Page 35 of Kingdom of Tomorrow (Book of Arden #1)

Abhor lies, for they will always return to devour the one who birthed them.

I shelved the HP’s bombshell offer of ..

. friendship? A romantic relationship? And holed up in my room, as ordered.

Mykal was gone. Alone, I hurried through my usual evening routine.

Test the moisture level of my soil. Check.

Adjust the lamp rigged over the pot. Check.

Gather everything I would need in the morning. Check, check, check.

Practically foaming at the mouth with eagerness, I jumped onto my bed, looked around for any prying eyes or hidden cameras, and exchanged the chip in my new reader.

Waiting for the first page to load proved difficult, but I did it. When the words Lady Lemon Ade appeared on the screen, I squealed with delight. He’d given the file to me! Abuzz with curiosity, I swiped to the next page and read.

Hmm. Medical records of former barons and knights.

Certain sections were highlighted, including dates of both negative and positive Madness tests, notes from the attending physician listing various reasons for requiring said tests, and the astronomical cost of “damages.” Only, the specifics of those damages weren’t mentioned.

In multiple reports, that physician—always Dr. Korey—recommended a dose of “seil” or “aidem 2” before the individual broke.

Shiloh had typed notes of his own in the margins. Weaponizing the Madness for profit?

There were photos of the soldiers in question. One of them resembled the maddened who’d broken the day I met Shiloh. I’d never forgotten his face. According to his chart, he’d received doses of both seil and aidem 2 three days before the incident.

Cold invaded my fingers and toes. Hadn’t I received aidem on my first day here?

Evil. The last word Shiloh had signed to me echoed inside my head.

His supposition about weaponization couldn’t be right. Odds were greater Ember had planted fake case studies for her brother to find. What better way to convince him to join her and her fellow Soalians?

I almost turned off the reader, but I had to learn what else waited in the file. Had to know what Shiloh had died believing on the off chance I discovered a nugget of truth.

Bile singed my throat when I came upon pictures of corpses with their chests split open and hollowed out. Beside the first, Shiloh had written, Known Soalians .

Another case study followed, comparing the two different strains of Madness. The one responsible for feeders and the one responsible for glowers. All results were redacted.

Frustration simmered. Next came reports filed by lords and ladies who had defied orders for one reason or another and entered a pritis mine. A death certificate accompanied each complaint. Each offender had died in a treatment facility or broke on the streets soon after their breach in protocol.

Trembling, I flipped the page, and discovered a personal note from Shiloh, dated the day of his death. Tears instantly welled, blurring the words. Amid a series of sniffles, I wiped my eyes and read.

Dear Arden,

So much has happened, I might as well dive straight into the deep end.

Two days ago, I was stretched out on my bed, unsure what to do, when I blinked and found myself inside a library.

The library. Well, I was there, but I was also in my room at the base.

I know. That’s impossible, but it’s true.

I wasn’t imagining it. I was there. I saw the books and met Soal.

He’s real, Arden. I can’t even begin to describe what being in his presence is like. He spoke to me, two words that have forever changed me. I can’t go back to who I was. My purpose is so clear. Dangerous, yes, but I don’t care. People deserve the truth. They’ve lived with lies for too long.

The Rock eradicates the Madness. Cured produces and spreads it. That’s why they keep us afraid and indebted. From what I gather, they need us. I think it has something to do with the sleeping gods hidden in Theirland. When they wake, the real war begins.

I 100% get that I seem maddened right now.

I know I’ve scared you. Give me a chance to prove I’m right.

Be leery of the HP and his father. They get their orders from someone named Astan, who makes the Dolions look like children with toys.

If I break with Madness any time soon, it means Cured suspects I’ve defected, and they took measures to discredit me.

But you know what? I wouldn’t change anything. I’m finally on the right path.

Okay, I’ll stop now. I’ve thrown a lot of seeds at you. (See what I did there?) If you turn me in, I won’t hold it against you. I’ll understand, I promise. I’ve turned in others for much less. Either way, I still want to date you.

Yours,

Shiloh

P.S. Ember sent me the following exchange.

Horror collided with sorrow. Despite testing negative when he’d written this, Shiloh had been sick.

Clearly. He had all the signs. Considered Cured evil.

Believed in sleeping gods and Soal. This was the Madness, full throttle.

The ravings of an individual on the cusp of a break.

