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Kiva gaped at him, failing to grasp how he could be there. He was meant to be resting near Oakhollow — or at the very least, slowly making his way to the city. Perhaps stashed away in whatever safe place Caldon found if they’d made good enough time.Anywherebut walking into the queen’s chambers, as if he’d known exactly where Kiva was. But she didn’t get a chance to ask how any of that was possible, because more people stepped through the doors, at least a dozen, all in gray leathers, none of them bearing physical weapons.

Anomalies.

And behind them was King Navok, sauntering into the room to stand beside Galdric, a satisfied smirk on his handsome face.

But Kiva didn’t care about Navok.

She didn’t even care that he and Galdric were smiling at each other, not as a king and his once-prisoner, but in a way that told her they weren’t enemies at all — and perhaps never had been.

Instead, the only thing Kiva cared about was Tipp.

Because Navok was holding the young boy close —

With a dagger pressed to his throat.

“Tipp!” Oriel cried, dropping Flox and lunging toward his friend, but Ariana hauled him back, right as Navok’s anomalies came on alert.

“Uh-uh-uh,” the king tutted to all three Vallentis royals, tightening his grip on Tipp. “My personal guards are trained to kill without hesitating. You so much as try to summon your magic, and they’ll take you down without a thought.”

A quick glance, and Kiva knew Navok wasn’t lying — these anomalies were different from those outside. Their motives were unclear, theirintentions dark and deadly. She knew that, because Xuru was among them, the fire wielder looking at her with anticipation in his black eyes.

Kiva’s pulse began to pound in her ears as she turned back to Tipp, taking in his red, puffy face, and the tears streaming down his cheeks. It wasn’t fear in his expression — it was something much worse.

Devastation.

Anguish.

Grief.

Seeing all that, Kiva’s blood turned cold. Because she knew —she knew— there was only one reason for him to be looking at her like that. She held his eyes and croaked out, “Where’s Caldon?”

Fresh tears fell as Tipp opened his mouth and uttered two quiet, broken words:

“He’s d-dead.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

For a moment, Kiva heard nothing except the ringing in her ears. She was aware of Ariana turning white and Oriel going limp in his mother’s arms, of Mirryn’s hands covering a horrified gasp. But all Kiva could do was stare at Tipp, seeing the confirmation in his swollen red eyes.

“I’m afraid the boy is correct,” Galdric said, unaware that she had stopped breathing, stoppedthinking.“It was really too easy — I can’t believe any of you bought my exhausted act. As if I wouldn’t have made sure I had enough energy to windfunnel the entire way here and then still have power to spare.” He snorted mockingly. “The moment you and the others left, all I had to do was moan, and the arrogant prince came running to check on me. He never even saw my blade coming.”

Kiva shook her head.

No.

She refused to believe it.

Caldon was strong — he was one of the strongest people Kiva knew. He’d survived stab wounds before.She’dstabbed him once, and he’d been fine. She had to believe —

“Granted, it was only a shallow wound —”

Kiva nearly collapsed from relief.

“— but there was enough necros venom lacing the tip to bring down an entire army.”

The ringing returned to Kiva’s ears, louder this time, her vision blurring with it.

Necros venom — from a necros adder.