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“How much training have you had?” Galdric pressed. Seeing her face, he added, “Youhavebeen training, haven’t you?”

“Considering she spent the last ten years hiding who she was from, oh,everyone,” Cresta said dryly, “I think it’s safe to assume the answer to that is a big fat no.” She chuckled darkly and added, “Can you imagineher swanning around the River Palace throwing her healing magic everywhere? I’d have paid to see that.”

Kiva scowled at Cresta. “I don’tswan. I don’t even know what that means.”

“Of everything I just said,that’swhat you —”

“Ladies, please,” Caldon cut Cresta off, though Kiva saw his lips twitching, and she shifted her scowl to him.

“You need to start training immediately,” Galdric said, reclaiming everyone’s attention. “Magic is like a muscle; you need to exercise it to strengthen it. And you need to be strong if you’re to survive against —”

“This has nothing to do with strengthening it,” Kiva interrupted, feeling sick at the thought of facing her sister again. “I can’t evenaccessit at the moment. Something about it — aboutme— is broken.”

It was difficult to admit the truth, but if what happened with Naari last night was any indication, her problem was only getting worse.

“When was the last time you used it without issue?” Galdric asked.

Kiva wished they could have this conversation in private. “Ten weeks ago.” She didn’t mention the masquerade, only said, “I... used a lot of magic that day.”

“She healed me from a fatal wound,” Torell shared.

“She also healed Jaren from one a few hours later,” Caldon said, making Kiva fight to keep her eyes from drifting toward the crown prince. “And just before that, she destroyed Zuleeka’s hold on us. The entire room lit up from the power of her magic.”

“Did she just overdo it?” Ashlyn asked, frowning slightly. “Ten weeks is a long time. She should have recovered by now.”

Kiva fiddled with one of the many buckles on her outfit, uncomfortable with their collective focus being on her.

“No, that’s not it,” Galdric said, his tone thoughtful enough that Kiva looked up to find him watching her closely.

Tooclosely.

“You’re afraid, aren’t you.”

The ex-rebel leader’s words were soft, a statement rather than a question.

Kiva stiffened.

“Now that you know what your magic can do, how it can be used for both good or evil, you’re terrified,” Galdric said quietly. “You’re so scared of your own power that you’re sabotaging yourself. That’s why your magic isn’t working — because you’re stoppingyourself.”

A quick denial rose on Kiva’s lips. “I’m not —”

“They had to choose, you know,” Galdric said over her. “Tilda, Zuleeka — they had to activelydecideto use their magic for evil. Your mother instantly regretted her decision, as I told you before. But it wasn’t something that happenedtothem. Theymadeit happen.” He leaned forward and held her eyes. “You are who you decide to be, Kiva. Good or bad, it’syourdecision. Your magic is a tool —youwieldit, not the other way around. It can’t turn you into someone you don’t want to be. That’s not how it works.” His tone softened as he finished, “You don’t have to fear your magic. But you do need to nurture it, embrace it, strengthen it. And when you do... Kiva, you could change the world.Healthe world.”

Kiva was breathing too fast, painfully aware of everyone looking at her. “I don’t want to change the world,” she said hoarsely. “I just want everyone I care about to be safe.”

The intensity didn’t leave Galdric. “They won’t be, as long as your sister stands unchallenged. But you already know that, don’t you?”

Kiva swallowed and looked down, unable to respond.

A strained pause settled upon them all, until Caldon said, his tone purposefully light, “Well, that’s something we can add to the to-do list. Magical training for Kiva. Check.”

She didn’t have it in her to send him a grateful look, nor could shegive one to Ashlyn when the princess changed the subject by saying to Galdric, “You mentioned Navok shared things with you. Did he ever talk about the anomalies he’s been collecting? And why?”

Galdric’s gaze moved from Ashlyn to Caldon to Jaren, until he seemed to come to a decision and said, “I’ve dedicated my life to seeing your family removed from power.”

All three Vallentis royals turned rigid.

“From birth, I was raised believing a Corentine should sit on Evalon’s throne,” Galdric stated. “I never wavered, not even after I learned about Torvin’s magic turning dark. It wasn’t until I started seeing the damage for myself that I began to understand. Zuleeka’s power —” He shook his head woefully. “I was wrong. EvenTildawas wrong. We should have left well enough alone.” He looked at Torell, who was sitting frozen and pale. “You were right, that night you came to me and said we weren’t making anything better.Wewere the problem, you said.” Galdric’s voice dropped to a whisper. “I wish I’d listened to you.”