And yet, even Cyrus touted Soal as real, and he wasn’t ill.

A small part of me whispered, Something doesn’t add up.

I mopped up my tears and flipped to the last series of pages in the document. Emails from the king and Archduke Heta discussing messages between two Soalians known as Sparrow and Unicorn. Shiloh had highlighted certain sections, and after reading everything, I focused on those.

Sparrow: You’re ready for your first mission. Agreed?

Unicorn: Considering I submitted a formal request eight months ago, yes. Agreed.

Sparrow: You weren’t ready then. You’re barely ready now.

Unicorn: Have you even read my file? I’m the best of the best.

Sparrow: We’ll find out soon enough. You will recruit Arden Roosa.

Unicorn: Seriously, read my file. The best of the best—in battle. Recruiting isn’t my thing.

Sparrow: Recruiting is every Soalian’s thing. But don’t worry, I’ll take care of introductions.

The next highlight came from the second message.

To: Baracas Heta

From: Tagin Dolion

Subject: re: A potential problem

This is a job for the High Prince. My son lacks charm, but he never fails.

Realization dawned, as horrifying as Shiloh’s letter. This explained so much. Ember’s—or rather, Unicorn’s—interest in me. I even understood why she incriminated herself by sharing her communications with Shiloh. There was no better way to incriminate Cyrus.

I pressed a hand to my mouth. No wonder he and his father had a personal stake in my training.

The betrayal I’d felt about the contest for top soldier paled in comparison to what consumed me now.

In an effort to catch Ember, the HP had feigned interest in me.

Lavished me with attention and special gifts.

Offered me a prize beyond imagining: personal information, secrets, and intimacy.

What a fool I’d been. He’d only hoped to use me as bait and catch the Soalians attempting to recruit me.

A shuffle of footsteps jerked me out of my whirling emotions. Mykal entered the cell. She didn’t glance my way, just kicked off her boots and muttered, “Dr. Korey interviewed me today.”

I jolted upright, instantly snared. “Why?”

“She asked about Shiloh.” My roommate climbed into bed. “And you. What you’ve said, what you do during downtime, that kind of thing.”

I gripped my blanket, nearly ripping the fabric. “Did she give a reason for her curiosity?”

“As if the medical czar has to explain herself.” Mykal rolled to the side, facing the wall. “I’m going to break up with my boyfriend. He’s Shiloh’s older brother, Erik. Every time I think about him, I remember what happened and—never mind. Good night.”

“Oh, Mykal,” I whispered, hurting for her. “Please don’t—”

She shook her head and smashed her face into her pillow. Translation: Conversation over.

Very well. Air seeped from between my teeth as I lay back down.

I stared up at the concrete ceiling, minutes passing in silence.

Eventually, my thoughts returned to Cyrus, and my sense of betrayal magnified.

He claimed to value the truth above life, yet he had lied to me again and again.

His father had lied to me too. Like the king’s wife had even heard my name, much less read my essay.

What else had my illustrious superiors lied about?

I balled my covers in my fists. To my knowledge, Shiloh had never lied to me.

Even in his letter, he’d shared what he perceived as reality, despite the potential cost to his life.

If I were a good friend, I would investigate his claims. Settle the incongruities he and his sister had raised, once and for all.

Determination forged my bones into steel. I would do it. Investigate Theirland, the Rock, Soal, other gods, and even Cured . From this moment on, I sought the truth, my holy grail. I would dig and dig and dig until I found the treasure. Forget Cyrus and his dinner invitation. Unless ... Hmm.

All night, I considered my options, never sleeping. Wondering how to handle Cyrus. Considering the castle in Theirland and how to sneak there. A place so-called gods might be inclined to rest. A plan began to align.

Mykal didn’t sleep either. We both tossed and turned. When Friday morning arrived, I was all but foaming at the mouth, ready to get started.

Mykal smiled at me, trying to act like her old self, but her eyes lacked their usual sparkle. “You going to Theirland today?”

“I am.” I would seize any opportunity to speak with Cyrus, then come back and wring information from Dr. Korey.

On Thursday, I would return to Bala City.

Check out the Rock. A dangerous path to walk with possible life-altering consequences.

But allow fear to stop me? Not ever again. “You gonna be okay?”

“For sure. I get to rest and relax while the HP is gone. I’ll water your dirt.”