Page 7 of Kingdom of Tomorrow (Book of Arden #1)

Their throats are an open grave, with the sweetest venom dripping from their tongues.

I lined up in front of the bus with the other gentry, gawking. Never had the mishmash of realms been more evident. Fort Bala was a wonderland and a hellscape, forced to coincide.

In the sky, sharp, opaque beams of sunlight glinted off the jagged seams between worlds, curling in the shape of roses.

Thin white cloud wisps dusted the ethereal petals, giving an illusion of snow.

The aerial bouquet bloomed across a baby blue sky and served as a backdrop for an imposing military compound.

Half crystal palace, half concrete prison, all fascinating.

The yellow sand extended as far as the eye could see, broken only by a smattering of gnarled bladetrees that bloomed with strange orange flowers. The most flowers I’d seen anywhere other than the Rock, and my jaw slackened.

Hello, my beauties. What are you? Tiny ribbons of smoke wafted from an intricate web of spiraling, upraised roots, and I longed for a closer look.

Platoons navigated obstacle courses, sprinted along tracks, practiced with odd weapons, and trained in hand-to-hand combat.

Directly before us was a metal dais. A group of armed soldiers surrounded it, guarding the four individuals who stood shoulder to shoulder on its center.

I recognized the oldest. Tagin Dolion, king of Cured ’s military forces and the only son of Emperor Piven Dolion, leader of Cured and the United Provinces of Ourland.

Up close, the clean-cut king was everything he seemed to be in televised interviews.

Distinguished. Regal. Handsome and in command of his entire being.

A little person around forty years old flanked him on his right while a midthirties female with a perma-scowl claimed the spot at his left.

The fourth individual, the youngest male, looked to be in his late twenties.

Apart from the five o’clock shadow gracing his strong jaw and a handprint branded into one side of his face, causing the skin to pucker and his eye to slightly droop, he greatly resembled the king.

They bore the same heavily lashed eyes, aquiline noses, and plump bottom lips.

Despite their similarities, the younger guy was too rough and intense to be labeled handsome , but it didn’t matter. He was something far better: Interesting. A warrior forged in the heat of battle, any hint of weakness hammered out of him.

He was a little taller than Shiloh, and more muscular. Controlled brute force to the medic’s lean strength. He examined the world around him with an air of detachment.

Everything about him ignited a nervous reaction inside me. I didn’t like it. Not one bit.

Didn’t help that he was the king’s youngest son, High Prince Cyrus Dolion. I would stake my life on it. Like the rest of the world, I’d glimpsed photos and videos of the royal family throughout the years. Images depicting holidays with the family.

The high prince swept his icy gaze over the crowd, but swiftly slid his attention back to me. His lids narrowed to slits. My breath hitched, and my skin warmed. Caught staring. I looked away. My pulse continued to race. I really, really hated this.

“I’m in paradise,” Roman breathed, his expression awed. “This is my happy place.”

“I want to be anywhere else.” When a pallid Mykal realized what she’d said, she slapped a hand over her mouth.

“That’s not what I meant to say. Let me rephrase.

I’m so happy to be here, beyond grateful to help my family, but I’m nervous about the unknown.

Not that I don’t trust Cured to look out for me. ” She groaned. “I’ll stop talking now.”

I flashed her a sympathetic smile. “Trust me, I one hundred percent understand.”

Gratitude bathed her delicate features.

“Attention, lords- and ladies-in-training,” a harsh voice called.

Roman and Mykal dropped their bags, lifted their heads, and straightened their shoulders, so I followed suit. I made sure not to glance at High Prince Dolion again. No, thank you.

“I’m Archduke Baracas Heta,” announced the little person. “With me is King Tagin Dolion, High Prince Cyrus Dolion, and Duchess Echo Mimidae.”

Don’t look, don’t look, don’t look. The mantra always helped me with the Rock, but not with the emperor’s grandson. I failed to prevent my focus from darting his way. Oh, thank goodness! He stared straight ahead, no longer glaring at me.

“Our laws are simple,” Archduke Heta continued. “Obey the rules. Respect others. Combat the Madness. If anyone exhibits symptoms of the disease, even a commanding officer, you will inform a superior immediately. Always tell. Failure to do so could cost you and countless others their lives.”

He paused, scanning us. “After the Fall of Nations, when the Madness spread through civilization like wildfire, our forebears had to rebuild our great provinces from the ground up. Today, we’re better and stronger than ever, and I will happily die defending Ourland.”

