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That meant she could call off the battle —immediately.

But then Kiva realized her own fatal mistake, and turned quickly back to Zuleeka, seeing what the distraction had cost her.

Because in her sister’s hands was a familiar dagger, something Kiva had forgotten about with all the dangers surrounding them, despite it being the one weapon they all should have taken care to remember.

The Eye of the Gods.

With a wicked, lethal grin on her face, Zuleeka threw the blade into the air.

But it wasn’t aimed at Kiva.

Now I’ll take everythingyouwant.

Zuleeka’s words echoed in Kiva’s ears as she saw the trajectory of the blade, knowing she had a fraction of a second to make a decision.

She didn’t hesitate.

Because the Eye was aimed at Jaren. The one weapon that could take away his magic —again— and this time, there would be no hope of getting it back. He wouldn’t just lose his powers, he would lose his right to rule. And that was something Kiva couldn’t accept, couldn’tallow.

So she dived in the path of the blade.

Pain — burning,blindingpain lanced through her as she landed hard on the bridge, but it wasn’t just the agony of the dagger lodging deep into her stomach; it was the ice cold feeling of her magic screaming in her veins. She could feel the Eye sucking it up — could feel it leaving her, beingstolenfrom her.

And then it was gone. From one moment to the next, like it had never been.

A sob left Kiva, but she didn’t have a chance to mourn what she’d just lost, nor to be concerned about the numbness spreading outward from her wound. Instead, it was fear she felt — because Jaren should have reached her by now. Naari should have scrambled over. Even Cresta should have come running.

But Kiva was alone, the bridge quiet and still —

And covered in shadows.

No,she gasped inwardly as Zuleeka approached, a triumphant, crazed smile on her lips.

She’d never been defeated; her death magic was as strong as ever.

Another sob left Kiva, this time not just from pain and loss, but also devastation.

Because she had failed.

And now, she didn’t have anything left to give, her healing power gone forever.

Zuleeka stopped when she reached Kiva and crouched down beside her, trailing a gentle, mocking finger down her face.

Kiva couldn’t move away, her body too weak, her pain too great. It took everything within her just to clutch at her stomach, trying to staunch her own blood.

“That was silly of you,” Zuleeka cooed. “Believe what you want, little sister, but Iamsorry it’s come to this. If only you’d joined me, none of this would have happened.”

Kiva coughed, and blood bubbled out of her mouth, dribbling down her chin.

She knew what that meant.

Knew she didn’t have long.

... And knew what she had to do.

Turning her neck was all she could manage, but it was enough for Kiva to lock eyes with Jaren, seeing him frozen only a few feet away, Zuleeka’s magic stopping him mid-sprint. His gaze was terrified, his face as white as a sheet, standing out in stark contrast to the fresh pink of his healed chest. She tried to speak to him silently, telling him how much she loved him, that he was worth what she’d just done, how sorry she was for what was about to happen. But then her sister continued speaking, and Kiva painstakingly looked back at her.

“Don’t worry,” Zuleeka said, her eyes amused as they flicked toward Jaren. “I won’t make him suffer. Consider it my very last gift to you — a quick death for your beloved.” She leaned down then, pressing her lips to Kiva’s forehead, before whispering in her ear, “Goodbye, sister.”