Page 15 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
“My apologies if I wasn’t clear,” he said, amicable. “Go. Get out. Be gone.”
She worked her jaw, cast me a glare as if I were at fault, and exited the room, the curtain swishing behind her. Suddenly, I was alone with royalty.
His nearness put me on edge. I missed Shiloh and his measure of peace. Though I longed to call for the medic, I made the best move formy situation, kicking my legs over the side of the bed and standing. A wave of dizziness struck. I teetered but didn’t collapse.
Maybe standing without permission in the company of a decorated officer was a crime, maybe not. Either way, instinct insisted I prepare to run. Only stubbornness held me in place.Eye on the prize!
He didn’t protest my actions. “Twenty years old. Overachiever. A dedicated rule follower.”
The invasion of privacy nettled me more than ever. Teachers, doctors, advisers, and now military personnel had access to every physical, mental, and emotional test I’d ever taken, yet I did not. But just as before, I dumped my frustration and contained my protests, allowing not a sound to escape.Must win!
Then he said, “Willing to turn in a beloved family member you suspected of being infected.”
Guilt and shame I’d never shed flared with renewed fervor. “I did what was necessary to save my mother and others.”
“Oh, I know your reasons for doing it. Assume I’ve perused every report ever written about you, memorized each detail, and now comprehend more about you than you do. But even I’m not sure what you’re doing here.”
“Paying a debt. Sir,” I tacked on as an afterthought.
“You may call meHigh Prince. I’ll even answer toHP.” He scrolled to another page. “I’m aware of the reason listed in your file. I was asking if your death will make Mama glad she stayed in her nice, cozy Lucrea apartment and let you ship out to certain death, or if she’ll regret it for the rest of her life.”
A muscle jumped in my jaw. “I won’t die.” I couldn’t. The quality of my mother’s life rested on my shoulders. Because he was right. If I died, she would forever blame herself.
“Bubble Gum,” he said, finally glancing up from the screen. Our gazes locked. “I’m willing to bet you’re killed before our first excursion into Theirland.”
Lead dropped into my stomach. “Are you trying to scare me?” And did he really call meBubble Gum?
He shrugged his broad shoulders, not the least bit abashed. “It’s too late for your withdrawal. I’m here to offer you a onetime opportunity. Serve as my assistant, and you’ll choose your roommate, meet high-ranking officials able to aid your chosen career, and never see combat. Instead, you’ll fetch and carry for me. When I have no more use for you, you’ll graduate to a safe office job to serve out the rest of your term.”
Okay, that sounded amazingly wonderful and checked all my boxes. No fighting glowers and other maddened. Right contacts. Safe office job. Yes, please and thank you.
And yet, I hesitated. “Are you offering me a choice or explaining what you expect me to accept?”
“With me, you will always have a choice,” he said, scrolling again. “But you alone are responsible for the consequences.”
A surprising turn. He was the grandson ofCured’s emperor, son of the military’s king, and a high prince on his own merit rather than lineage (supposedly). He could issue a command and compel me to obey or face imprisonment.
Whatever the reason for his show of mercy, I took advantage of my freedom and sought more information. “Will I remain a contender for top lady if I agree?”
A humorless laugh barked from him. He flipped up his gaze a second time, meeting mine. I ignored the little blip of my heart. “Entertain aspirations of being the best, do you, Bubble Gum?” When I pursed my lips in distaste, he laughed again. “You do. How novel. No, as my assistant, you are ineligible for the competition because you won’t be attending class, drills, or practice missions. So? What’s it to be?”
Good question. Did I stay safe or go for gold? Let fear paralyze me, preventing me from supplying my mother with the life she deserved, or keep my word and face my nightmares?
Plant seeds that could produce a long-term harvest for my well-being, or stick with the status quo?
Take the job,self-preservation shrieked.
But. A small voice in the back of my mind persisted.What about the prize?And not just the taxes, but the training. Learning how to protect myself.
“Well?” he prompted.
“I’ll do patrol,” I croaked. Maybe, if I put my all into this, I would experience true, lasting peace. The holy grail. A prize greater than the oneCuredoffered.
The barest hint of shock flickered over the HP’s expression. “You’re sure? The offer expires as soon as I leave.”
I wrinkled my nose, reminded of Ms. Butler’s offer to join Fort Bala.Hurry! Act now or lose out!“Is introducing an invisible ticking clock an intimidation tool I’ll be learning here?”
He ran his tongue over his teeth. “Perhaps you didn’t understand my proposal. As a lady, you’ll be forced to train alongside the others. You’ll be injured. That’s a guarantee. There’s a good chance you’ll break bones, get shot, be stabbed.”
