Page 101 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
The door opened, and a knight rushed inside, carrying my pot.
“Where’s Mykal?” I asked, frowning. She should be the only one handling my stuff.
Cyrus couldn’t hide a flinch. “That’s something I wanted to talk to you about tonight. She quit the program and left the base.”
What! “That can’t be right.” She’d seemed to be getting better.
He accepted the pot from the newcomer. “I’ll take the documents too.”
The knight shook his head. “My apologies, sir. Dr. Korey couldn’t find them.”
No reason to wonder what documents they were discussing. Shiloh’s records. I gave Cyrus a look as I claimed the pot, my message clear. The doctor was lying.
“I’ll get them,” Cyrus vowed before refocusing on the soldier. “Has the train arrived?”
The man checked the tiny screen on his wristband. “Yes, sir. Your guards are securing the area now.”
“Since when do you need guards?” I asked.
A muscle jumped in his jaw. He dismissed the soldier before focusing on me. “They activate with heightened threats.”
“Okay, I demand more information.”
“There’s been a sudden spike of breaks in Lucrea.”
Worry gripped me by the throat. “My mom.” She was so weak. No way she could withstand an attack.
Cyrus clasped my hand. “You’re the emperor’s grandson’s babysitter. The position comes with benefits. I’ve assigned a knight to your mother. He’s with her now, and they haven’t encountered any problems.”
Tears of relief welled, my surroundings blurring. “Thank you, Cyrus. You really are a sugar bear.”
He snorted. With his warm palm on my lower back, he steered me to the door. Officers and knights hurried through the bustling hallways. Strain electrified the air and infused every conversation, but I remained surprisingly steady, if distracted.
What had caused multiple, sudden breaks?
The deeper we traveled through the base, the fewer people we encountered, yet the strain remained. I resisted its familiar allure, doing my best to capture every worried thought, imagining tossing it out of my ears, then replacing it with facts. Mom was protected. I would soon face the Rock and might even meet Soal. I wasn’t alone. I had Cyrus.
We descended the stairs, the area shockingly empty of potential passengers. Within minutes, we were situated within a private cart, with an entire contingent of soldiers at the ready around us. An intimidating sight to be sure.
Cyrus guided me to the farthest bench. I sat, and he situated himself at my side, his intoxicating scent enveloping me. His usual mask slipped, revealing raw sadness and the heavy weight of responsibility. No doubt he’d gotten used to being inside this train alone and finally unwinding.
I reached over and pressed my palm against his. He curved an arm around my waist, clinging to me. Let rumors about us keep spreading. I didn’t care anymore.
“I’m almost ready to tell you my secrets,” I admitted quietly. “What I’ve learned, what I suspect. What I plan.”
His fingers flexed on me as he searched my gaze. “I’ll help you, whatever it is.”
And I’d probably fall deeper in like with him.
He smiled, as if he’d heard my thoughts. “Now might be a good time to tell you I have three cats.”
I sputtered for a moment. “Excuse me, but did you say threehats? Ortats?” Oooh. I rubbed against him and pretended to paw at his chest. “Do you have tattoos, Cyrus?”
His smile brightened. “I do, and I’m eager to discuss this tattoo fetish of yours,” he replied, brimming with amusement. “But I did saycats.”
Who? What? Me? “I don’t have a fetish.”
“You can hardly contain yourself, Roosa.”
