Chapter Four
Pursue wisdom and stand unashamed, forever bound to truth.
Determined, I secured my piece of the Rock in my new desk safe.
The recognized lock code? A long series of numbers Soal had given me, once used by Tagin.
That done, I sank into my comfy chair, mentally drafting a message to Cyrus to outline everything I’d learned.
But before typing a single word, I erased it all with a frustrated shake of my head.
As he’d warned earlier, our messages would be scrutinized—read, reread, and dissected by die-hard CUREDians.
Astanians? Whatever. I had to be careful not to raise any alarms while still informing Cyrus about the threat to his life.
Taking a deep breath, I began to type.
Dear High Prince Dolion,
I received your gift. Thank you. I Cannot wait until we’re together again. I’m certain my thoughts will surprise you. Also, you’ll be happy to learn I followed your orders.
Yours,
Lady-in-training Arden Roosa
I hoped 1) my formality portrayed the seriousness and urgency of the situation; 2) he understood I desired to meet with him face-to-face as soon as possible; and 3) I reminded him how much I cared.
His response came quickly, words flashing over the screen.
I’ll arrange a meeting.
I closed my eyes for a moment, relieved, then prepared to shoot him another message.
“Officer on deck,” a voice called.
Groaning, I leaped to my feet. What now?
Cyrus strode into my cell and winked at me. “Is this a good time?”
“You’re here!” With a cry of delight, I tossed the reader aside and threw myself at him. “You said I wouldn’t see you today.”
He caught me in his arms, holding tight, and buried his face in my hair. “I can’t stay long, but I couldn’t leave without seeing you.”
Both elated and disappointed, I pulled back to cup his cheeks. “There’s something you need to hear.” Might as well jump right in.
“No business, Pink, only pleasure.” With a smile on the wolfish side, he cupped my cheeks in kind, tracing the pads of his thumbs over each rise. “I’m delaying a transport team to Theirland, and I’d rather spend our remaining seconds hearing about your day.”
“I can do both,” I assured him, moving my grip to his chest. “Tell the guards to get lost.”
“Go,” Cyrus barked at the men without looking away from me.
They marched off without complaint. Good riddance.
Alone, I spewed words. “I did pretty okay in the interview, didn’t freak out more than three dozen times during classes, got paired with Roman, will be paired with someone else tomorrow, and learned your execution is already planned,” I whisper-rasped.
“I heard about your feud with the emperor. What if he’s decided to end it permanently? ”
“The scheduled execution isn’t for me, not anymore, and I’m not feuding with my grandfather.
We have a difference of opinion, nothing more.
” Cyrus smoothed a lock of hair behind my ear and bent to nuzzle his cheek into mine, not the least bit dismayed.
“He says the consumption of the berry tainted me, whether there are outward signs or not. I disagree.”
No wonder Mr. Vyle had focused on the berry. But how had Domino, a librarian in the know, missed the canceling of the execution order? “You have to convince your grandfather you’re not tainted,” I said, failing to hide my worry.
Cyrus’s stunning eyes glittered with amusement. “I will. In fact, I’ll do it the same way I convinced you to date me. With patience, wisdom, and great restraint.”
I snorted. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“Bubble Gum, you were worse. But I’m safe for the time being, I promise you. I’ve read Mr. Vyle’s orders. He’s greatly limited in his dealings with me. Despite the berry and my grandfather’s reaction to it, I’ve always been the royal favorite. That hasn’t changed.”
Okay. I trusted Cyrus more than a librarian I hardly knew. “Thank you for gifting me with these stolen minutes.” I thrilled as his pounding heartbeat ignited an answering pulse in different parts of me.
“Staying away from you has never been my strength. But now, I must go.” Regret radiated from him. He brushed his lips against mine. “I wasn’t going to kiss you until we had a proper amount of time, but the separation is killing me, and I need a fix.” He showered me with more kisses between words.
Chuckling, I fisted his shirt and kissed him back.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, I hope.” Cyrus pressed his brow against mine. “Be safe, Arden.”
Serious now, clinging, I rasped, “Be safe, Cyrus.”
After giving me another swift kiss, he released me and strode from the cell. “Lord Roman,” he greeted as he disappeared around the corner.
“High Prince Dolion,” the lord-in-training returned from beyond the wall.
Only seconds later, he rushed into my cell.
The guards weren’t far behind him, though they remained outside the enclosure.
