Page 116 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
I only hoped he’d say the same if the files implicatedCuredof wrongdoing.
Sickness stirred in my stomach. I returned the candy tin to its proper place and locked the drawers. Cyrus stood, and as he mimed helping me to my feet, I closed the distance and gave him my hand for real. He led me from the office, my heart thudding harder with every step away from the scene of our crime. Part of me expected someone to leap out from the shadows and inform the whole party of what I’d done.
I pasted on a smile, attempting to control my too-expressive face, and we rejoined the throng.
Cyrus kissed a corner of my mouth and stated softly, “I’m ready to go home. You?”
Home.The word echoed in my mind. “Yes, please,” I rasped. I’d gotten what I’d come for and then some.
We maintained our silence as we walked the hall, rode the elevator, and entered the—ourapartment. He wasted no time, removing a reader from a drawer and ushering me to the couch. After unbuttoning his jacket, he sat in a corner and tugged me onto his lap. I didn’t protest. I liked where I was.
He held up the reader. “We’ll go over the documents, whatever they are, and talk afterward.”
“Okay.” My preference as well. With trembling fingers, I removed the chip from the bracelet and inserted it into the reader. The stirring in my stomach graduated to churning as the blank screen lit up and a blurry video appeared.
With a tap of the screen, the image crystalized and played, revealing a room I recognized. Cyrus’s office at Fort Bala. He perched behind his desk, Jericho across from him.
In real life, he stiffened behind me. “I’ve changed my mind. Let’s talk before we watch.”
The churning worsened, and I shook my head. “No.” We watched now.
He paused the video anyway, grating, “Let me think. I don’t understand why my father would want you to view this. To hate me.”
“Hate you?” I twisted to examine him, ready to vomit. “What did you do?”
He scrubbed a hand over his shell-shocked features. Still speaking to himself, he muttered, “He had to know this would send you straight to Soal, something he’s hoped to avoid from the beginning. What Soal wants, Astan wants too. Therefore, my father is determined to win you. So why would he do this?”
Whatwould send me straight to Soal? “Cyrus,” I croaked, clutching the lapels of his jacket. “I’m hearing you say your father purposely put this chip in his safe, hoping I’d steal it and watch.”
“Yes. He must have.” His head canted to the side. “He must believe you’ll join Soal and recruit me, succeeding where others have failed. This is his countermove. Give you up to keep me.” He closed his eyes for a moment and braced, as if preparing for a blow. “Do it then. Watch. But give me an opportunity to explain afterward.”
I almost couldn’t bring myself to press Play, but in the end, I did it. Because I had to know.
The video resumed. “You were overheard speaking with Arden today.” Video Cyrus tapped his fingers against his light board, workingon his computer. “You told her you saw me eat a berry given to me by John Victors.”
My grip tightened on the reader. He’d spied on me.
“So did you?” digital Jericho demanded.
“I won’t be answering any of your questions, and you won’t be mentioning this again. You will pack your bags, leave the base, and keep your mouth closed. That’s an order.”
“I won’t let this go,” Jericho spat. “Are you a Soalian?”
On the screen, Cyrus flipped up his gaze and went still. “That’s a serious accusation.” He stared at Jericho so long and so hard, the lord squirmed in his seat.
“But is it true?”
Determination hardened the HP’s features, and I stiffened. I knew that look. Consequences were about to be dished out.
Casually reaching inside his desk drawer, he said, “You are rude and self-centered. Ready to hurt anyone you deem weaker to prove your so-called strength. Character is something that can only be taught to a willing participant, and as of yet, you don’t qualify. Your disobedience will cost you dearly.”
“I had a purpose for doing what I did,” real Cyrus said, pressing his forehead between my shoulder blades and tightening his hold on me.
Bile seared my throat.
Video Cyrus lifted a gun and squeezed the trigger twice.Pft. Pft.Jericho jerked and grunted. Bright crimson spread over his shirt. He gasped for breath he couldn’t catch while sliding out of his chair.
I jolted with both shots. With a ragged groan, I dropped the reader and wrenched from Cyrus, bounding from his lap. He jumped to his feet, and we faced off.
