Page 52 of Kingdom of Tomorrow (Book of Arden #1)
Though the storm blusters and the fire rages, I will bring you through unscathed.
We reached the Lux six minutes before lock-in, but it wasn’t relief I felt. I longed to return to the Rock. Felt as though I’d left pieces of myself behind and I would not be complete until I retrieved them. Or offered to give more of me.
Yes, yes, I should go back. So I’d be trapped in the darkness with feeders. So what.
According to Cured , this was maddened behavior, but I wasn’t sick. I wasn’t! I just needed more information.
Cyrus might have sensed my intentions. He maintained a firm grip on my hand and a swift pace.
A pair of armed barons guarded the entrance to the towering building.
They let us inside. We didn’t slow. A concierge rushed through the lobby to open elevator doors for us.
No other patrons congregated in the area, giving me a full view of the opulence.
Crystal walls, flawless furnishings, and a gold-veined floor proved this structure came from Theirland.
Cyrus and I entered the lift, leaving everyone behind. Tension hummed between us as the doors closed us in.
“Are you—” I began.
“We’ll talk about it when we’re alone,” he interjected, cutting me off sharply.
I pressed my lips together, noticed the blood soaking the side of his shirt, and whimpered. “Cyrus, you’re—”
“When we’re alone,” he repeated.
Maybe we were being recorded. Otherwise, he’d be asking a ton of questions. I had a few for him, too, considering I’d received a code I had no idea how to use, viewed more of my book, and conversed with Soal. The god intrigued me.
I’d told myself I wouldn’t focus on the Rock, but I’d done just that. Now, I was emboldened. And curious. What if the structure didn’t cause the Madness?
“Is your security detail okay?” Surely we could discuss that. Ugh. He was still bleeding all over the tiled floor. I whipped off my shirt and pressed the material into his wound. Cool air kissed my exposed skin.
“They are fine. Happy arrived before you did, and I went looking for you.”
“Thank you.” Had he not been there, well, I shuddered to think of what might have happened. “If it’s okay, I’d like to ask your contact about my mother.”
“Already planned on it.” He gritted the words.
“I hope you sent someone to watch Mykal too.”
“I tried, but I’m not sure where she is.”
Dang. Maybe she was holed up somewhere safe. “Hopefully people are filling the Havens.”
“They are. But those who don’t make it into a room won’t be left unguarded. Archduke Heta is leading multiple units to Bala City. They’ll patrol the night and set up temporary pritis stands.”
Ding. The doors opened to a suite with a comfy couch, two cozy chairs, and a solid-wood coffee table with legs balanced on the backs of golden turtles.
My pot rested on the edge. On the walls, holographic images moved within gilt frames, showcasing a beautiful young woman who resembled Cyrus in many ways. Maybe a sister or his mother.
With a wince, Cyrus led me forward. Three cats sprang from different parts of the living room, prowling toward us. A gray tabby, a black beauty with sprinklings of white, and an orange cutie. I twittered at their preciousness. Must pet and cuddle and kiss!
The felines noticed me and froze before scattering in every direction.
“I’ll win you over,” I called. We passed a pair of glass double doors that led to a balcony overlooking half the city. Even from here, several pieces of the Rock were visible. My longing crested, reaching new heights.
“I know Dr. Korey has taught you how to repair organ damage on a battlefield,” Cyrus said, quickening his pace.
Oh, no, no, no. My heart galloped. “She shared only the basics.” He couldn’t expect me to patch him up. “There’s no way I—”
“The basics are enough. You can patch me up.” He herded me into the kitchen.
A groan escaped. “There must be a medical professional who lives in the building.” One had lived in mine, though the title “professional” was being generous.
“There are several. I’m sure they’re barricading like the rest of us. Besides, we don’t want anyone else locked within our walls.”
“You’re right, but—”
“Stay here.” Off he went, leaving droplets of blood in his wake.
I immediately set to work, opening the light-blue drawers and the cabinets trimmed in gold, rummaging for cloths to soak up blood.
The gleaming ivory countertops appeared spotless, so hopefully we wouldn’t have to worry about infection.
Small potted plants in varying stages of growth were strategically placed.
Nothing I could use as medicine, though.
Cyrus returned with a field MD kit, set it on the counter, and gripped the neckline of his shirt to tug the material over his broad shoulders. My jaw nearly unhinged.
“Look at you.” All that cut strength and that masterpiece of a tattoo.
A tree spanned from the base of his spine up his back and over his shoulders, to his collarbone and different parts of his chest, the branches blooming with different things.
