Page 27 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
“Run, sir,” she wheezed, her ragged, panting breaths making her sound as if she were dying.
“Then why are you speed walking?”
On and on and on we jogged. Titus, the last of the nonfinalists, remained in the office longer than anyone else. Either he’d done something right or very, very wrong. When Mykal returned with a tray of food, the HP finally dismissed him. I ground my molars. The fact that he planned to snack irritated me greatly.
A scowling Titus approached me, keeping pace at my side. “You’re next, Arden. Be prepared. The HP made me repeat my explanation over and over, and you can’t win with him, so don’t even try.”
So the high prince wasn’t taking a snack break? I plodded toward the office, passing a trayless Mykal along the way. We said nothing—this wasn’t the time or place—but our gazes slipped over each other. Her stress mirrored mine.
In the open doorway, I paused, inhaling with purpose. Oops. Terrible idea. I couldn’t see the morsels Mykal had delivered, but I smelled something sweet, and my mouth watered.
“You’ve already received permission to enter, Roosa.” Irritation laced the HP’s tone.
Ugh. Not a great start. “Yes, sir.” I entered the enclosure, legs shaking. The closer I came to him, the more ofhisscent I detected. All that fairy dust and ambrosia, a very soft fragrance for a very rigid man. I couldn’t inhale deep enough.
“Sit,” he commanded. His facial brand appeared paler and tauter than usual.
I obeyed, trying not to ogle the array of fruits and vegetables plated on his desk. Oranges, strawberries, and some kind of green berry, but also more pastries with apples and figs. My nails sank into my knees. If he ate those culinary delights while I watched, I might scream.
He reclined in his seat, getting comfortable, exuding his usual confidence. “You aren’t winded like the others, but you’ve exercised longer.”
Stop staring at the food.“I enjoy running. A fact you would know if you’d read my file as you claimed.” Eek. Not something I should have said aloud.
“Oh, I’ve read your file. It did indeed mention your propensity for logging five miles in the morning and five miles in the afternoon, sprinting to and from work.”
I hated that he knew so much about me while I knew so little about him. “Did you read everyone’s file with such attention to detail, or am I special?”
To my surprise, he pushed the tray my way and said, “Pick something.”
Enjoy a treat, after snapping an inappropriate response at a commanding officer? This must be another test. But to submit or reject, that was the question. No one else had gotten fruit, and I might be resented if I gave in. Or deemed foolish for turning down sustenance.
What would Roman do?
Ugh! Awful question. Terrible. He wasn’t a role model. Unless he should be?
Make a decision!“No, thank you.” Probably the most difficult refusal uttered by anyone in history, and I wasn’t being dramatic.
The HP canted his head, as if confused. “Tell me why.”
“You’re testing me.” An honest answer for someone who claimed to revere the truth.
For a split second, a mix of disappointment and irritation glittered in his irises, and I thought, wondered ... no. Impossible. No way he’d ordered the food just for me. Or waited for it to arrive before calling me into his office, all to give me a taste of what I’d sought yesterday. What a silly notion. Not just impossible, but beyond unlikely.
Revealing nothing else, he tsk-tsked. “You are failing left and right, Miss Roosa.”
Miss, notlady. “How am I failing?” I demanded, then remembered my place and withered. “Please explain, sir.”
“Absolutes are unbecoming on the lips of novices.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Then you have more to learn than I realized.” He tapped his fingers against the desktop, the muscles in his forearm flexing, and oh, I didn’t like that I noticed. “Why didn’t you use your darts, the sole weapon at your disposal? It would’ve helped you win a title you clearly craved.”
We were jumping into the fire now. I pled my case. “A dishonorable victory isn’t a victory. I gave my word, and I kept it, winning everyone’s trust.” Maybe. Hopefully.
“So you disregarded my command to fight for yourself first in order to curry the favor of your teammates.”
“Not even a little. As you’ve informed us, they will one day become true teammates. Their lives might end up in my hands. If they cannot trust me, I cannot help them and they cannot help me.” I huffed. “Did you accuse the others of endangering people they will eventually protect?”
