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But regardless, she had no intention of remaining in Mirraven long enough to take the princess up on her offer.

“Thank you,” Kiva said, not revealing her plans. “I’ll need all the help I can get.”

The smile Serafine sent her was tooth-achingly sweet. “Let’s get you inside and resting,” she said as they reached the bedroom door. “I’ll find Madam Merit and have her send for a healer.”

Kiva quickly considered her options, and said, “Brynn can do that.”

If the maid was given a reason to be out of the room, Kiva could leave undetected. No pain in the world would stop her from taking advantage of that opportunity.

“Brynn?” Serafine asked as they stepped through the doorway.

“My lady’s maid,” Kiva answered, looking up to see the girl in question frozen on the far side of the room. She was hard to make out, hidden in the shadows beside the now-open curtains, but her silhouette was familiar enough for Kiva to recognize her.

“Goodness, my lady, you’re hurt!” Brynn exclaimed, before speeding toward the bathing chamber and disappearing inside. From there, she yelled back to them, “I’ll get some clean linens!”

“Lady Kiva requires a healer,” Serafine called to Brynn, helping Kiva to her bed.

“I’ll see to that at once, Your Highness!” the maid replied, loud enough for them to hear. She didn’t reappear, though, and Serafine frowned in her direction.

“Please, Princess,” Kiva said, caring little about Brynn’s lack of etiquette. “You must be exhausted from your travels. Thank you for helping me back here, but Brynn can see to me now.” She needed Serafine to leave before the maid went for a healer, otherwise the princess might feel obligated to remain. “As your brother said, it looks worse than it is.”

Kiva was lying, and Serafine knew as much. But the princess only shifted uneasily and said, “Are you sure?”

“You’ve given me too much of your time already,” Kiva insisted.

It was obvious the princess wanted to stay, whether out of concern or because she herself wanted the company, but thankfully, she took the hint, and began to move toward the door.

“If you need me, please don’t hesitate to have your maid come and get me,” Serafine offered. She sent a dubious look toward the bathing chamber, clearly doubting Brynn’s competence, and murmured, “Or perhaps send someone else.”

Kiva almost smiled. “I will. Thank you.” She wanted to say how nice it was to have met her and that she hoped things worked out with Voshell, but she couldn’t risk showing her hand, so she only offered a quiet goodbye, breathing a sigh of relief when the door shut behind her.

“Is she gone?” Brynn asked quietly, peeking into the bedroom.

This time, it was Kiva who frowned, since she now realized the maid hadn’t been helping — she’d beenhiding.Even from their short acquaintance, Kiva could tell Serafine was nothing like Navok, so there was no reason for Brynn to fear her. “What’s going on with you?”

The maid ignored the question and hurried over, her lips thinning as she took in the swelling on Kiva’s cheek, and a hiss leaving her as she examined Kiva’s shoulder.

“The burn goes deep,” Brynn said, easing Kiva’s dress away from the wound. The fire had hit her bare shoulder, so thankfully no fabric had melted into her skin.

“I know,” Kiva said, feeling every agonizing blister. She was shakingvisibly now, and sweat dotted her forehead despite the bone-deep chill setting in as her adrenaline faded. But she couldn’t yield to what she was feeling; she was running out oftime.Repeating Serafine’s request, she said, “Can you please go and find me a healer?”

She needed Brynn gone —now.

But the maid shook her head. “A healer can’t do much for a wound like this. Not in time for —” She broke off, but Kiva knew it was only to avoid mentioning the wedding.

“Please, Brynn,” Kiva begged. “It really hurts.” That part wasn’t a lie.

There was a furrow in the maid’s brow as she continued to inspect the burn, but then she seemed to come to a decision and ordered, “Lie down. On your stomach.”

“No, truly, I need you to go and —”

“Now, Kiva,” the maid said, her voice firm.

But it wasn’t just her tone that shocked Kiva — it was that she waved her hand and a glossy green plant appeared, growing straight out of the floor.

If Kiva hadn’t already been sitting on the bed, she would have stumbled backwards.

Brynn had earth magic.