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There was no future for them.

And she was a fool for ever thinking differently.

Chapter Twenty-One

Kiva had no idea what happened over the next few hours, her mind withdrawing into itself to protect her bleeding heart.

As they rode through the desert, she was aware of Tipp chattering at her side, heedless to her inner turmoil, but the others weren’t so ignorant. They’d all watched her disappear into the oasis with Jaren, only to return alone. Whatever they’d seen on her face had told them everything they’d needed to know.

Caldon had tried to talk to her, his voice soothing and concerned, but she’d brushed him aside by asking to continue her magical training while on horseback. He’d seemed surprised, before eyeing her closely and seeing how desperately she needed the distraction. And so, as they’d ridden along, he’d intermittently thrown fireballs at her, careful to keep them small and nowhere near Zephyr. Her mount wasn’t thrilled by the magical attacks, but he’d failed to unseat her — despite his best efforts — and he’d eventually grown used to the quick bursts of flames.

It took hours before Kiva was able to meet Caldon’s fire midair, and when she did, Tipp let out awhoopso loud that everyone turned toward them, Jaren included.

Kiva didn’t look at him.

She hadn’t looked at him since she’d left him beside the oasis, taking a page out of his book and acting like he didn’t exist.

It was easier this way, ignoring him, living in denial. It helped dull the pain, even if nothing could make it vanish entirely.

“I had a thought,” Cresta said, nudging her roan mare closer to where Kiva, Tipp, and Caldon were riding together, shortly after Kiva had successfully met Caldon’s attack.

“We’re in the middle of something,” Caldon told her.

“Kiva needs a break,” Cresta shot back. “She’s exhausted.”

“She’s not exhausted, she’s —” Whatever Caldon had been about to say, he quickly changed his mind, seeing the flash of anguish that Kiva wasn’t able to hide fast enough.

“I’m p-pretty tired m-myself,” Tipp said, standing in his stirrups to stretch his legs. “I’m h-hungry, too. D-Do you think we’re n-nearly close enough to w-windfunnel?”

Kiva could have kissed him for taking the focus off her.

“Soon, kiddo,” Caldon said, before turning back to Cresta. “What thought did you have?”

For that, Kiva could have kissed him, too.

Acting like their brief, uncomfortable moment had never occurred, Cresta said, “I’ve been considering what happened in the arena with those two anomaly warriors, and also how we think Navok is building a magical army.”

She had Caldon’s full attention now. But not just his — everyone else had ridden closer to listen. “And?” he asked.

“I think you and Ash” — she nodded to the princess — “should start using your magic on us during our morning training. If the time comes when we have to face elemental opponents, it’d be good to have more experience defending against them.”

Caldon tilted his head to the side. “It sounds suspiciously like you’re willing to fight with us once we’re done with all this Hand business.”

His tone was light, almost joking, but Cresta stiffened in her saddle and looked away, clearly embarrassed by having revealed that she was beginning to care about what happened to their group — and to Evalon itself. As someone who had been locked away for over five years, it would have been easy for her not to give the first damn about the Vallentis royals and the fate of their kingdom. It wasn’t even her native land, just a place she’d fled to as a child. The fact that she waseven thinking ahead to ways she might help them reclaim what they’d lost...

Kiva realized then that Cresta had come a long way since they’d first met, and she couldn’t be prouder of her now-friend, even if it was painfully evident that the redhead loathed the attention she was receiving.

Noting as much, Caldon didn’t make her answer. “It’s a good idea,” he said, “but it’ll just have to be Ash. We only have one amulet, so unless we keep passing it around, anyone I attack is going to get burned.”

This time, it was Cresta who tilted her head to the side. “Do you think Navok’s anomalies are going to care about hurting us?”

Caldon had no response to that.

“And besides,” Cresta went on, jerking her chin toward Kiva, “we have our very own magical healer. You keep harping on about how she needs to practice — so give her something to practice on.”

“It’s a clever thought,” Jaren said, causing Kiva to tense. She stared down at Zephyr’s silky mane to keep her gaze from wandering his way. “I could certainly use the training, especially since I’m likely to respond to an elemental attack by reaching for my magic.”

Magic that wasn’t there.