Page 102 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
Maybe. “But three cats?” Due to the price of food and care, I’d never allowed myself to entertain the possibility of having a solo pet, much less an entire trio.
“I rescued a pregnant feral, and she gave birth to two little girls.”
How was he getting more interesting and beautiful by the second? “What are their names?”
“Iris, Daisy, and Poppy,” he admitted, ducking his head.
I laughed and snickered in equal measure. “You have a bouquet of cats. This might be my new favorite thing about you.”
“Just wait until you see the tats.”
I admit, I shivered.
Wheels squealed as the train slowed, reminding me of our audience. I eased from him, and we both stood. No one watched us overtly, I realized, but the level of interest was palpable.
The cart stopped, and the doors slid open. An older, decorated baron-elite stepped forward and saluted Cyrus. “New orders came in during transport, sir.”
He stiffened. “Arden, this is Baron-Elite Rita Harper. BE Harper, Lady Roosa. Tell me,” he commanded, his mask firmly in place. “What are we dealing with?”
I collected my pot, all ears.
Tone brusque, the BE explained, “Reports came in. Breaks have begun happening within each surrounding province. It’s only a matter of time before Bala City experiences the same. Your father demands we take no chances. We are to escort you and your companion to the Lux as quickly as possible. Citizens have been commanded to return home, and the roadways are clogged. We’ll have to walk.”
It wasn’t fear that hit me but determination. I held out my free hand. “I need two daggers, a netter, and extra clips of ammunition.”
The BE darted her gaze to Cyrus.
He narrowed his eyes. “You heard her.”
She nodded and waved to different barons. They handed over the required weapons. Seconds later, we strode from the train, ready for anything.
Chapter Twenty-Five
In times of trouble, find safety and help in the Rock.
—The Book of Soal1.19.27.5
Apprehension tainted a stifling breeze as the sun descended on the horizon. A lovely sight, to be sure, the sky ablaze in colors. From the palest of blues to the most vibrant of pinks, with swirls of glittering gold. An exquisite canvas that elicited nothing but terror in the people of Bala City. As soon as the light vanished, feeders would come out of hiding.
This wasn’t a drill, a practice, or an exercise in a contained area. This was real life, with real consequences. There were no medics waiting nearby to administer aid.
Only one hour of light remained. The crowd poised at a razor’s edge of aggression. Vehicles jammed the roads, horns blasting. Traffic remained at a standstill. The sidewalks weren’t much better, people in a mad rush to escape the throng and lock themselves inside a safe space.
If the buildings here were anything like those in Lucrea, the doors locked automatically at sundown. Not even the chip embedded in a resident’s palm allowed entrance. Entire families could be stuck outside all night.
If we didn’t pick up our pace,wemight get stuck. A prospect that would’ve terrified me in the past. And yet, as we made the gruelingtrek to Cyrus’s apartment, fear remained at bay. I was armed, and I had a strong, experienced warrior I trusted at my side. Together, we could overcome any obstacle in our path.
Along the way, we helped those in need. I clocked every pritis stand, just in case I needed to lead people to safety. Whatever the stones were, wherever they came from, feeders still despised them.
“There aren’t enough knights assisting citizens,” Cyrus told the BE, having to shout to overcome the sheer volume of noises around us.
“All off-duty knights have been activated, and the newest crop of gentry won’t be ready for weeks yet.”
I took no offense. She wasn’t wrong.
“Are the Havens open?” he asked. To me, he explained, “Facilities filled with hundreds of small individual quarters. New builds scattered throughout the city, meant to be used like the cubbies in Theirland.”
How wonderful.
