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)
“I’m good with those terms,” I said, and I meant it.
We made our way toward the bus. While we weren’t the first group to return, we were the second. Now, there were two vehicles parked at the curb, and armed guards flanked the doors of both. Three soldiers-in-training waited in a single-file line at the first, each holding a cuffed civilian.
One soldier came stomping out of the vehicle alone, discharging fury as if it was a round of bullets. He didn’t speak but made a beeline for the other bus. The next soldier entered with his captive. We took our places behind the last.
The line dwindled as trainees entered one after the other. Different groups arrived with cuffed citizens.
My turn. I lifted my chin and climbed the steps, my guards following. Duchess Mimidae reclined in a seat up front, with Dr. Korey beside her.
The duchess motioned to the spot across from her. “No offering for us?”
I eased down and shook my head. Carefully selecting my words to speak truthfully without elaborating, I said, “I bring you a reason. Without the proper tools, we cannot accurately judge who is and isn’t infected.”
The doctor narrowed her eyes. “Well, well, well. Cyrus must have tipped you off.”
“He didn’t.” So I’d gotten it right. I should celebrate, but I knew my teammates weren’t going to be happy for me. Considering Miller’s earlier taunt, they would believe as Dr. Korey did: that I’d had royal help.
“But that isn’t something we can prove, now, is it?” Duchess Mimidae dropped her gaze to my neck, as if she could see the flesh-colored necklace. “You may go, Lady Roosa.”
I joined the others on the original bus, and just as I’d suspected, no one applauded my win. In fact, no one glanced my way. Everyone ignored me.
Fine. That was fine. I chose a seat in the back and used the time to consider Mykal. Had she accepted Ember’s aid?
And what of Cyrus, who admitted he loved me? Loved. L.O.V.E. A smile of delight spread. Except, he probably expected me to return the sentiment. And I should. I wanted to, but . . . I didn’t think I was ready. Which had nothing to do with Miller’s claim that Cyrus dumped women as soon as they fell.
Bye-bye, smile. Falling in love wasn’t something I’d contemplated. I’d feared the Madness too much to risk hooking my wagon to someone else’s. While I didn’t fear the Madness anymore, love meant forever. Becoming a family. Which was welcome, yes. Forever actually sounded good. Great! But love also meant risk in ways I’d not considered. What if I let myself fall, and he later tired of me the way my dad had tired of my mom? What if Cyrus died? I mean, we were traitors to CURED and in constant danger. Death wasn’t just possible, it was probable.
What if I couldn’t edit my book?
Worry trapped me in a bubble, leaving the world a distant blur. That bubble popped when the bus pulled from the curb and eased down the road, with Duchess Mimidae announcing, “Congratulations to Lady Arden Roosa, our sole winner.” I hadn’t even heard her board.
Weak cheers greeted the pronouncement. Shoving my hands in my pockets, I slunk down. As my fingers curled around the Rock, Domino materialized, seated beside me. He didn’t say anything, didn’t even glance in my direction, but calm washed over me. Until Cyrus’s request boomed, a harbinger I could no longer ignore.
He wanted me to cut the librarian from my life. Sever my connection to a good man who’d just done a very good thing. An ally who’d never lied to me. A mentor who shared the same goals as us.
“Mykal listened to Ember for several minutes before she ran from the bathroom,” Domino said. “She’s panicked, but she’ll continue to consider everything she heard. We’ll keep tabs on her, and at the right time, Ember will approach her again.”
I knew the process—I had lived the process. It had taken Ember multiple encounters to reach me. But Domino was right. I had continued to consider her words, never able to escape them.
“Thank you,” I breathed.
He hesitated before reaching over to give my hand an awkward pat. His fingers misted through mine, but the gesture wasn’t lost on me. “There’s still no need to thank me for doing my job,” he said, then paused. “But you are most welcome, Arden.”
Only six words, yet a strange little blip went off in my heart, as if our friendship had just deepened.
Cyrus wasn’t going to like this, but I didn’t send Domino away.
The remainder of the week passed without incident or a new message from Cyrus. Not even a visit. My teammates acted as if I no longer existed. A development that stung, I admit. But Domino came to see me often.