Page 54 of Kingdom of Today
Not a single word of rebuttal? No threats? Cyrus had more power than I’d realized.
Perhaps Vyle knew of Astan’s interest in the high prince. An awful, sobering thought.
Cyrus took my hand, linking our fingers, and led me into an enclosed decontamination stall.
Though it was just the two of us, I didn’t doubt cameras recorded every nuance. We didn’t speak as we toed off our shoes and stripped out of our weapons and battle clothes, removing everything but ourjewelry. He wore a necklace of his own, five rings, and three bracelets. I was certain each performed a unique duty.
A special enzyme mist sprayed from various spouts, cleaning us. Dried blood and grime evaporated, and Cyrus’s ambrosial scent turned the small space into the sweetest dream. At first, I stared down at the floor, exhausted, but temptation drew my gaze up, up. His legs were tattooed with thick, dark slashes representative of a tree trunk, while leaves and branches stretched over his torso and arms. From those branches dangled flowers and fruits.
He was a garden of delights.
Our gazes met, a flutter of keen awareness in my heart. I held his stare, unwavering, even when he lifted his chin and dared me to take a more thorough peek.
I traced my tongue over my lips. He took a step closer.
Need clawed where I ached most. I took a step closer too. So others watched us. So what. In his glittering eyes, everything he felt snapped into crystal-clear focus. Joy. Relief. Confusion. Anger. Confidence. Uncertainty. Anticipation. Hunger.
So. Much. Hunger.
A mirror to the things bubbling in me. I could have lost him tonight. I should have died. Changed destiny or not, I comprehended the preciousness of time, and I wouldn’t waste another moment without Cyrus Dolion.
The spray ended and a compartment in the wall opened automatically, revealing a stack of folded clothes and two pairs of boots. We broke our staring contest to dress. Surprise, surprise, both sets of fatigues were a perfect fit.
The stall door opened, and Cyrus once again linked our fingers. Silent, he led me into a hall abuzz with activity. Soldiers rushed trays of food and water to the now-clean lord and lady who’d arrived with us. Felix leaned against a wall, alone, arms crossed, watching us with narrowed eyes. Lolli and Summit huddled together with Mr. Vyle, whispering. Upon spotting us, they ended their conversation.
Looking at them brought a brief pang of sadness. Not fury. Not resentment. Just sadness. An odd emotion at such a time as this. Confusing too. It had no bearing on the situation.
Oops. Spoke too soon. The muscles between my shoulders bunched, fury rolling in, overshadowing the sadness. A wildfire of questions and accusations smoldered in my throat, begging to be released. Somehow, I held my tongue. If I launched accusations now, I’d have to explain events I wasn’t ready to explain.
Others spotted us, too, and paused for a beat.
Lolli strode closer, but Cyrus shook his head. A single, jerky shake that stopped her midstride and drained the color from her cheeks.
“A bullet grazed Arden,” he told Mr. Vyle. Truth. I had been grazed when the bullet sliced through my stomach. “I rendered aid.” Also truth. He was the reason I’d survived long enough for Ember to do her thing. “The teams left us behind. We found two trainees and fought our way back.”
Again, all factual, to the point, and verifiable by others, with no frilly details tacked on.
“Now I’ve briefed you. There’s no reason to speak with us until tomorrow.” Cyrus paraded me through the gaping crowd, making an explicit statement, putting all rumors to bed. We were together.
Oh, it wasn’t our relationship that surprised them. Well, not entirely. His boldness about it might be a contributing factor. Mostly, it was the fact that we’d survived the field of feeders on our own. I held my head high, acting as if such a feat should’ve been expected.
We glided through security checkpoints, leaving everything and everyone behind. Finally, we soared through his apartment door. Alone. Just the two of us.
In the foyer, he faced me. Our gazes tangled together again, igniting flutters in my belly.
“There’s a lot we need to discuss. Much to figure out.” Intensity off-the-charts hot, he stepped closer. “But the answers are in our books, and we can’t get to those until we return to Ourland. The chat can wait.”
I stepped closer too. “Then what will we do?” The huskiness of my voice surprised even me.
Awareness glinted in his eyes. Only a whisper of air separated us. “Why don’t I show you?”
“Yes, please.” I tilted up my face, ready for his kiss.
“I wouldn’t go any further if I were you.”
The familiar voice hit my ears, and I stiffened, zooming my gaze beyond Cyrus to the red-robed man now standing only a few feet away. “Domino.”
Chapter Fourteen
