Page 19 of Kingdom of Today
“That’s not happening.” Here, now, there was a tug deep inside me. A desperate need I wouldn’t deny. I couldn’t not visit the library.
I couldn’t not revisit a certain idea either. “I think we should stage a breakup.” I’d do anything to keep Cyrus safe, even this. “Just for a little while.”
Scowling, he gave a clipped shake of his head. “Absolutely not. I’m your best line of defense.”
“True, but I’m clearly a hindrance toyours.” I cherished his refusal, but more was at stake than my life. “On my day off, while I’m safe in the Rock, claim you’ve discovered I’m a Soalian spy. I’ll take responsibility for whatever Mr. Vyle knows or finds.”
A harder shake of his head. “Ember ordered you to continue your training as if nothing has changed. I promise you, there’s always a reason to obey her.”
I heaved a sigh and released him. “There’s a high likelihood I’ll be outed as a Soalian while I’m in Theirland anyway. I glowed during the fight with those feeders. No one seemed to notice except the infected, who glommed me, but what will happen when I’m in the other world, in the dark?”
Again, his features softened. “Do you remember when you ingested the piece of the Rock and felt as if an invisible filter fell from your eyes?” He waited for my nod. “It wasn’t a filter, but a frequency modulation produced by the Madness.”
Frequencies. Yes. I didn’t know much about them, but many believed the Rock produced a particular pitch, and that was what screwed with people’s minds, causing them to break, becoming crazed.
“There are different levels of infection, and our light affects each differently,” he said. “Before you became Soalian, I glowed many times in your presence, and you never noticed.”
“Nice!” I mean, I remembered he’d once mentioned that there were soldiers who hadn’t noticed his light, but I hadn’t realized the same phenomena applied to me, the novice. Now, on to the next topic while we had this rare moment of privacy. “The librarian, Domino Crane, told me there’s a Soalian on my team.” Speaking of, I hadn’t yet acknowledged Cyrus’s incredible gift in person. “Thank you for the best present I’ve ever received. Not that I understand how a seed grew into a piece of the Rock or how it summons a librarian.”
A veritable parade of confusion, dismay, irritation, and resolve dashed over Cyrus’s face. “You summoned the librarian? And he just appeared?”
“Yes.” My brows knit together. “Isn’t that what my piece of the Rock does?”
Cyrus worked his jaw. “It’s supposed to give you added strength when you ingest it, not act as a crooking finger for Domino Crane.”
Something about his tone grabbed my attention. “You don’t like him.”
“I don’t not like him. We ... have history.” He rubbed two fingers over his brow. “Let’s not talk about him right now. He probably won’t appear again, making him a moot point. The other Soalian on your team is a nonstarter. Unless one of your books leads you otherwise, do not admit what you are. The fewer people who know the truth, even among supposed allies, the better. Not everyone is good at keeping secrets.”
As he spoke, he looked as if he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders. I intended to comfort him, to hug him and fill his ears with reassurance, planting and watering good seeds in his heart, but a sprout of doom broke through the soil in my memory garden.
Something terrible was soon to happen. Something worse than anything we’d ever experienced. Iknewit.
The blood in my veins flash froze. “Cyrus,” I croaked.
His gaze snapped to mine. He stepped closer to me. Opened his mouth.
A whoosh sounded as the office door opened, welcoming in Mr. Vyle and the other royals.
Cyrus compressed his lips into a thin line. He didn’t move away from me but wound his arm around my waist, resting his fingers on the curve of my hip. “Arden, you’ve met Mr. Vyle.”
“Good to see you again, Lady Roosa.” The executioner offered a pleasant smile as I hurried to uproot the doom and forage for calm. He wore a black suit without stripes today, this one as perfect as the last, made from the softest-looking cloth I’d ever seen. Not a hair was out of place. He exuded undeniable magnetism.
I managed a lame nod of greeting. What I didn’t do? Respond verbally. Itwasn’tgood to see him, and I wouldn’t lie about it.
“Arden, meet High Princess Lollipop Dolion.” Cyrus’s tone became as sharp as glass. “My sister-in-law.”
Um, I’d only ever heard her referred to as Lolli. Was Lollipop her full name or a personal endearment?
She glared at him and grated, “Lolli.Ex-sister-in-law. Ex in general.”
Unconcerned by the corrections, he waved to the men. “High Prince Summit Bardin, High Prince Mallow Merrick, and High Prince Felix Dolion.”
“Hello,” I said, doing my best not to wither with intimidation. Especially when Lolli looked me over with obvious contempt.
The high princes looked me over as well. While Summit sneered a bit, Mallow appeared curious, and Felix amused.
“So you’re the one who put stars in my brother’s eyes,” Felix remarked, and I blushed.
