she said, low and dangerous, “Mother never should have turned her back on our bloodline. She was a traitor — and so are you. If you won’t join me, then you can join her.”
With that, Zuleeka flung out her hand, her dark, deadly magic closing the distance between them. But Kiva was ready. Her heart ached as she thought about Caldon, how he’d made her practice over and over with his flames shooting toward her. He was the reason she was able to react fast enough now, sending her healing light forward to meet Zuleeka’s shadows, dissolving them in the air.
The look of stunned surprise on her sister’s face would have been satisfying at any other time.
“Looks like you’ve learned some new tricks,” Zuleeka hissed, her honey-gold eyes flashing.
And then she attacked again.
Shadow after shadow speared toward Kiva, with her own power pouring out, keeping the death magic at bay — but only just. The assault was unending, causing sweat to drip down her brow, her hands to shake, her knees to weaken. But still, strike after strike, she continued to summon her light and hold her sister back.
Then, suddenly, Zuleeka loosed a frustrated roar and banished the darkness over the bridge, inviting the reawakened chaos. The soldiers and anomalies were disoriented for the briefest of moments before they launched back into their own attacks, with Cresta and Navok furiously renewing their duel. Kiva could see Jaren sprinting toward her, but he was waylaid by a group of Gray Guards, forced to engage or be skewered by their blades. And then she couldn’t watch him anymore, her sister’s shadows coming at her again, more viciously than ever before.