“I hope this means you’ll stop pretending you’re not sleeping with him. ” He sounded more amused than anything.
No reason to deny the relationship and every reason to admit the truth. One day, I hoped to recruit Roman to my side. If he wasn’t already Soalian, of course. Better I stayed honest. Lies tainted connections, always. “I’m dating Cyrus.”
“Dating,” Roman echoed with a wince. “That won’t end well for you, Ardie. I’ve been part of the gentry my entire life. If you want to bang a royal, fine. But coupling up never ends well for the other party.”
I waved his warning away. “You don’t have to worry about me. Cyrus is a good man.” The best I’d ever met. He wasn’t going to change his mind about us.
A bell rang, warning of the coming curfew, now two minutes out.
Roman backed up, hands lifted in a sign of surrender. “He’s a good man, sure. But even the good ones make bad decisions.” The newest warning hung in the air after he exited, inviting more doom.
Grinding my teeth, I buried a third seed in the Problems for Later section of my memory garden.
I should probably unearth and sort through them before they sprouted, but I had another matter to consider first. Pinpointing the Soalian in my midst. As I’d learned during my battle with Tagin Dolion, a teammate could mean the difference between victory and defeat.
A second bell rang, and my cell door slid shut again.
I prepared for bed, then climbed onto the mattress .
. . where I tossed and turned all night, replaying every interaction I’d ever had with each member of my team.
Nothing screamed “I’m a Soalian,” but nothing screamed “I’m not a Soalian” either.
Guess I’d have to do some stealthy interrogating while being investigated myself.
Not exactly my specialty. Frustrated, I banged a fist into my pillow, then rolled to my back and pinched the bridge of my nose. Complications should be shrinking, not increasing.
At the ringing of the morning bell, I groaned, fluttered open burning eyes, and eased upright.
My door opened with a whine, new guards already in place.
As I rose, my gaze strayed to the drawer in my desk, where I’d stored my little piece of the Rock.
First decision of the day: Carry the fragment around in my pocket, risking its discovery, or leave it behind.
If Mr. Vyle opted to search my cell and bypassed the lock . . .
“Yo, Arden—” Miller ground to a halt outside my space, blocked by my guards, who stepped in front of him. Only after he explained his purpose did they part. He padded in while grumbling under his breath and holding a familiar link of metal. “Are you as excited to buddy up as I am?”
“Sure sounds like it,” I offered dryly.
He was a little taller than me, and lean, with wavy hair and a barrage of tattoos that covered most available skin below his face.
Uh, there was a lot of available skin right now.
He wore boxer briefs and a grin. My cheeks heated when I realized I’d been checking out his ink.
But ten points for that perfectly etched bouquet of roses.
“I refuse to secure the cord until I’ve used the facilities.” I had to go.
“Might as well get used to having me at your side.” He wiggled his brows. “Don’t worry, I’m not dumb enough to make a move on the emperor’s new bump buddy.”
I bit my tongue. Minus twenty thousand points. “Let’s not speak.” No way this guy was the ally I sought. Just no way. Something had to go right for me; I was due. And yet . . .
I swallowed a groan. He was the other Soalian, wasn’t he?
No, no. I experienced no repeat of the warm, sweet uncoiling of friendliness. Therefore, he couldn’t be. Thank goodness!
I walked with Miller to the men’s locker room, the now unisex space a stark, functional area designed for security and efficiency, with two rows of metal cubbies, two benches, and open shelving that displayed clean, folded uniforms. Concrete walls bore a smattering of stains from who knew what.
Surveillance cameras occupied nearly every corner, ensuring everyone behaved.
An automated device periodically emitted a disinfectant spray, keeping the air (almost) scent-free.
In a private stall, I peed and changed into my uniform.
Holding my stare as I emerged, daring me to look away, Miller stripped out of his underwear and donned a clean pair of fatigues, forgoing a new undergarment altogether.
“Could you be any more inappropriate?” I muttered. How I hated this.
“Definitely. But go ahead, pretend you’re not impressed.” He secured one end of the metal around his waist. “Are you bummed High Princess Lolli Dolion arrives today? ’Cause I would be.”
“I’m not bummed about anything.” Because I was currently bummed about everything.
“Sure, sure.” Miller made an obscene gesture with his hand before handing me the other end of the chain. “I believe you.”
Ignore him. I secured the metal, as well, connecting us.