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Kiva weighed her response, before asking, “Why did you help me escape? You know who my family is, and what my sister did. You said Jaren and Caldon wouldn’t have wanted me forced into marriage, but... I’mnot so sure they would have cared, given everything that happened.” She ignored her heartache to continue, “I don’t understand why you didn’t just leave me to my fate.”

Ashlyn didn’t answer straightaway, the sounds of crickets all Kiva could hear as they walked along the dark road, until the princess finally said, “I already told you I was ready to leave Blackmount when I learned you were being retrieved from Zalindov. I stayed because I wanted to find out more about Navok’s plans for you, and I’ll admit, I was curious, too. I’d heard about your connection with my family and how much they cared for you, but after your deceit was revealed, I assumed you’d conned your way into their hearts and felt nothing for them. I was prepared to hate you — and I was also prepared to leave you in Zadria if my assumptions about you proved true.” She turned to look Kiva in the eye. “But instead, you surprised me. One of the first things you did was vilify your own ancestor and then denounce your sister — all while you defendedmyfamily. Everything you felt was written all over your face, confirming where your loyalties lay. Seeing that, I knew I couldn’t leave you there.”

Irrationally, Kiva’s eyes burned. “Thank you,” she croaked out. “I would have had a lot more trouble escaping without you.”

Ashlyn snorted. “Without me, you’d be trying on your wedding gown right now.”

Kiva shuddered, then made herself ask, “Navok freed me from Zalindov, you freed me from Navok... so where does that leave me now?”

Ashlyn kicked a rock out of their path. “Let’s wait and see what we’re about to walk into before figuring out what comes next — for both of us.”

Brow furrowing, Kiva looked toward the lights that were growing closer. “What do you mean?”

“I’m a Vallentis,” Ashlyn stated. “That means I’m technically an enemy of the kingdom. I’ve heard rumors that Zuleeka has been having trouble gaining the allegiance of Evalon’s armies —myarmies — but communication was sparse while I was in Zadria, so that could havechanged. I have no idea what kind of reception we might face once we reach Stoneforge, and whether my own soldiers will turn against me.”

Kiva stumbled and choked out, “Then why are we heading there?”

“Because I’m hoping — and assuming — they’re still loyal,” Ashlyn said. There was a thread of worry in her voice, but it vanished when she continued, “And if not, they still need to hear what I learned in Mirraven. You can turn back if you want, but I have to see this through.”

You can turn back if you want...

A weight lifted from Kiva as she realized Ashlyn had no intention of keeping her as a prisoner. She truly was free now, and for the first time in a long time, that meant she could choose her own path.

“I’m not leaving you,” Kiva said. She would eventually have to if she wanted to find her friends and her brother. But not yet. “We’re in this together.”

Ashlyn sent her a small smile, but then she bit her lip and glanced away, a strange look coming over her face.

“What?” Kiva asked, troubled by her expression.

Haltingly, Ashlyn asked, “I know it’s been a few months, but when you last saw my brother... how was he?”

Kiva blinked. Of everything Ashlyn could have asked — anything about Kiva’s family, Zuleeka, the rebels, even her Corentine magic — that wasnotwhat she’d expected. But then she remembered that Caldon had avoided his sister for the last three years, ever since their parents had died in a shipwreck. The look on Ashlyn’s face told Kiva that their estrangement was purely one-sided.

“He was...” Kiva trailed off, unsure how to describe all that was Caldon.

Ashlyn sighed and picked up her pace, a glimpse of a barrier fence now visible between the trees. “Never mind. I shouldn’t have asked.”

“No, it’s just...” Kiva tried again. “I mean...” She released a frustrated breath, and admitted, “I don’t know how to answer. Caldon is oneof the best people I know, but he also drives me crazy. Despite that, he managed to make me love him as if he’s my own brother. I’ve never —” Kiva had to clear the emotion from her throat. “I’ve never met anyone more loyal. To me, and to others.”

There was a heavy silence, before Ashlyn whispered, “I miss him.”

Kiva felt the misery in those three words enough that she reached out to squeeze the princess’s shoulder, but the move tugged at her burn, making her realize that the milkmist had finally worn off. Even so, the pain was nothing compared to earlier, and she pushed her collar aside only to see that the wound had already scabbed over and was half healed.

A shocked sound left Kiva, and she halted on the path, trying to get a better look.

Ashlyn hummed with satisfaction. “Poisonous or not, Serpent’s Kiss works wonders.”

“That’swhat it does?” Kiva asked, incredulous.

“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.”