Page 29 of Kingdom of Tomorrow (Book of Arden #1)

An ache ignited within me. Had Cyrus been anyone else, I would’ve taken his hand and—oh, screw it. He’d given me soil. I could risk my pride to offer comfort. I clasped his hand and squeezed, surprised when he laced his fingers through mine, not just accepting my gesture but welcoming it.

New flutters curled through my abdomen. This wasn’t just comfort. This was something more. I should pull away. For Shiloh’s sake, if not my own. But I didn’t pull away; like a fool, I held on tighter.

“Any questions for me?” Cyrus asked.

Countless. I settled for a statement. “I’m intrigued by the castle with lights.”

He flinched, clearly surprised by my chosen topic. “I can tell you someone lives in it, but you don’t have clearance to learn more, and this time I can’t give it.”

Well. Curiosity engaged. I might have just discovered the answer to Ember’s challenge.

“Look,” Cyrus said, pointing.

I followed the direction of his finger with my gaze.

A massive light exploded on the horizon, casting gold, lavender, and azure streaks across the midnight sky.

From our vantage point, we had a view of the entire city as feeders raced to escape the light now illuminating buildings decorated with glittering mosaics.

I spotted a well-documented relic from Earth and marveled. If the memory from my elementary school days was correct, the statue was known as Lady Liberty. Hmm. A dark, jagged outline shadowed every statue, even ours, as if they’d been painted with a shaky hand.

Massive trees stretched barren, gnarled limbs through multiple structures.

Some grew from inside the buildings, while others sprouted along the outside.

Bodies and body parts were strewn along gold-brick streets.

Judging by the clothing worn by the victims, those parts came from knights, barons, and maddened alike.

Pools of blood in the process of congealing resembled tar pits.

Grimacing, I focused on the light. “I’m not sure what I’m seeing,” I admitted. Not a sunrise, but not the stark white I’d seen coming from the castle either. The rays possessed a lovely golden tinge, but they were already fading.

“Whenever a glower is taken out of commission, others rise in the ranks.” A pause. “Theirland is a beautiful and horrid place, isn’t it?” The light died completely, pitch black returning to cloak the land. Cyrus released me and stood. “Yes, I’m on my way.”

I blinked up at him, confused and already missing his warmth. Not a good sign.

He tapped a new transmitter behind his ear. “Duty calls.”

Ah. He was in contact with someone else now. I wasn’t jealous. Nope. Not me.

“Get some rest, Lady Roosa. When we return, we’ll pick up our conversation about the medic.”

I pressed my tongue to the roof of my mouth. “I don’t need to rest.” With the threat of our upcoming discussion, I doubted I could. A yawn belied my words. “I don’t feel safe enough to try.”

Another pause. Then, “That will change once you’ve had more training.” His boots thumped against the floor as he stalked off.

With a sigh, I stood and aimed in the opposite direction, tucking the vial into my pocket.

I wandered—well, I wasn’t sure where. I just—I needed to flee my thoughts for a bit.

Maybe I’d rent a private cell and avoid the crowds.

An hour of extra work for every hour inside wouldn’t be too bad.

I was doing extra work with Cyrus, anyway. Maybe that counted as payment.

Along the way, however, I ran into Juniper and Titus, and they provided a much-needed distraction.

“Jericho ditched me,” she said with a pout, “so we’re going to the library. Want to come?”

A chance to snoop without rousing suspicion. Yes! But I looked to Titus. He might not welcome me tagging along.

“Please join us,” he said with a nod.

What a change in him. “I will, thank you.” I accompanied the pair along winding hallways and through doors we needed our IDs to open. On the journey, I got blunt. “I’m guessing you no longer dislike me, but I’m confused about why you did before.”

He sighed. “Until tonight, when I saw your face after POD time, I thought you were Roman’s minion. I know his type. Never considers the means, only the end.”

We ascended a flight of stairs. “He’s not perfect, but he’s not a bad guy.”

