Page 55 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
Marked for execution.
At the reminder of Ember’s pronouncement, apprehension slithered through me. The glower might be a Soalian, and evil, but she wouldn’t harm the brother she sought to recruit. Shiloh wasn’t in any danger.
Unless he was.
I balled and relaxed my hands. “I wasn’t tested because of Shiloh,” I told Roman, unwilling to let the medic carry any blame. But explain the real reason? No.
Thankfully, Lark shouldered her way to us, claiming the team leader’s attention. A myriad of other conversations started up around us, some charged with excitement, others dripping with nervousness.
I waited and watched for Mykal, but she never arrived.
Roman guessed my intent and stopped Lark midsentence to tell me, “Since our little kitten doesn’t attend classes, she’s not allowed to enter Theirland.”
Made sense. Maybe Cyrus intended to ask me to assist him while there. I would absolutely without question refuse. Probably.
A horn blared, and the crowd grew silent. Everyone’s attention whipped to triage, where Cyrus had been speaking with the archduke and duchess since my exit with Roman. Archduke Heta and the duchess exited as well.
From the doorway, Cyrus made a hand motion. Armed guards marched forward, posting themselves beside the rifts. Tremors invaded my limbs. In a matter of minutes—seconds—I would leave the only world I’d ever known and enter my nightmare. The realm responsible for the Rock and the Madness, where perpetual night ruled. Although. Hmm. The Rock led to the mysterious third realm, where it must originate. Which meant the Madness originated there, too, and not Theirland. But Cyrus claimed Shaddai was a utopia without illness.
More puzzle pieces I couldn’t fit together. My heart rate spiked. How was I ever to make sense of anything?
The transmitters activated, and a husky voice whispered inside my ears despite the distance between us. “Remember, this is a simple training expedition. Travel will hurt, but it’s fleeting.”
I jerked my gaze to Cyrus. Looking right at me, he spoke again, his expression almost tender. “I’ll be waiting for you on the other side of the rift. Just come to me.”
His voice tickled my ears, and his words enveloped me like a warm hug. Calm washed over me. Yes. I could walk to Cyrus. I could walk to Cyrus, no problem.
He crossed the room, stepped into the darkness, and vanished from view. Gasps and murmurs sounded.
A grinning Roman kissed Lark on the mouth in front of everyone. “Take the spot at the end of the line and stop any runners.”
“Yes, sir. See you on the other side.” She gave him a return peck before hustling to the back. Guess they were officially a couple now, all games done.
“First walkers,” the guards at the seams called.
Roman advanced with eagerness, disappearing inside the shadows.
Inhale. Exhale.Mere moments until departure.
“Next walker.”
Knees knocking, I plodded forward, bracing for my first realm walk. Was I truly about to do this? I paused at the edge. Inhale, exhale. Last chance to stay. Inching backward ...
“Go,” Lark shouted.
Yes. Go to Cyrus.Fear wouldn’t stop me. Fortifying my resolve, I took the final step forward. Shadows swallowed me. The foundation at my feet vanished, and I fell into an endless void. Head thrown back, spine arched, I screamed in anguish. Too much, too much!
Blink. The foundation returned, and the agony fled. I collapsed, my legs unable to hold my weight. But strong arms wrapped around me, catching me before I hit.
“I’ve got you.” Cyrus’s voice came from outside my head, not inside. “You’re all right. You’re here. It’s over.”
Panting, I clung to him, desperate for some kind of human connection. Anything to anchor me to this present sense of safety and security.
He righted me and didn’t protest when I poured myself over him. He might have even petted my hair. “You good?”
“Yes, thank you. Sir.” I forced myself to straighten and release him, but I secretly rejoiced when he maintained our connection.
“Good. Look up.”
