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“‘Nemesis’ is a strong word,” Kiva argued weakly. Under her breath, she added, “So is ‘assclown.’”

“He lied about who he was, and it wasn’t a small lie — it was a life-changing lie, right?” Cresta pushed.

“I lied to him, too,” Kiva defended Jaren. “And my lies continued for longer — and caused much more damage.”

Cresta made a frustrated noise. “Work with me here. He lied to you, but you still forgave him. He represented everything you’d avowed to hate —”

“Avowed?” Kiva pulled a face. “Who says that?”

“— and yet,” Cresta went on, sounding like she was grinding her teeth, “you still managed to fall in love with him.”

Kiva snapped her mouth shut, pain lancing her heart.

“Don’t you think it’s possible that, if he cares for you as deeply as you do him — and from what you said, all evidence is in your favor — then maybe, justmaybe, there’s still a chance for you?”

“He won’t forgive me,” Kiva said, her voice raspy now. “And it hardly matters, because I’ll never see —”

“Maybe he won’t,” Cresta agreed, cutting her off. “But after what you did to him, doesn’t he deserve to have you at leasttryto earn his forgiveness?”

“There’s nothing I can —”

“And Naari,” Cresta went on, speaking over Kiva’s objections. “I liked her. For a guard, she was half decent.”

She was more than half decent, but Kiva didn’t correct Cresta, certain the redhead would only interrupt her again.

“Something tells me she’ll hold a mean grudge, but even when she was here, it was obvious she cared for you,” Cresta said. “Do you really think she’d want you to roll over and give up? That she’d want you leaving them to the mess you created without evenattemptingto make things better?”

Kiva’s throat tightened.

“And I can’t speak for the other prince, what’s-his-face —”

“Caldon,” Kiva offered quietly.

“Yeah, him,” Cresta said. “But by the sounds of it, he’s the only one who knew the truth about you, and hestillstood by you, even after yoursister stabbed his cousin and stole their kingdom. My guess is, it won’t take much to regain his trust, if you ever lost it in the first place.”

Kiva pressed her lips together to keep them from wobbling.

“As for your brother, I have no idea why you think you failed him — he’s the gods-damned general of the rebel forces. If anything,hefailedyou, by not getting you out of here.”

“He tried,” Kiva croaked, remembering how Torell had attempted to rescue her and Tilda, only to be called off by Zuleeka.

“He should have tried harder — and sooner,” Cresta said firmly, reminding Kiva that she, too, had been awaiting rebel intervention. “And beyond that, he should have figured out what that psychotic sister of yours was up to and stopped her before it was too late. Death magic? Are you kidding me with that?” Cresta made a disbelieving sound. “They say love is blind, but it’s notthatblind.”

“He had no way to know she —”

“And then there’s the boy,” Cresta cut her off — again. “If no one else, you should at least fight forhim. You’re all he has.”

The words cut Kiva deep. “He’s better off without me.”

“Do you really believe that?” Cresta asked.

“I lied to him.”

“You lied toeveryone.” Cresta’s tone was indifferent. “We’ve already covered this. And so what? Everyone lies. I lie to you all the time, but you’re still sitting beside me.”

Kiva’s forehead scrunched. “What do you lie about?” She then added, “And it’s not like I have a choice. We’re locked in here.”

“Thatwe can’t do anything about,” Cresta said, ignoring Kiva’s first question. “It’s out of our control. But do you know what’snot?”