Page 122 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
“The best way to help your mother is to pore over your book.” No nonsense, Cyrus slid one of the tomes he’d brought toward me. “You can uncover your enemy’s plans and proceed accordingly.”
I sank into my seat when I spied the title.Arden Dawn Roosa, volume 20,Daily Updates. The same book I’d read before. Embossed on the upper right edge were the wordsBook of Soal. Desperate, I worked to crack the spine. But the cover remained glued to the pages, refusing to budge.
Was staying here to mess with a book truly worth it?
Ember cleared her throat. “When we rush in without taking time to consult the books, we lose without exception.Curedhas books too, courtesy of Astan, and they predict the different paths we can take. But they are unable to see the path provided by Soal. Therefore, it is our only path to triumph.”
New bombshell. Each side had a set of books.
“Know the future, take the steps, stop the enemy,” Cyrus muttered.
Very well. “I’ll stay. I’ll read.”
“Do it from your heart, not your mind,” Ember instructed.
The seal branded in the center of the cover caught my notice. A circle with seven broken lines. The key. Though I peered at it for a long while, the lines never moved. I tried to open the tome the way I was to read it, from the heart—whatever that meant. Nothing happened. Tried willing it open. Still nothing.
My stomach churned, the first spark of panic stirring. If I failed to succeed, my mother might die.
There had to be something I could do. I waved the book. Slammed it against the table. Boom, boom, boom. I pulled and strained and screamed, all to no avail.
Shiloh rested his hand on mine, offering comfort, but I experienced none. Then my gaze collided with Cyrus’s.
“Remember what I taught you about fear,” he stated flatly.
I gave him a clipped nod, wishing so many things. “Leave, fear.”
“Shiloh and Jericho”—Ember waved to the door—“give Arden some breathing room. Return to your studies.”
Jericho’s mood instantly soured. He jumped to his feet, his chair skidding away from the table, and exclaimed, “I’m tired of studying. Give me a day off at least.”
“No. And now you’ll write two reports today.”
He kicked a table leg. “I’ve cracked a single volume, and it’s a tale I didn’t want to read. But nooo. I can’t burn it. I’ve got to”—his voice took on a mocking tinge—“‘learn myself before I can grow myself.’ You’re the one who needs to grow up, Em.” He marched out the door.
Ignore him.I returned my attention to the book, fighting fear and concentrating on the symbol.
“I’d like to stay, sis,” Shiloh said.
Tune him out.
“Shiloh Cruz, we’ve talked about this,” Ember exclaimed. “In official meetings, I’m your boss.”
“Please,” he said.
She gave a little laugh. “Arden?”
“He’s fine,” I responded, staring at the book with all my might, refusing to blink. Still nothing, dang it.Come on, come on!
Shiloh murmured encouragements.
Frustration boiled within me, melting the lock on my anger. My fingers tightened on the book until my knuckles ached. I ground my molars. Why wasn’t this working? And was the room shrinking? The air was definitely thickening. And heating. I tugged at the scoopedneckline of my dress. I was going to fail. My mother was going to die because I failed.
“You have reverted to old ways,” Cyrus said with his hard, intractable instructor voice. “You will defeat the fear, Lady Roosa, because I say you will. So do it.”
My lids flipped up, and my breath caught. His irises smoldered at me. “You think I’m not trying?”
“I didn’t saytry. I saiddo.” He stood and marched around the table, approaching my side. My heart went haywire.
