Page 125 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
But what about to himself? He planned to destroy his future over this; I knew it. And I couldn’t let him. Maybe I was supposed to face my deepest nightmare alone. For too long, I’d allowed terror to hobble me. Again and again, I’d crumbled under the pressure of what-if. But here, in the battlefield of my mind, with the lives of Cyrus and my mother at stake, I accepted a forever fact. For their safety, I would risk everything.
With the decision, peace bloomed, offering me the fruit of tranquility. For the people I adored, I could face my fear head on. Nothing would stop me from doing everything in my power to win this.
“Get me to the building, and I’ll do the rest,” I told Cyrus. “I’m still decked out in my wonderful new jewelry. I’ll be fine.” I’d only used half the ring’s powder on the doorman. Plus, the mini dagger hairpin hadn’t lost its sharpness.
If I could snag my mom without detection, I’d tell her about Soal on our way to the Rock. She’d join the club, and I’d return to the base with Cyrus and run missions for Soal. But I knew. I couldn’t avoid detection.
My powerful companion shouldered his way through huge arching double doors into another exhibit. A display of ancient rockets used to fly into space. Pinpricks of light scattered over the walls and ceiling, resembling the star-studded sky I’d only seen on my trips to Theirland.Breathtaking.
The sweetest peace filled this place, an invisible lace woven through the air, and I knew. The night was never supposed to be a time of fear but beauty, rest, and renewal.
“You are surprisingly calm,” Cyrus said, helping me into what looked to be a liquid chrome cart. But it wasn’t liquid. We sat on a solid bench, side by side, and the cart shot into action, zooming us through other hallways.
Wind whipped through my hair. I clasped his hand, squeezed. “When you know the end from the beginning, there’s no reason to fret over the rest.”
He almost grinned, I was sure of it. “Who even are you?”
“Yours,” I wanted to say. But I didn’t. Not yet. “You once told me you were born to ruleCured. Is that still the case?”
“Yes. But I intend to do it with Soal, not Astan.”
Would I be at his side? “Shiloh and I admitted we weren’t right for each other.” And my friend was correct. Best to get the extra stuff out of the way while we had the opportunity. “I told him how much I care for you.”
Cyrus didn’t respond for a moment. “You care for me?”
“Very much. You are strong and amazing and wonderful, and if you give me a second chance, I promise I will trust you from now on.” The words erupted from me, my confession spewing all over him. At the same time, thoughts bubbled up. I couldn’t let this man destroy his future for me. And that’s what he would do, because it was what he did. Risk everything for those in his care. But this time, I was looking out forhim. In the process, I’d show him how much I trusted him. Provehow much I adored him. Ensure he reaped a harvest from the seeds of protection he’d planted.
If I used the sleeping powder as soon as we reached the final entryway, he wouldn’t lose his position inCuredand become forever labeled an outlaw. Only I would.
“Please give me a second chance,” I repeated. And forgive me for what was to come.
Another pause, this one almost more than I could bear. “Will you give me time to explain myself, if ever you doubt me again?”
“I’ll never doubt you again,” I vowed in a rush.
“You will. Many times.”
“Then I’ll give you as much time as you need.”
His gaze burned into mine. “Yes, I’ll give you a second and a third and a fourth chance.”
Joy burst from the chambers of my heart. “I do want it noted that I was the brave one who mentioned feelings first.”
“So noted.” He kissed my lips, a swift pressing of his mouth to mine, and—no joke—multicolored lights exploded overhead. “And hint taken. I care for you, too, Arden. We’re in this together.”
I ran my hands up his chest, pausing at his racing heart, where my fingers got tangled in the new necklace. “What’s this for?” Another weapon, no doubt.
“A last resort,” he muttered, grim.
That didn’t sound good.
The cart stopped, ending the reprieve, and we climbed out. We continued motoring forward on foot, hand in hand, crossing a few more halls and rooms before we stopped in front of a plain, ordinary door with an extraordinary glass handle. The inside swirled with more of those glittering stars.
“This section of the Rock is the closest one to the apartment building where she now lives,” Cyrus said. “It’s known as the Fork because it has four sections and it’s one street over.”
“Yeah, I know it.” For years I’d walked miles longer than necessary to see the building. One of the most secure in the province. “Thank you,” I rasped, overwhelmed by his kindness.
He squeezed my fingers. “It’s still dark, so the doors are locked, but you’ll be able to key in. I gave you my security clearance in the provinces as well as the base, which means you can override lockdown protocols if we get separated. But we won’t get separated.”