Titus shrugged, clearly unconvinced. “I hear you’ve joined our ragtag team getting special lessons from High Prince Dolion.”

Oooh. I wouldn’t be receiving one-on-one tutoring as I’d assumed. Well. That was wonderful. Not disappointing at all. The other trainees needed help as much as I did. “I am, yes. And his kindness is much appreciated.”

“Oh, he’s not doing it out of the goodness of his heart,” Juniper piped up. “The instructor who produces the top soldier wins some kind of prize, plus a bonus if their team is ranked first. Roman says there’s a scoreboard in a private conference room.”

Wires in my brain connected, welcoming a free flow of hurt. Cyrus and I weren’t friends, and there was no connection between us. He merely contended for a prize. Ouch. I shoved my hands into my pocket, my fingers bumping into the vial. Motivation for the hopeless kid, no doubt.

“Something wrong?” Titus asked.

I pasted a smile on my face. “Why do you require extra credit? You’re strong and fearless. Leadership material.”

“Apparently isolating myself is”—lips pursed, he performed air quotes—“‘unacceptable.’”

“Ah.” We entered an underwhelming room with square tables and cushionless chairs.

Shelves lined the walls, each scattered with printed textbooks I’d read in school.

Manuals that listed Cured ’s accomplishments, the symptoms of the Madness, the atrocities committed by Soalians, and the slaughters instigated by feeders.

Nothing about valuable resources here on Theirland.

No history of the people or the world itself or descriptions of their war with the maddened.

There was nothing about Soal either. There wasn’t even an article about Theirland foliage.

I scrubbed a palm over my face, once again homesick for my plants and my mother.

While my companions dove into an edition about the most decorated warriors in Cured history, I wandered down the hall and came upon a gym, where I used a treadmill to clear my head, running and running and running, shedding uncertainty and disappointment I wasn’t ready to face.

Afterward, I visited the locker room and lingered in a private shower stall.

Yawns came more rapidly, and the sandpaper sensation in my eyes returned and intensified.

I nearly dozed off while standing, leaning against the wall, warmish water raining over me.

Once dressed in clean fatigues I found folded in a small square cubby, I searched for a spot to hide.

Alas. Every room, shadowed corner, and alcove was occupied. I paced the rest of the night.

Before POD patrol the next morning, I grabbed a meal bar and ate it on the go. Dread eclipsed every other emotion as I sealed myself inside a POD and suited up. What would I say to Cy—the HP when we linked up? He was an instructor, nothing more, nothing less.

Except, I wasn’t paired with the HP but a soldier who did nothing but stand guard at the entrance of a pritis mine.

Hours passed without action, covered mine carts self-wheeling along a track located within a metal building.

And that was fine. Great actually. From the beginning, this was the kind of job I’d hoped to score.

Only problem was, my fatigue continued to demand its due, and once again I nearly fell asleep on my feet. Once my shift ended, I shed the equipment, determined. If I didn’t find a spot to rest, I might collapse.

Exiting my POD, I found an unfamiliar soldier waiting for me. She confiscated my key card and motioned for me to follow her. I gulped. Maybe one of the captured glowers had mentioned my name. I could be on my way to an interrogation.

Dread resurged, but follow her I did. We wound through the building, eventually entering a hallway with multiple metal doors. She stopped, waving me into a small closet-size room with a bed, nightstand, mirror, and toilet.

A private cell? A prison? Frowning, I stepped inside for a better look. Maybe there was a note?

Without a word, she closed the door, sealing me inside.

“Wait!” I lunged and pulled on the handle. The entrance remained locked. Don’t panic. No big deal.

A digital note flashed over the mirror. Get some sleep. My son tells me you need it. You’re safe, you have my word, and the time is my treat. King Tagin Dolion.

A thousand different thoughts swirled, but I had no idea which ones to boot. Not that this was the time to think. Moaning, I threw myself across the bed. The mattress was firm, but I didn’t care. My heavy eyelids drifted shut.

I dreamed of Cyrus.