Total pages in book: 123
Estimated words: 114925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114925 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 575(@200wpm)___ 460(@250wpm)___ 383(@300wpm)
“Yes,” he agreed. “They’ll come back.”
“In the meantime, we’ve got several problems.” I’d start with the most recent. “During a tour of the treatment ward, I saw Mykal and Victors in cells. I’m not sure if they escaped with the others.” No longer high on adrenaline, I realized I couldn’t free them without help.
Stiffness invaded Cyrus’s limbs, and he released me to massage his nape. “CURED suspects you of being the spy. My guess is, they released the patients to gauge your reaction and give themselves an excuse to question your friends. They’ll also pick a random trainee to blame and punish. An often-used strategy for a multitude of reasons.”
Ding, ding, ding. “If they believe I’m committed to luring you to the other side, they might seize the opportunity to blame me.”
His features softened. “Don’t worry. This kind of suspicion isn’t uncommon, and our connection explains the enormity of the test. But I’m working behind the scenes to dismantle Mr. Vyle’s assumptions. The tour proves my efforts are having a positive effect.”
Positive? Seriously? “Explain, please.”
“Tours aren’t given to first-year trainees, which means he wanted you to see Mykal and Victors and tell me about it. He isn’t sure about either of us, and he’s watching to see how we react. What we do. If he didn’t think he could use you and was certain of your guilt, he would have tried to take you out already.”
Ugh. I read between the lines and heard loud and clear what Cyrus didn’t say. Breaking my friends from their prisons would only make things worse for us all. I didn’t like it, but I understood. But there must be something we could do to help them.
“I’ll find and free Mykal and Victors,” he vowed, smoothing a curl behind my ear. “I’ll do it without incriminating us. There’s no need for you to endanger yourself.”
“Okay. All right.” I trusted him. But there was more to discuss. Gripping his shirt, I pondered the best way to present my forthcoming suggestion. “My day off is Monday. I intend to visit the library.” As Domino had reminded me, only in the Kingdom of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow could I read books detailing my future. “Maybe I should stay there and not return to the base.”
Concern pulled taut the puckered skin of Cyrus’s facial brand. “I’d rather you remain at the base.”
“That’s not happening.” Here, now, there was a tug deep inside me. A desperate need I wouldn’t deny. I couldn’t not visit the library.
I couldn’t not revisit a certain idea either. “I think we should stage a breakup.” I’d do anything to keep Cyrus safe, even this. “Just for a little while.”
Scowling, he gave a clipped shake of his head. “Absolutely not. I’m your best line of defense.”
“True, but I’m clearly a hindrance to yours.” I cherished his refusal, but more was at stake than my life. “On my day off, while I’m safe in the Rock, claim you’ve discovered I’m a Soalian spy. I’ll take responsibility for whatever Mr. Vyle knows or finds.”
A harder shake of his head. “Ember ordered you to continue your training as if nothing has changed. I promise you, there’s always a reason to obey her.”
I heaved a sigh and released him. “There’s a high likelihood I’ll be outed as a Soalian while I’m in Theirland anyway. I glowed during the fight with those feeders. No one seemed to notice except the infected, who glommed me, but what will happen when I’m in the other world, in the dark?”
Again, his features softened. “Do you remember when you ingested the piece of the Rock and felt as if an invisible filter fell from your eyes?” He waited for my nod. “It wasn’t a filter, but a frequency modulation produced by the Madness.”
Frequencies. Yes. I didn’t know much about them, but many believed the Rock produced a particular pitch, and that was what screwed with people’s minds, causing them to break, becoming crazed.
“There are different levels of infection, and our light affects each differently,” he said. “Before you became Soalian, I glowed many times in your presence, and you never noticed.”
“Nice!” I mean, I remembered he’d once mentioned that there were soldiers who hadn’t noticed his light, but I hadn’t realized the same phenomena applied to me, the novice. Now, on to the next topic while we had this rare moment of privacy. “The librarian, Domino Crane, told me there’s a Soalian on my team.” Speaking of, I hadn’t yet acknowledged Cyrus’s incredible gift in person. “Thank you for the best present I’ve ever received. Not that I understand how a seed grew into a piece of the Rock or how it summons a librarian.”
A veritable parade of confusion, dismay, irritation, and resolve dashed over Cyrus’s face. “You summoned the librarian? And he just appeared?”
“Yes.” My brows knit together. “Isn’t that what my piece of the Rock does?”