Page 12 of Kingdom of Tomorrow (Book of Arden #1)

Forget the humiliation aspect. I’d finally get to taste figs and apples. But ...

Drawn by a magnetic force, I returned my attention to the high prince. He settled back in his chair and met my gaze, as if he’d never lost focus of my plight. The intensity of his expression somehow cooled and heated the blood in my veins simultaneously. His eyes said, Are you a top lady or not?

I stiffened my knees, staying put, and aimed my gun at Lark, my shooter. But I didn’t fire yet.

“No offense,” she stated with a shrug, “but I don’t want someone like you representing me. We require strength and immunity to pressure—my best attributes. You will fold faster than yesterday’s laundry.”

Her words hurt almost as much as the dart. How easy it would be to fire in retaliation. But I didn’t. I couldn’t exactly refute her accusation or logic either.

A good leader didn’t simply deny accusations. She disproved them.

Using the rejection as fuel, I lowered my weapon without tapping the trigger, demonstrating restraint and resilience.

“Thank you for your honesty.” I did my best to mask my labored inhalations.

“As your representative, I will ensure my actions match my words. I won’t harm a fellow teammate even when they deserve it. ”

She rolled her eyes. “Harming you aided everyone, even you; you’re just too stubborn to admit it. But that’s okay—you can thank me later.” She batted her lashes at Roman with exaggerated innocence. “Unless I’m busy schooling another teammate.”

There was a sole weapon I could use to beat someone like her without breaking my campaign promise: wits.

“You’re obviously too smart to waste a dart on someone you consider a nonthreat.

Admit it, you’re afraid of me and jealous of my friendship with Roman.

” Not that we were officially friends. “I might not be the strongest among us, but I’ve already proven I’m more than qualified.

I only met the big brute today, but I’ve already convinced him to serve as my personal guard. ”

“Now hold up—” Roman began with a frown.

“I’m jealous of no one,” Lark snarled.

Playing right into my hand. “Sure. You’re not jealous of me.” I winked at her. “But you can’t deny you’re scared of me. Afraid to go hand to hand with me.” I smirked with all the smirk I had. “Me and my team refuse to be led by a fearmonger.” An insult I’d only ever heard directed at me.

“I fear nothing!” Baring her teeth, she stalked my way, abandoning her territory to prove it.

“Whoop! She got you, girl,” someone said, cackling. “You’re disqualified.”

Lark halted abruptly, shock replacing her fury. Of course, the fury resurged with a vengeance, fully directed at me. When she stormed off, triumph and relief nearly drilled me to the floor. I’d done it! I’d beat her without firing a shot, proving myself capable.

Roman comprehended my strategy and nodded at me, as if impressed.

Jericho used the distraction to his advantage, shooting Roman, who scowled and brushed the missile from his skin.

“My turn to share a personal fact,” Roman stated, and no one, not even Jericho, naysaid him.

“I’m from a military family, and I’ve trained for this my entire life.

I’m loyal to those who are loyal to me, and I’ll do whatever proves necessary to save my people, even mow down an enemy or a friend.

Those who stand with me, prove it. Shoot Jericho and join the HP at the tables.

Those who aren’t with me, prepare for my wrath. ”

The color drained from my former date’s face when four people aimed. Pft, pft, pft, pft. Each dart landed, and down the soldier fell. As he foamed at the mouth, Shiloh and the other medics rushed to offer assistance. The shooters disqualified themselves.

“The rest of you better want to represent us enough to suffer,” Roman said, his confidence unwavering.

Though I fought residual pain, I didn’t back down.

Even as four other soldiers walked away, joining the others at the tables.

My heart drummed against my ribs. Only three of us remained in the circle.

Roman had a single dart left. Our fellow challenger, Titus, might have all his ammunition or none; I suddenly couldn’t recall who had shot whom.

With all three of my darts locked and loaded, I debated my lone option. Join Titus to take out Roman. Because there was no way I could secure a vote against him.

The two guys faced off, acting as if I wasn’t there.

“You sure you want to go head to head?” Roman demanded.

“Beyond.” With a cold smile, Titus aimed and unloaded two darts into the other boy. The missiles sank into Roman’s chest, bracketing his heart. “You aren’t the only lord from a military family.”

Countenance darkening the slightest bit, Roman yanked the projectiles free. He used his final dart, hitting Titus in the throat. But Titus, too, pulled the projectile free without a reaction.

How were they still standing?

“Finish him, Ardie.” Veins bulged as Roman fought an onslaught of pain. “Now.”

Hey. I liked Roman. I did. But this was a competition for a rare prize. I needed to do what was best for me and the team, which included keeping my word. Integrity meant something. A treasure more valuable than gold.

“Arden,” he snapped.

“No,” I rasped, then I repeated it with more force. “No. I won’t do it. Titus is my teammate. And so are you. I meant what I said. I won’t harm any of you. But I will outlast you.” I wouldn’t budge from my circle until both of my opponents passed out.