Cheers resounded from the gentry. The second the archduke raised his hand, they quieted.

“I have no idea who any of you are, but I’m certain you’ve never ventured into the night.

You think you comprehend what’s waiting for you out there.

Let me assure you, you don’t.” Grim confidence emanated from him.

“Most of you have never encountered glowers, the most insidious of the maddened. Worse than the newly broken, who rampage. Seemingly calm and rational. Stronger. Faster. Impervious to pritis stones. For decades, Cured has kept them from infiltrating public spaces, ensuring your safety. Now, it’s your honor and duty to protect Cured in return. ”

No one uttered a word. Roman was too busy grinning. But me? I was spinning.

The archduke wasn’t done. “I didn’t pursue leadership, but the Madness called, and I answered. Now, you have done the same. For that, I commend you. But are you worthy to bear our name? We will find out.”

To ward off sickness, I pressed my palm against my midsection.

“At the end of your training, we’ll award the top lord or lady with a rare prize.” He stepped to the edge of the dais. “No taxes for the rest of your life.”

I blinked. In an instant, every fiber of my being craved that prize.

I could supplement my mother’s income, ensuring she didn’t need to work from sunup to sundown, babysitting a monster child she no longer had the strength to corral.

I would never again have to worry she’d end up in Gradon, prey for predators.

But I wasn’t the only one bubbling over with sudden excitement. Everyone else wanted the prize too.

Didn’t matter. “I will be the top lady,” I whispered to myself. Though I had no idea what constituted such a title. The most captures or kills, probably. And loyalty. Strategy too. But it still didn’t matter. I would stop at nothing.

Roman heard my personal pep talk. “Shoot for most improved,” he advised me softly. “Top lord is the reason I’m here.”

I recognized a warning when I heard it and gulped. So competition was fierce? So what?

“Today,” Archduke Heta continued, “you’ll undergo a full medical examination. For the good of us all, you will consent to whatever tests and medications we feel you require.”

“Sir, yes, sir,” Roman boomed, and the rest of us echoed him.

Two soldiers motioned us to follow, and I picked up my bag. The pair led us up the hill, toward the palace/prison. I didn’t mean to, but I cast a final glance at the high prince as I neared his platform.

Our gazes collided, and my eyes widened. He was glaring so forcefully, his brand pulled taut. I must have done something to offend. Or maybe I resembled someone he despised. Ugh. No. It was my outfit. I’d probably violated sixteen different regulations.

“I didn’t get the what-to-wear memo, all right?” I muttered.

Perhaps he read my lips. Perhaps not. Either way, he blinked with surprise.

I was so flustered by the interaction, I tripped on my own foot. Cheeks on fire, I gripped my bag closer. Finally, I passed the leaders, putting the foursome in my rearview.

“So, this might not be the time and place, but I used to date Shiloh,” Mykal said from in front of me. “Thought you should know.”

I recognized a distraction when I heard it. “Go on.” Please.

“As you probably guessed, it didn’t last long and it didn’t work out, but I want him happy. You returned a smile I’ve missed seeing ever since his sister—never mind,” she mumbled, and said no more.

Oh, no. I could guess what had happened to his sister. The Madness. But she must have survived, since he’d mentioned having fun with her. Still. I knew the horrors of treatment, and my chest constricted with sympathy.

Grains of sand flung in every direction as I climbed the hill. “Why didn’t it work between you guys? You both seem pretty wonderful.”

“She fell in lurve with someone else. Mr. Mystery.” Roman tossed a toothy grin over his shoulder and wiggled his brows. “If you can get her to name names, please share with the rest of us. She’s so secretive.”

“Do you try to be the most annoying person on the planet, Roman, or does it come naturally?” Mykal grumbled.

Another toothy grin made an appearance. “It comes naturally, thank you for asking.”

Their easy banter helped ground me, keeping my usual panic at bay. I mean, I was in a strange place, with strange people, expected to fight an enemy I’d feared my entire life and, and, and— Breathe, just breathe.

A commotion up ahead yanked my attention outward.

I forgot my problems as the trainee at the head of the line collapsed.

Wait, the second and third collapsed too.

Down went several others, one after the other.

What the—Roman’s knees buckled. Mykal went down.

My blood flashed cold. Did I detect a sickeningly sweet odor in the air?

Run!