Page 110 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
A muscle jumped beneath his eye. “Word is, Ember’s teams freed the infected from treatment clinics and loosed them upon the public. That’s whyCuredordered the lock-in. They’re still hunting five of the patients.”
Wow. Ember, leading Soalians now. Loosing the infected on innocent people didn’t strike me as her style. So I had to wonder ifCuredhad issued another lie for the good of the public.
The thought lit me up with anger. Enough was enough. No more secrets. No more mysteries. No more deceptions. We deserved the truth, and I was going to get it, one way or another.
“Whatever you’re thinking, keep doing it,” Cyrus commanded. “I like the fire. You’re going to need it. We’re attending the party you requested. I convinced my father to host it tonight.”
Excitement stirred. Interrogations, here I come! “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Except. “Why isn’t your dad at the base, overseeing restoration efforts?”
“For the same reason I’m here. In times of crisis, the children and grandchildren of Emperor Dolion are forced to work remotely. It’s for the best. Both men need to retire. My father doesn’t show it to outsiders, but his health is declining. His obsession with Astan doesn’t help.”
I caressed his brand. “You care for him.”
“We’ve locked horns my entire life. He’s stubborn, suspicious, and exacting and often expects too much while giving too little, but yes, I do care for him.” He nuzzled into my touch. “I also honor his position. Without him, I wouldn’t be here. And without his leadership, thousands—perhaps millions—would be dead.” Smoothing his hands across my lower back, he asked, “What about you? Tell me about the man who helped bring the indomitable Arden Roosa into this world.”
“Aren’t we in a rush?”
“Now that you’re in my arms? No.”
I smiled, though it didn’t last long. “My father abandoned me and my mom after my sister died. I hated him until my mom told me a bedtime story called ‘The Tale of the Cursed Dagger.’ Ever heard of it?”
“No. But I’m about to. Tell me. Please.”
His usual air of intensity sharpened to a razor point, as if he were 100 percent invested in what I had to say. No wonder I was falling for him. He couldn’t be any sexier.
I rested my head on his chest, letting his heart beat against my cheek. “Long ago, a fierce warrior found a dagger able to cause irreparable wounds. He told himself he would only use the weapon for good. Bad guys beware.” I wrinkled my nose and lifted my head. “Are you sure you’re interested in this?”
“I want every detail.” Cyrus nipped my bottom lip before easing my cheek back to his pec. “I will have them.”
Yes, apparently, hecouldbe sexier. “One day, the warrior came upon a masked thief in the process of fleeing the scene of a crime. They fought, and the warrior nicked the bandit before he got away. But our fearsome warrior wasn’t concerned. That small cut promised to do his job for him, since the wound could never heal, only worsen. The would-be thief was set to suffer for the rest of his too-short days. The perfect punishment for his crime.”
“This is a bedtime story for a little girl?”
My chuckle possessed a delighted tinge. “Don’t worry, it gets better. The warrior went home to discover the wounded thief was none other than his treasured son. In that moment, the warrior realized he himself now suffered a far worse fate than his child, for he was doomed to live long with the consequences of what he’d done.”
“Aaah. She was telling you that your father hurt himself far more than he hurt you.”
“Exactly.” My shoulders rolled in as I sighed. “I admit, there were times I took comfort from the thought of his torment. Other times, I pitied him. Now, I rarely even think of him.”
Using the gentlest of tones, Cyrus told me, “His inability to see your worth speaks of his faults, not yours.”
I was beginning to believe it. Lifting my head, I smiled at him. “Your father cares for you too. He even questioned me about my intentions toward you.”
Cyrus’s eyes brightened. “Did he now? And how did you respond?”
Grinning, I eased from his embrace. “I’ll have to tell you later. We have a party to prepare for. I assume all the counts and countesses in the building are attending.”
“All,” he confirmed. “No one turns down my father.”
Perfect. I rubbed my hands together. “Fair warning. You’re going to see Arden Unleashed tonight. I no longer care who I offend or what rules I break. I won’t stop pushing for answers.”
“I thought you’d say that.” He backed up, putting distance between us. “Get ready and join me in the office. I’m going to teach you how to break into locked drawers without leaving a trace.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Don’t you know you are a gateway into the eternal?
—The Book of Soal1.19.24.7