With a grunt of irritation, Roman swiped my weapon and took aim at Titus. “Final words?”

“Hey,” I gasped out. He’d stolen my gun. How dare he! “That’s mine.”

Titus narrowed his eyes, his attention never leaving Roman. “You can’t use someone else’s weapon. You’ll be disqualified.”

“First lesson at the Roman Alexander School of Winning. Always take note of the smallest details.” Roman arched a brow at his challenger. “You heard the rules same as me. The HP never mentioned theft.”

Oooh. He wasn’t wrong. But it was still a terrible move, proving Roman lacked a moral compass when it came to the acquisition of power.

Titus paled. “Don’t—”

Too late. Click, click, click. Roman unloaded my darts.

An animalistic roar left Titus as his body lurched. He teetered and tried to lock his knees, but the dose was too high. Like Jericho and that other guy, he went down foaming at the mouth. For the third time, medics raced to administer some kind of antidote.

“Behold.” The HP dabbed the corners of his mouth with a napkin and stood. “Your champions.”

“We won!” A grinning Roman dropped the weapon and leaned over to wrap me in his arms. He swung me around.

“Don’t be mad, Ardie. I did what was best for us all.

And don’t worry. You’re exempt from my wrath.

” After setting me on my feet, he clasped my shoulder.

“Everything’s gonna be good now. You’ll see. ”

“Ow, ow, ow!” I cringed from the contact as receptors lit up with remnants of the pain toxin, or whatever it was. “I’m not a supersoldier like you.”

“Right.” He winced an apology and released me. “My bad.”

“The rest of you, vote,” the HP commanded. “Out loud. We’ll start with you.” He pointed to the first lord to be eliminated.

The lord darted his gaze between us, a strawberry halfway to his mouth. “Roman?”

“Are you asking or telling?” the HP queried with an easy tone that sent chills down my spine.

“Telling?” came the squeaked reply.

Okay. No big deal. I’d lost one. So what. I would snag the rest. The others must realize integrity mattered more than brute force. Except, one by one, our teammates cast their vote for Roman. Even Jericho and Titus. I withered more with every dismissal but tried not to show it.

“Congratulations, Roman.” High Prince Dolion tossed his napkin onto the tabletop. To the rest of us, he said, “You have your representative.”

I balled my hands into fists. Part of me suspected he’d required a public vote simply to embarrass me. “Congrats,” I told Roman. Though I wished to cry, I harbored no ill will toward him. Not much, anyway.

He ruffled my hair like he’d done to Mykal, then flexed his muscles. The other soldiers cheered.

“If you’re hurt, let a medic tend to you. If not, return to your room for an early lock-in. Tomorrow is going to be a rude awakening for many of you.” The HP stalked off, never looking back.

Mykal attempted to give chase, but he waved her off. She met my gaze and grimaced. I tried to smile with reassurance, but my knees finally gave out. Down I went at last.

I never hit the floor. Shiloh jetted over, catching me.

“I’m here, I’ve got you,” he muttered, easing me down. He dug inside a bag and withdrew a needle that he uncapped and shoved into my arm. “Better?”

The pain fled in a heartbeat. I sagged over the tiles, every muscle relaxing. “Much.”

“Good.” He took my hand and danced his fingers over my palm, signing six different shapes before moving on to his next patient. My lids slid closed as the corners of my lips lifted. He’d just spoken to me in his secret language. But what had he said?

The next thing I knew, Mykal was pulling me to my feet. “Come on, runner-up. Let’s grab some snacks before they disappear.”

The apples and figs! Needing no further encouragement, I tripped over to the counter, a little stronger with every step. Except. “The desserts are gone.” Along with everything else.

Suddenly I hated the HP, my teammates, and even the day. Mykal and I begrudgingly gathered the crumbs and trudged to our cell. We settled on her mattress and split the bounty.

“I need you to decipher a hand message for me,” I said, then drew the shapes on her palm.

She furrowed her brow in confusion. “That’s what Shiloh signed to you? You’re sure of it?”

I bit my bottom lip and nodded. “Is it bad?”

“No? Maybe? I have no idea why he would tell you this, but—”

A buzz sounded over a PA system, and our cell door closed automatically. “Engage chains,” an automated voice announced.

I forgot everything else. Dread unfurling, I stood and trudged to my bed. The cold shackle weighed heavy in my palm as my gaze followed the links to a hook in the wall.

“Count down from three?” Mykal asked, sounding just as nervous as I felt.

I nodded because what else could I do? This was the only way to protect each other in case we broke. “Three. Two.”

“One,” we said in unison, snapping the metal around our wrists. Goose bumps popped up along my arm.

With a heavy sigh, I settled into the uncomfortable mattress. Honestly, this hadn’t been the best day, but it hadn’t been a clunker either.

“Arden,” she whispered from her side of the room.

“Yes?”

“ Lemons. That’s what Shiloh said to you.”