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Ashlyn offered vague introductions, with Tipp giving a merry wave when his name was shared, and Naari ducking her head and keeping her eyes firmly on the carpet. Kiva doubted the kings had cared about one escaped teenager back when Naari had fled, but she understood the guard’s desire to avoid their notice.

When Ashlyn was done, Jaren took over again, explaining how Sarana had entrusted a ring to the brother-kings’ ancestors. He didn’t say how important it was or what it did when combined with the others, just that he desired to have it returned to his family’s possession. Kiva watched the kings carefully to see if they already knew the true value of the ring, but their expressions might as well have been carved from granite.

Once Jaren was finished, the twins shared a quick glance, and then Thembi snapped his fingers at the nearest group of waiting servants and spoke to them in rapid Jiirvan. Kiva side-eyed Naari for a translation, but Thembi explained in the common tongue, “Refreshments are on the way.”

“That’s very kind,” Jaren said, “but as Ashlyn mentioned, we don’t intend to linger. I’m sure you can appreciate I’d rather not be apart from my mother for longer than necessary during this difficult time, so we need return to Evalon as quickly as possible.”

Now Jarenwaslying, but Kiva schooled her features, praying the others — especially Tipp and Cresta — were doing the same.

“You must at least have something to drink,” Ryuu said, signaling to a pair of promptly returned servants who hurried over on command. In their hands were trays bearing gold chalices, which they quickly gave to Kiva and her companions. “You’re surely parched from your travels.”

Kiva waited until Jaren, Ashlyn, and Caldon sipped their own drinks before she tasted hers. The fruity offering was unfamiliar, but it was cool and refreshing, and brought almost instant relief from the heat.

“Yijapilly,” Thembi said, catching Kiva sniffing the pink-colored liquid. “It’s a stone fruit native to our kingdom. One that flourishes in the desert, even during summer, when so many others wither and die.”

He seemed to be waiting for a response —from her— so after receiving a barely discernible nod from Ashlyn, she said, “It’s delicious. Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Seemingly satisfied, the Jiirvan king looked at his brother before they both turned their attention back to the Vallentis royals.

“We know of Sarana’s ring,” Ryuu said without preamble, and Kiva felt relief wash over her, so powerful that it left her dizzy. Galdric had been confident it was here, but he could have been mistaken, or the ring could have been lost in the hundreds of years since the ancient Vallentis queen had bestowed it upon her Jiirvan friends.

“You are correct in your assertion that itdoesbelong to you,” Ryuu went on, “and that it has been passed down from our ancestors with the understanding that one day someone from your bloodline would come to retrieve it.”

“Wonderful,” Caldon said, stepping forward. “If you’ll just hand it over —”

He stumbled.

It was only a small trip of his feet, but Caldonneverstumbled. He managed to keep his legs under him, but he still looked down in confusion, shaking his head as if to clear it.

“What you don’t seem to be aware of,” Thembi said, straightening his bone crown, “is that instructions were handed down with the ring.”

“Instructions?” Jaren repeated, his eyes narrowing.

There was something wrong with his voice, Kiva thought. She rubbed her ears, unsure if it was her hearing or if he really had slurred the word.

“We can’t justgiveit to you.” Ryuu’s lips curled into a smirk. “You first have to prove yourselves worthy of it. You have toearnit.”

“What does that mean?” Ashlyn demanded, pressing a hand to her head and swaying slightly.

Naari, however, had become as still as a statue, her face turning ashen.

Before Kiva could ask what was wrong, movement caught her eye, prompting her to gasp at the impossible sight of the scorpion thrones coming to life, their stingers shifting in the air as if preparing to attack.

She jerked backwards, her heart slamming against her rib cage. No one else seemed to notice, so she opened her mouth to shout a warning, but then she blinked, and the thrones were lifeless once more.

Realization crashed over Kiva, ice flooding her as she peered into her golden chalice.

Caldon’s stumble. Jaren’s slurring. Ashlyn’s swaying. Her own hallucinating.

Ignoring royal etiquette, Kiva speared her now blurry gaze toward the kings and rasped out, “You drugged us.”

As soon as she said the words, Tipp crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Kiva lunged for him, but her own knees gave out, and she collapsed beside him. She was suddenly so tired that she had trouble keeping her eyes open, barely able to watch as Ashlyn, Jaren, Caldon, and Cresta all toppled, one after the other. Naari, the only one of them who hadn’t drunk anything, drew her blades, but beige-clad guards poured into the throne room before she could make a single move.

“Fear not,” Ryuu said pleasantly, his words sounding far away. “It’ll wear off in time for your Arzavaar. We’ll even make sure you...”

He continued speaking, but Kiva’s body fully surrendered to the drug, and she heard no more.