Page 22 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
“Nah,” she said, blowing him a kiss with her middle finger. “I’m good.”
“Very good,” he agreed.
I almost couldn’t process what was happening, my anxiety a wildfire and an ice storm at once, yet those two were flirting.
Amid my haze of shock, I missed the ensuing flood of names and information. At least until a guy barked a laugh and said, “Parents,man. They can be the worst. Do you think pre-Fall kids had such ridiculous names?”
Four people shot him without hesitation. Two of the projectiles landed. Screaming, he pitched backward, out of bounds. He lay sprawled on the floor, with white foam dripping from his mouth.
Three teammates eliminated themselves—none of whom were his shooters.
If I could have moved, I would’ve joined them. My feet had morphed into boulders, keeping me captive as the victim gasped for breath he couldn’t catch. Two medics rushed to treat him. It wasn’t long before he sat up with a groan and a glaze of pain in his eyes. Cheers resounded as the medics helped him rise and lumber to a table.
“I didn’t say stop,” the HP said, merciless, and my bones quaked. “Continue.”
A new round of names and facts kicked off, blurring together. In the chaos, I retained only Juniper, Miller, and Titus.
Titus was tall and unassuming, but he glared at Roman, ready for battle. “I have no need to sell myself to you or anyone.”
Expecting an immediate shoot-out, I froze. When Roman continued making eyes at Lark, ignoring Titus, I sighed with relief and tried to listen to the next onslaught of information. Did I retain anything new? No. Soon I would be forced to speak and—
Every eye landed on me. My stomach churned. My turn had arrived.
“H-hi. I’m Arden. Lady Arden Roosa.” The gun nearly slipped from my dampening grip.I can do this.“I don’t think we should harm each other. We’re a team, or at least we’re going to be. Plus, we’re being graded.” Warming up to my stance, I gave a firm nod. “If we put down our weapons, we can—” A sharp sting pierced just below my collarbone.
I sucked air between my teeth. Searing agony consumed me in an instant, penetrating to my very marrow. Tears welled, screams barreling up my throat only to die on my tongue, unheard as my mind caught fire. Beads of sweat trickled down my temples.
Do not fall!Both the HP and Shiloh were witnessing my reaction. If I lost this early, I’d be forever humiliated.
Trembling, I yanked out the projectile. And yet the excruciating pain only magnified. I nearly whimpered. Needing an anchor, I focused on—no! But it was too late. The HP didn’t notice me, thank goodness. He was completely at ease, busy selecting a new dessert. I turned my attention to Shiloh. He gripped the edge of his table, ready to leap out of his chair to come get me. His eyes chanted,Tap out, tap out, tap out.
Forget the humiliation aspect. I’d finally get to taste figs and apples. But ...
Drawn by a magnetic force, I returned my attention to the high prince. He settled back in his chair and met my gaze, as if he’d never lost focus of my plight. The intensity of his expression somehow cooled and heated the blood in my veins simultaneously.Hiseyes said,Are you a top lady or not?
I stiffened my knees, staying put, and aimed my gun at Lark, my shooter. But I didn’t fire yet.
“No offense,” she stated with a shrug, “but I don’t want someone like you representing me. We require strength and immunity to pressure—my best attributes. You will fold faster than yesterday’s laundry.”
Her words hurt almost as much as the dart. How easy it would be to fire in retaliation. But I didn’t. I couldn’t exactly refute her accusation or logic either.
A good leader didn’t simply deny accusations. She disproved them.
Using the rejection as fuel, I lowered my weapon without tapping the trigger, demonstrating restraint and resilience. “Thank you for your honesty.” I did my best to mask my labored inhalations. “As your representative, I will ensure my actions match my words. I won’t harm a fellow teammate even when they deserve it.”
She rolled her eyes. “Harming you aided everyone, even you; you’re just too stubborn to admit it. But that’s okay—you can thank me later.” She batted her lashes at Roman with exaggerated innocence. “Unless I’m busy schooling another teammate.”
There was a sole weapon I could use to beat someone like her without breaking my campaign promise: wits. “You’re obviously too smart to waste a dart on someone you consider a nonthreat. Admit it, you’re afraid of me and jealous of my friendship with Roman.” Not that we were officially friends. “I might not be the strongest among us, but I’ve already proven I’m more than qualified. I only met the big brute today, but I’ve already convinced him to serve as my personal guard.”
“Now hold up—” Roman began with a frown.
“I’m jealous of no one,” Lark snarled.
Playing right into my hand.“Sure. You’re not jealous of me.” I winked at her. “But you can’t deny you’re scared of me. Afraid to go hand to hand with me.” I smirked with all the smirk I had. “Me and my team refuse to be led by a fearmonger.” An insult I’d only ever heard directed at me.
“I fear nothing!” Baring her teeth, she stalked my way, abandoning her territory to prove it.
“Whoop! She got you, girl,” someone said, cackling. “You’re disqualified.”
