Chapter Thirteen #2
Cyrus worked seamlessly with me. So smoothly, in fact, it was as if we’d trained together our entire lives.
When one struck, the other defended. He tossed victims my way, and I finished them off.
And yet, bit by bit, I began to lose sight of the world around me.
Just for a fraction of a second at first, then another and another, until I stood inside a bedroom while Domino fought in Theirland.
Confused, I skimmed the room, noting the number of books stacked on the nightstand and desk.
Tome upon tome crowded a bench at the foot of a large bed draped with a dark-blue comforter.
No photos on the walls. The cutest black-and-white dog sat at my feet, peering up at me with a mix of adoration and confusion.
A living, breathing dog rather than a meta.
My hands itched to stroke that soft fur, but a robed man I recognized approached. Not too long ago, I’d watched him protectively gather the unconscious Ember in his arms.
“Dom.” He snapped his fingers in front of my face, his brows drawing together. “I need your help.”
“I’m not Domino.” I frowned. I’d spoken with the librarian’s voice. Astonishment conquered new ground as I looked myself over. Gracious. I was Domino. At least, I inhabited his body the way he inhabited mine.
“Ah. It’s you. The girl. Arden,” the newcomer said, his features hardening. “You agreed to the bonding.”
I would never be able to articulate the weirdness of knowing I was in the process of killing a feeder while simultaneously conversing with Ember’s boyfriend. “How is Ember?” I asked, and it was still Domino’s voice I heard.
“Awake, too weak to get out of bed, and trying not to worry about those under her care. Your mother and Mykal Ellison, to name two.” The barest twitch of his jaw muscle alerted me to trouble. “Actions have consequences.”
I splayed my fingers over my—Domino’s—belly. Oh, wow. I shouldn’t notice something so trivial at a time like this, but sweet goodness, the muscle definition on this guy. “Please don’t hurt them to hurt me.”
Twitch, twitch. “Now you insult me. As if I would ever purposely harm the innocent. I meant the women trust Ember. Now we must pair them with someone they’ve never met and start the process all over. Wasted time, wasted effort.”
I cringed. “My apologies. Is there anything I can do?”
“Yes. Listen when Domino speaks.”
Ouch. “Okay, I don’t mean this in a bad way, but you really know how to cut a girl to the—” A strong suction yanked me back into my own body.
Domino still inhabited me—I felt him. We stood rooted, panting, two swords clutched tight in our blood-soaked grip.
Feeders were piled around us. His emotions intertwined with mine, until I could no longer tell them apart.
Resolve: We’d done what was necessary. Relief: Cyrus and the trainees survived.
Trepidation: What came next? There was a marked absence of satisfaction.
Blood splattered every inch of Cyrus, including his thunderous expression. “We live to fight another day.”
Yes, but how was this bonding thing supposed to work? Would Domino remain a presence inside me forever? Would I drift from my body to his, over and over?
“You were amazing, Arden,” Winslet praised between heaving breaths. The trainees were injured—the lord more than the lady—but they remained on their feet. “How did you do that?”
What had she seen? “Which part?” I asked, playing innocent as I wiped my blades on my pants and sheathed the weapons.
“Move so swiftly. Work those weapons so flawlessly.” Awe coated every word.
“I’ve given her special training,” Cyrus snapped, his patience hanging by a fraying thread. A true if misleading statement. “Let’s go before another horde arrives. Line up.”
We obeyed and once again started forward, soon running, our boots splashing in pools of scarlet.
The base came into view, stunning in its entirety.
Glass hallways connected a series of differently shaped buildings.
Some had a domed ceiling, others a flat roof, while a few featured a twisted steeple.
Most sections sprawled, but one stretched toward the sky.
If walls weren’t studded with crystal, they were dotted with windows.
Fences formed a barricade around the perimeter.
Cyrus reached back and placed a pair of goggles in my hand. I trembled as I settled the thin metal around my brow and the lens over my eyes. Instant gloom, the precious light gone as if it had never been. I hated it.
I didn’t see Domino exit me, but I suddenly noticed his absence. There one moment, gone the next. It wasn’t relief that I felt but bereavement. With him, I’d tasted unfettered strength and unbreakable connection. Now, without him, I struggled to remain upright as I followed Cyrus.
The high prince must have sensed my mounting fatigue. He slowed our stride, allowing me to limp along. But I didn’t topple, so, win. When we reached the first gate, a buzzer rang. Dead bolts unlatched, and an opening allowed us through. The pounding, racing footsteps of soldiers reached my ears.
“High Prince Mallow is dead.” Mr. Vyle’s voice came next. He’d ventured outdoors to collect us personally, which meant he’d known of our approach. “Ember Cruz is responsible.”
“I know. I saw it happen,” Cyrus informed him without revealing a hint of his emotions.
We entered the building, leaving behind the stench of rot in favor of sterile nothingness. From sweaty hot to quaking with cold.
