Page 60 of Kingdom of Tomorrow (Book of Arden #1)
Excitement bloomed, and I snatched the book for a closer look.
Suddenly, blocking out the rest of the world wasn’t difficult.
The more intently I watched it, the faster the sprout grew, until it split in two and flowed over both sides of the line.
Still growing. Curling around the other lines.
Drawing them closer. Closer. None stopped until all were side by side, with no gaps between them.
The seal spun, and whatever force had earlier prevented me from lifting the cover vanished. Giddy, I cracked open the spine.
“That’s my girl,” Cyrus said, clasping my nape. But the touch didn’t last long. He stiffened and pulled away, asking, “Does it reveal something about your past, present, or future?”
“Let’s find out.” I flipped through the first group of pages. A disclaimer. The title. “Why did you bring me this particular book?”
“When John asked me to turn him in to Cured , he also instructed me to pull two specific books the day you joined the Tome Society. This one is for you, and the second is for me.”
Finally I reached the meat of the story.
I read the first couple of paragraphs, my brows drawing in.
I frowned. “It’s—hmm. A scene from my past. The day I agreed to attend the academy.
I returned home to find my mother left work early to celebrate my acceptance into the Center or console me for my rejection.
” I paused, frowned. “I’m not sure how this helps me. ”
“Most likely the key to save her is in that moment of your life, so you need to read it over and over until clarity comes,” Ember explained, standing. “I have a feeling this will be a long night, so I’m going to gather snacks. Be back soon.”
The door closed behind her. Suddenly I was alone with Cyrus and Shiloh. I shifted, uncomfortable.
Cyrus wasted no time redonning his emotionless mask. He strode around the table and swiped up his book. “I’ll have a better chance of opening mine if I’m alone. I’ll learn what I can and return.” Without glancing my way, he followed Ember’s path, exiting the room.
As the door shut behind him, dejection hit.
Shiloh leaned toward me, and I cast him a small smile. He appeared south of grim. “I get that you’re under pressure and time is limited, but I also don’t want to be a burden for you tonight. So, let me resolve any possible conflict within you and remove this worry from your plate. You like him.”
My shoulders rolled in. “Yes,” I admitted softly. Cyrus was mine. I chose him. If he decided I wasn’t the one for him, so be it. But I refused to fear something so right.
Shiloh released a heavy breath. “I can’t even blame you. He’s pretty dreamy.”
“That’s what I said!”
My companion sighed. “He had to perform expert tricks to lose his guard and visit me here. Told me you were mourning and hardening to challenge and that when you and I next came together, you wouldn’t be the same.
He also said I wouldn’t be the same, either, and we’d both realize we weren’t suited for each other.
Now, here we are. A guy I really wish I could hate but can only admire nailed it. ”
Tears burned my eyes as I wrapped my arms around his shoulders and hugged him. “You’re pretty dreamy, too, you know.”
“Even with the patch?” He gently stroked the pads of his fingers over the material.
“Especially with the patch.”
As I pulled away smiling, he said, “Don’t beat yourself up about my poor battered heart. I’ll recover, I promise. And honestly, there’s no reason to worry about the HP’s feelings for you. My guess is he’s trying to give you space to process my return.”
I truly hoped that was the crux of it. “In your letter to me, you mentioned two words that Soal spoke to you. How they changed the trajectory of your entire life.” At long last, I asked, “What were the two words?”
“I’ll tell you when the time is right.” Shiloh waved to my book. “Right now, I want to help you keep your mother safe. You’ve got me for another half hour, so use me.”
I didn’t push because I had no right to do so.
“Give me a minute to scan this.” He nodded, and I dove into the “story,” letting the text remind me of the details.
And it was odd reliving my past self in written form, as if it was authored by someone else.
I logged the facts, then dove deeper, searching for a key.
Any key. “Help,” I squeaked. “How am I supposed to know what’s important and what’s not? ”
Shiloh didn’t miss a beat. “Explain what happened.”
Okay. “I walked in the door. Mom blew a horn and tossed confetti. I confessed my acceptance into Fort Bala Royal Academy. She offered to complain to Cured , but I declined. I claimed it was a good thing, that I would now have a chance to obliterate my nightmares. She blamed herself for my predicament, professed fear for my life, and suggested we go on the run. Oh! Maybe I’m supposed to get her and go on the run.
Although, my boast. Nothing gets in the way of my dream, not even death.
What if I’m not supposed to flee? What if she dies if I don’t? ”
“Ember tells us to never venture into a rabbit hole. The foxes lie in wait.”
In other words, calm down. Easier said than done. I jumped to my feet and began to pace parallel to the table. “I must figure out if I’m supposed to run or stay. Unless escaping isn’t even the question.”
Cyrus burst into the room, his expression grave. He no longer held his book but a necklace with a small metal star hanging from the center.
I froze, my heart racing. “You learned something.”
He gave a clipped nod and fit the necklace around his neck. “I know how to remove your mother from Cured crosshairs.”
No need to think about it. “I’m ready,” I said, closing my book and jumping to my feet. “Let’s go.”