“If it doesn’t kill you,” Ashlyn confirmed, nudging Kiva forward again. “It’s not usually worth the risk, but I thought we had a week’s worth of hard travel ahead, and I feared your injury would slow us down. Drastic measures, and all that.”
Kiva shot a look at the princess. “You said it’s mostly men who it kills.”
Ashlyn shrugged. “I might have fibbed a little. It’s an equal-opportunity poison.” Her silvery eyes danced as she added, “If you’d died, at least you wouldn’t have had to marry Navok. I figured you’d be happy either way.”
Deadpan, Kiva said, “Please never try to help me again.”
The princess chuckled, the sound warm and lovely. “No promises.” Her humor faded as she jerked her chin toward an access point in the barrier fence. “Time to find out if my soldiers are still my soldiers.”
Kiva’s nerves grew now that she could see how close they were to entering the outpost, the ground before them dipping into a shallow valley that made it easier to see the tidy rows of buildings lit by elevated luminium beacons. Stoneforge wasn’t Evalon’s largest military base, despite it being responsible for monitoring the Northern Pass and watching for any suspicious border crossings. But looking at the buildings spaced out in front of her, Kiva still marveled at its size.
“That’s the command center,” Ashlyn said, pointing to a structure located in the middle of the settlement. “I know it’s late, but assuming I’m still the general and we’re not dragged away to the holding cells —”
Kiva’s stomach lurched.
“— then that’s where we’ll head once we’re inside. Captain Jenaire oversees this outpost, so hopefully we’ll find her there.”
Ashlyn’s steps didn’t falter as they approached the gap in the fence, where they were intercepted by a group of soldiers wearing black from head to toe — and enough weapons to stock an armory.
Kiva’s mouth was dry as she waited for their reaction, but her fears were quickly eased. The moment they saw Ashlyn, they straightened in surprise and crossed one arm over their chests in a respectful salute. The princess didn’t reveal her relief, but Kiva sensed the tension leaving her.
The watch guards spoke briefly with Ashlyn, offering an escort to the command center, but she assured them that was unnecessary and only requested they send someone for Galdric. Immediately, two soldiers called for horses and a cart, and set off toward Sudbury.
Only then did Ashlyn give a parting nod to the remaining guards, before leading Kiva past them into the outpost.
“I guess the rumors about Zuleeka’s lack of control were true,” the princess said quietly.
Kiva’s knees felt weak. “I’m certainly not unhappy about that.”
Ashlyn grinned her agreement.
Given the hour, most of the base was asleep, though they did pass two groups of patrolling soldiers as they ventured deeper into the grounds, all of whom stared at Ashlyn with stunned eyes before quickly giving her crossed-arm salutes. It was clear that despite the kingdom being overthrown, she still had not just their respect, but also their adoration.
Kiva was suddenly reminded of her visit to the rebel camp near Oakhollow and the reverent way the people had looked at Torell. Ashlyn’s soldiers regarded her in exactly the same manner.
“Here we are,” the princess said when they finally reached the command center. It was built out of stone and largely unappealing — much like all the other buildings in the outpost. But unlike the rest, the command center had no windows and only one entrance, cleverly designed to keep eavesdroppers from learning confidential information.
“Best if you stay quiet and let me speak,” Ashlyn warned Kiva as she opened the thick door and stepped through first. “And whatever you do, don’t mention your name, or that you —”
The princess stopped talking.
Not just that, she also stopped walking, causing Kiva to bump into her from behind.
“Sorry,” Kiva said quickly, jumping backwards. She looked past Ashlyn into the brightly lit room, with it reminding her of the command tent in the rebel camp mixed with the Royal Council chamber beneath the River Palace — partly because of how sparse it was aside from a large meeting table, but mostly because of the many detailed maps hanging from the walls.
All of that Kiva noted only vaguely, her attention drawn to what had stolen Ashlyn’s focus.
In the middle of the room stood a young man, who had turned at their arrival. He was unknown to Kiva, his skin, hair, and eyes all dark, his physique heavily muscled, his features sharp and masculine. He held himself as one who was both confident and powerful, yet when he shifted slightly to the side, his movements were fluid and full of grace.
But Kiva only gave him a passing glance, because when he shifted, she saw what was behind him: two people gagged and bound to chairs by thick, heavy ropes.
Two familiar people.
Torell and Cresta.
Stunned, Kiva could only stare at them, before she came to her senses and lunged forward. But Ashlyn held her back, her eyes no longer on the man in the center of the room. Instead, she was staring directly to the right of where she and Kiva stood, her body frozen.
“Ashlyn, let me —” Kiva struggled against the princess’s strong grip, but she didn’t finish before she followed Ashlyn’s gaze, and all the fight left her at once.
Because standing together in the closest corner of the room, looking as if they’d been in the middle of a hushed conversation, were two more familiar faces.
Caldon.
And Jaren.
Chapter Ten
Kiva’s shock was so acute that she just stood there, staring. She couldn’t process what she was seeing, not just that Jaren and Caldon were here, but also that her brother was their prisoner and — perhaps strangest of all — Cresta had managed to escape Zalindov.
For a moment, Kiva wondered if she was still at Blackmount Castle and this was all one big Serpent’s Kiss-induced hallucination. But Ashlyn’s grip was tight enough to make Kiva realize this was no dream. And by the looks on the faces of everyone in the room . . .
It might not be a dream, but it very well could be a nightmare.
Jaren was here.
Jaren was here.
Caldon, Torell, Cresta . . .
Kiva was breathing too fast, unable to move, unable to think.
But her eyes were locked on Jaren’s.
Two and a half months. That was how long it had been since the masquerade.
Since the night they’d kissed.
Since the night she’d realized she was in love with him.
Since the night she’d helped destroy him.
Seventy-five days.
He looked the same. But he also didn’t. He was still impossibly handsome, still held himself with a strong, assured confidence. But his eyes — they were hollow. Empty. Like something was missing inside him.
Like something had been stolen from him.
My magic is a part of me. Like an arm or a leg.
Kiva nearly fell to her knees, seeing that hollowness in his eyes. But it wasn’t only that — it was also the way he was looking at her.
Jaren had never looked at Kiva like that before.
She’d never seen him look at anyone like that before.
Because he was looking at her as if — as if —