Page 86 of Kingdom of Tomorrow
My instincts screamed a negation, but I did the same, leaving myself with nothing but my wits. Not exactly 100 percent reliable anymore. “I’m sure you guys want me to ask him something.”
Cyrus flashed a humorless smile. “Curedis more interested in what he asks you.”
Well, they might change their mind if I got sloppy and posed the questions I didn’t dare mention. “I’m ready.”
Cyrus pressed his palm on the ID pad. The scanner read his chip, and the doors slid open. I followed him into a boxy, sterile room. Laser lights extended from small holes in the gray walls, each aimed at the prisoner shackled to a table.
I inwardly flinched. Here he was, John Victors. The villain of many nightmares. A metal collar circled his neck. He looked to be a few years older than my mother, with a sallow complexion and hollow cheeks. Bruises ringed his eyes. His lips were chapped and cracked.
His fragility shocked me. This wasn’t the healthy, smiling foe I’d seen gardening. Either he’d failed to recover from his battle wounds, orCuredhad attempted to persuade him to talk.
He wore a bright-white uniform, pressed and clean. Metal cuffs bound his wrists to the table and his ankles to the floor. He didn’t glow, and I saw no symbols embossed in his skin, yet despite it all, he radiated the same peace he’d displayed while picking berries. The same peace Shiloh had displayed.
“Good evening, Victors,” Cyrus said, pulling out a chair for me.
“Nice to see you again, High Prince Dolion.” The leader of the Soalians studied me as I eased down. “I’m glad to see someone has manners. Hospitality has been in short supply here.”
“Be sure to give me a detailed list of your complaints.” Cyrus claimed the chair next to mine. Taking his own advice, he evinced zero emotion. “You told me you allowed yourself to be captured for a chance to speak with Miss Roosa. Here she is.”
What! The opening bombshell landed like a hard punt to the gut. Not that I believed the Soalian had willingly surrendered, but being listed as the sole reason blew my mind.
“No, I allowed myself to be captured for a purpose,” the prisoner corrected. “Speaking to her is a bonus.”
Well okay then. I could breathe again. Barely.
“Did you tell her about the intercepted messages? You did, didn’t you?” A slow smile spread as Mr. Victors leaned forward. He tapped his fingertips against the tabletop. “I knew you would.” His gaze shifted to me. “Just as I know you spent time in the library, reading a portion of your book. Unless you just imagined it. In which case, you don’t have a date with mine carts.”
I jolted, expecting protests from those listening in. Rapid-fire queries. Something. Seconds ticked by in silence, no orders forthcoming.
“No need to worry, Miss Roosa,” Mr. Victors said. “They can’t understand my words. Not all of them, anyway.”
I snorted. Yeah. Right. The Soalian had spoken in English. Although, yes, there had been a slight twang to some of his pronunciations. I hesitated only a moment before swinging my gaze to Cyrus to gauge his reaction. His blank mask remained firmly in place.
Leaning into him, I whispered, “Do you comprehend what he’s saying?”
The HP turned his face to mine and searched my eyes. “Do you? He’s alternating between English and an unknown language.”
What! I jerked my focus to Mr. Victors. “How do I understand you when others can’t?”
“How do you think?”
I didn’t know! Tick tock. No mental mazes. “Didyouread a portion of the book?” I asked, being careful of my phrasing.
Mr. Victors lifted his shoulders, giving the semblance of a shrug. “Not yours, but mine. Tomes intersect as lives do. But I prefer the tales depicting my past. That’s how we learn.” His head canted thoughtfully. “Do you like to learn, Miss Roosa?”
“I do. In fact, I’d love to learn why you requested to speak with me specifically.”
“Who wouldn’t want to speak with the much-desired wife of the high prince? Though I suppose you are merely his future much-desired wife at this point.”
Excuse me? “I’m not ... that isn’t ...” Heat scorched my face. He was lying. Obviously. Trying to get a rise out of me. And it was working!
Tension radiated from Cyrus, and I could only pray he hadn’t understood those particular words.
“Explain what you think I bring to the table,” I demanded of the prisoner. “Tell me why I deserve such a valuable resource when I’m not married toanyoneand I have no plans to change that.”
“Do you see no worth in yourself?” Mr. Victors reclined in his chair as much as the chains allowed. “Either way, the answer is simple. Soal asked, and we acted. And your darling HP isn’t the reason.”
I waggled my jaw.