I ripped off the goggles and blinked to clear my vision. Soldiers encircled us. Medics pushed through them to shove various pieces of equipment at us, taking our vitals. Cyrus didn’t protest, so I didn’t either.
“Lady Roosa, Baron Wildwood will escort you to Dr. Korey.” Mr. Vyle motioned to the soldier in question.
“Arden is staying with me.” Cyrus’s firm tone allowed no argument. “We won’t be visiting Dr. Korey.”
The executioner darted his gaze to me, pursed his lips, and gave a stiff nod.
Not a single word of rebuttal? No threats? Cyrus had more power than I’d realized.
Perhaps Vyle knew of Astan’s interest in the high prince. An awful, sobering thought.
Cyrus took my hand, linking our fingers, and led me into an enclosed decontamination stall.
Though it was just the two of us, I didn’t doubt cameras recorded every nuance.
We didn’t speak as we toed off our shoes and stripped out of our weapons and battle clothes, removing everything but our jewelry.
He wore a necklace of his own, five rings, and three bracelets.
I was certain each performed a unique duty.
A special enzyme mist sprayed from various spouts, cleaning us.
Dried blood and grime evaporated, and Cyrus’s ambrosial scent turned the small space into the sweetest dream.
At first, I stared down at the floor, exhausted, but temptation drew my gaze up, up.
His legs were tattooed with thick, dark slashes representative of a tree trunk, while leaves and branches stretched over his torso and arms. From those branches dangled flowers and fruits.
He was a garden of delights.
Our gazes met, a flutter of keen awareness in my heart. I held his stare, unwavering, even when he lifted his chin and dared me to take a more thorough peek.
I traced my tongue over my lips. He took a step closer.
Need clawed where I ached most. I took a step closer too. So others watched us. So what. In his glittering eyes, everything he felt snapped into crystal-clear focus. Joy. Relief. Confusion. Anger. Confidence. Uncertainty. Anticipation. Hunger.
So. Much. Hunger.
A mirror to the things bubbling in me. I could have lost him tonight. I should have died. Changed destiny or not, I comprehended the preciousness of time, and I wouldn’t waste another moment without Cyrus Dolion.
The spray ended and a compartment in the wall opened automatically, revealing a stack of folded clothes and two pairs of boots. We broke our staring contest to dress. Surprise, surprise, both sets of fatigues were a perfect fit.
The stall door opened, and Cyrus once again linked our fingers.
Silent, he led me into a hall abuzz with activity.
Soldiers rushed trays of food and water to the now-clean lord and lady who’d arrived with us.
Felix leaned against a wall, alone, arms crossed, watching us with narrowed eyes.
Lolli and Summit huddled together with Mr. Vyle, whispering.
Upon spotting us, they ended their conversation.
Looking at them brought a brief pang of sadness. Not fury. Not resentment. Just sadness. An odd emotion at such a time as this. Confusing too. It had no bearing on the situation.
Oops. Spoke too soon. The muscles between my shoulders bunched, fury rolling in, overshadowing the sadness.
A wildfire of questions and accusations smoldered in my throat, begging to be released.
Somehow, I held my tongue. If I launched accusations now, I’d have to explain events I wasn’t ready to explain.
Others spotted us, too, and paused for a beat.
Lolli strode closer, but Cyrus shook his head. A single, jerky shake that stopped her midstride and drained the color from her cheeks.
“A bullet grazed Arden,” he told Mr. Vyle. Truth. I had been grazed when the bullet sliced through my stomach. “I rendered aid.” Also truth. He was the reason I’d survived long enough for Ember to do her thing. “The teams left us behind. We found two trainees and fought our way back.”
Again, all factual, to the point, and verifiable by others, with no frilly details tacked on.
“Now I’ve briefed you. There’s no reason to speak with us until tomorrow.” Cyrus paraded me through the gaping crowd, making an explicit statement, putting all rumors to bed. We were together.
Oh, it wasn’t our relationship that surprised them. Well, not entirely. His boldness about it might be a contributing factor. Mostly, it was the fact that we’d survived the field of feeders on our own. I held my head high, acting as if such a feat should’ve been expected.
We glided through security checkpoints, leaving everything and everyone behind. Finally, we soared through his apartment door. Alone. Just the two of us.
In the foyer, he faced me. Our gazes tangled together again, igniting flutters in my belly.
“There’s a lot we need to discuss. Much to figure out.” Intensity off-the-charts hot, he stepped closer. “But the answers are in our books, and we can’t get to those until we return to Ourland. The chat can wait.”
I stepped closer too. “Then what will we do?” The huskiness of my voice surprised even me.
Awareness glinted in his eyes. Only a whisper of air separated us. “Why don’t I show you?”
“Yes, please.” I tilted up my face, ready for his kiss.
“I wouldn’t go any further if I were you.”
The familiar voice hit my ears, and I stiffened, zooming my gaze beyond Cyrus to the red-robed man now standing only a few feet away. “Domino.”