Page 68 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
A soft feminine voice overshadowed the music, inviting people to listen toMeg on the Regin an hour.
This is realer than anything you’ve ever seen before.Ember’s voice filled my head.Come. See more.
My view swept forward with dizzying speed, stopping inside a small empty room. A single book waited on a table. The intricately decorated cover readThe Book of Arden.
One half of my being shouted,Run! Leave this place.The other whispered,Open. Read.What was written inside it?
I reached out ... and the screen blanked.
“Bring it back,” I commanded with a huff.
Ember’s image returned, determination fierce. “Only members of the Tome Society are able to open their books. Soal is eager for you to begin your story.”
She wanted to make this a recruiting moment? Fine. I only cared about information. “Now I know you’re delusional. A god wouldn’t desire someone like me on his team.”
“Come talk to him. Ask him why.” She cleared her throat and raised her face. “Arden Roosa, this is your second invitation. Will you join the Tome Society?”
“No.” Nothing more needed to be said on my part.
“Very well.” She sighed. “I’ll ask you once more, then never again. Until next time.” The screen went blank.
Teeth grinding, I threw the reader against the wall. Glass shattered and tinkled over the floor, but I felt no satisfaction. I rolled into a fetal position and closed my eyes, empty inside.
A light thump of footsteps registered. Defenses activated, and I bolted upright, ready to punch.
“Easy.” Cyrus approached me slowly, palms out in a gesture of innocence. He sat at my side. The bed dipped, and he gently patted my arm. “You’re safe with me.”
Exhaustion had aged him at least a decade. “Safe.” I almost laughed. No one was ever truly safe in either world. “Where am I?”
“A recovery room.”
As if I couldeverrecover from this.
He stroked my hair, but I flinched from the touch. No, thank you. I hadn’t deserved comfort before, and I didn’t deserve it now.
Hurt flashed over his features, there and gone. Drawing his hand away, he softly asked, “How are you?”
I’d been irrevocably changed by what had occurred, as if someone had reached inside my chest, cut out my heart, and transplanted a new one. From fragile porcelain to steel wrapped with barbed wire. I merely said, “I’m fine.”
“Are you thirsty? Hungry?”
“Just curious.”
He frowned with concern. “You slept nineteen hours. You should be starved.”
Nineteen hours. Wow. I’d lost an entire day.
His gaze slid to the broken reader on the floor. He tilted his head. “Read something you didn’t like?”
Instead of explaining my mistreatment of the device, I asked, “Where’s Mykal? How isshe?”
“Shaken and bruised but improved. At her request, she was transported to a treatment facility in Bala City, where she’ll remain until she’s ready to return. That option is available to you as well.”
Part of me wanted to take time to heal and accept. The rest of me insisted I train. Forget top lady. I wished only to become too strong to defeat.
“I’m ready for class,” I stated. “Or I will be after a shower.” I kicked my legs over the mattress.
“You can go to class if you wish, but we’ll finish our conversation first.” His tone firmed at the end, leaving no doubt he’d issued a command.
