Page 36 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
When he tilted his head and blinked at me, I realized what I’d just said and sank into myself. Something must be wrong with me.
“My apologies, High Prince Dolion. I didn’t mean to refer to you as—I shouldn’t have—”
“Out in the field, feeders will surround you.” His voice was low, almost affectionate. “That’s an unavoidable fact. At some point, you’ll need to deliver a quick pop to an opponent’s face to buy yourself precious seconds and escape an untenable situation. When feeders are jolted, they become confused. Confused, they turn on each other.” He lifted my hand and brushed his thumb over my knuckles. I’d already noticed his warmth and calluses, but there was something different about this touch. Something infinitely sweeter. “You landed your blow, and you didn’t break a bone. Now you know you can do it when it counts.”
Goose bumps spread over me. Okay, I needed to stop reacting to contact with him. It wasn’t appropriate or welcome. I should stop noticing the sexiness of his appearance too.
“Thank you, sir.” Determined, I pulled from his grip.
He lifted his lashes, his gaze holding mine. Caged aggression radiated from him. “Do you have the confidence to strike me again?”
I didn’t let myself think, just threw another punch. No holding back. “Leave, fear.”
This time, he captured my wrist, and he flashed another quick grin. “That was your best yet.”
A megawatt smile bloomed, and there was no erasing it. “Thank you, sir.”
“I may make a soldier out of you yet, Roosa.” He walked off to help another lady, calling, “Medic, check her out.”
I turned my grin to Shiloh, who hurried to my side. “Did you see me?”
“I did. You did good.” Appearing amused, he cleaned and bandaged small cuts I hadn’t realized I’d sustained. From the HP’s teeth, no doubt. As quietly as possible, Shiloh said, “We both have Thursday off.”
“Only two days from now,” I replied just as quietly. Thank goodness! This was my first full day of academy life, and already I required a break to recharge.
He wrapped my knuckles with tape. “Will you go on another date with me?”
Ribbons of pleasure unfurled. No need to consider my response. “Yes.” I liked this boy and the comfort he provided. He didn’t make me nervous, as the HP did. “I would love to.”
“Good. Meet me at transport at six. In the morning,” he clarified.
Transport?Whatever that was, I’d find out. We shared a soft look before he returned to his post. At the end of class, I saluted the HP. He traced his fingertip over the scab forming on his bottom lip, rousing another smile in me which roused an answering smile from him. Just a flash, there and gone, but enough to thrill me.
Spirits high, I waved to Shiloh on my way out, then removed, folded, and pocketed my RVM band as I followed my teammates to first aid, where we endured a fifty-minute lecture from Dr. Korey about possible injuries amid combat. I admit, my good mood fizzled fast.
Afterward, I attended drills. The HP sent a knight to teach in his place. That soldier taught us proper battle formations and had us perform countless trust exercises while we wore our lenses. For a brief period, I experienced the awfulness of RVM and the horror of seeing a feeder spotlighted in the dark, when the creatures became the center of your world.
“The more you practice, the faster your eyes will adjust,” the soldier called at the end of class.
Everyone else headed to dinner, but I set off to search for High Prince Dolion’s office. Dread settled on my shoulders. The time had come to receive my punishment.
Chapter Ten
If you heed correction, you will always return to the right path.
—The Book of Soal2.19.12.7
“There you are!” Mykal flew down the hall, an arrow aimed straight at me. Since I’d last seen her, her strain had only increased.
“I want to hear all about your first day,” I said, giving her a hug.
“For starters, I think I made a terrible mistake. All I do is fetch, fetch, fetch. Though I did get to set up a date between our illustrious HP and Countess Soti’s oldest daughter.” She exaggerated a pinched expression, making me laugh, even as my brain performed a series of somersaults.
High Prince Dolion was seeing the daughter of the woman responsible for administratingCured’s finances. Interesting. Not the least bit disappointing. Not that his romantic life was any of my business.
“I’m supposed to escort you to His Royal Highness as quickly as possible,” she told me. “My orders were explicit. Every minute you’re not there, we’re late.”
Ugh. “He’s eager to shear.”