Flowers and fruits, yes, but also keys, weapons, and coins.
Without thought, I reached out and traced my fingertips over a rose.
“As much as I’m enjoying your admiration,” he told me with a wry tone as he bent over the counter, “I’m bleeding out.”
Oh goodness gracious, he was! A gaping wound in his side seeped fresh crimson. I scrambled to the kit, hands trembling as I collected the items I required. “I’ve never done this in real life,” I warned. Never done anything for anyone while shirtless. “I’ll probably make mistakes.”
“I promise to grade you on a curve. And if I survive, you automatically pass.”
“That’s not funny.” I licked my lips and claimed the first tool. “I’m guessing you’d prefer to forgo the painkiller so you can remain clearheaded in case I break.”
“ Murder the pain,” he commanded, and I almost laughed. Almost.
“What happened?” With quaking fingers, I administered the first injection, numbing the wound. From there, I cleaned the raw flesh with the proper chemicals and tried not to think or feel.
“A pack of feeders ambushed me.”
This occurred while Soal distracted me, no doubt. I just didn’t know if he’d done it on purpose or inadvertently. Either way, guilt flared, and I bit my cheek. “We should talk about what went down out there.”
Cyrus stiffened and shook his head. “We should, but not until tomorrow, after the drugs wear off.”
Were his words already slurring? “What if I break?” A very real possibility, considering my new obsession.
“I’m not worried, Arden.”
Not good enough. “You can’t be sure. Better safe than sorry.”
“Why are you so pretty?” he asked.
Oh, yeah, his words were definitely slurred. I tried not to smile as I secured the C2U—critical care unit—to speed up healing, then wrapped a bandage around him. And I did a danged good job, if I did say so myself. By morning, he should be much improved. Not fully healed, but on the path.
“Tell me what you like most about my prettiness.”
“Your kindness.”
No stopping my smile this time. “Let’s get you to bed. You can make that phone call before you pass out.” I moved to his side to act as his crutch.
“Help me to the couch and stay with me awhile,” he said, letting his weight rest against me.
“I’ll join you after I clean up our mess.”
He actually pouted, and it was adorable. “We’ll tidy up later.” Pause. “You have the most amazing smile,” he added with a drunken grin.
“Thank you.” I kissed his brand. “Come on, lover boy.” Though I strained under the burden of his weight, I got him to our destination without toppling.
He plopped onto a cushion and pulled me down with him, ensuring I stayed put.
As he stretched out and rolled to his side, he pinned me between a soft throw pillow and his hard body.
Skin to skin. Warmth to warmth. Strength to softness.
A sense of connection instantly bloomed, deeper than any I’d previously experienced.
“Finally got you where I want you,” he murmured, smoothing the hair from my face.
“I could get away if I wanted,” I murmured back, while melting into him. No better way to make sure he didn’t start bleeding again than to stay right where I was.
As he made the call to inquire about my mother, he kept me tucked close. When he hung up, he filled me in. “She got scared and ran from him, but he tracked her chip and brought her back to her apartment building. She’s now safe and sound.”
Relief crested, only to crash and burn. Tracked. By her chip. Just like the one embedded in my palm. Just like those embedded in everyone else’s palms.
How easy citizens of the provinces were to find. Cured could log every instance we neared the Rock or lingered a little too long. They could lock us out of any and every building or apartment, as they’d done to Mr. Garfield, the day before I’d left for the academy.
Unease prickled my skin. This was a complication I needed to consider. “Fair warning. I will be taking advantage of your temporary openness to pry into your secrets.” I flattened my palm over his pectoral to gauge the strength of his heartbeat. Fast but steady. Good.
“I expected that, kitten, and I’m prepared. Even drugged, I’ll resist temptation. Me warrior. No crack.” He pounded a fist against the pec not covered by my hand, reminding me of a big, strong gorilla. Then he winced, wringing a snicker from me.
“I’m kitten now?”
“Mmm hmm. Part of my bouquet. Maybe I should call you buttercup .” He nuzzled my cheek. “I was teasing before, you know. I’ll tell you anything as long as you’re holding me just like this.”
Adorable man. “I was teasing before too. I won’t take advantage of you.” Even for answers.
“I’ll tell you a secret.” His expression turned wistful. “A year ago, a part of my book played on the surface of the Rock. My own personal movie. It showed me an event to come. You were in it, though we hadn’t even met.”
What! “You can’t stop there. Tell me more.”