Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117246 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 586(@200wpm)___ 469(@250wpm)___ 391(@300wpm)
“What is this place?” I asked.
“A way station. Bala City is just outside the base. The trains go back and forth throughout the day.”
Brakes squealed, a grate against my ears as a series of massive metal carts stopped beyond the platform. I came to a halt when the crowd parted before one cart in particular, revealing the opening of its doors. The HP stood alone in the center of the compartment. The sight of him sent my nerves into hyperdrive. Did he commute to work?
Mykal pulled me toward his section. “Let’s take his place!”
As he strode forward, he noticed us. Easy to do, considering we were the only people willing to approach him. Oh, did he look good, his sharp edges softened. He still hadn’t shaved; a thick shadow covered his stalwart jaw. A black shirt hugged his broad shoulders and strong chest while fatigues displayed muscular thighs. His smolder momentarily erased my ability to think.
A monotone voice announced, “Departing to Bala City in five minutes,” and a throng rushed over, eager to board. I lost sight of him. Good, that was good.
“Oh! I spotted my guy. Bye!” Mykal darted off, disappearing in the crowd.
I took off too. Strangely enough, the crowd parted for me. No. Wrong. Not for me but the high prince. We stopped in front of each other, people giving us a wide berth.
“Too bad you’re on leave,” he said, humor glinting in his eyes. “I’m impatient to continue combating your fear of everything.”
I couldn’t stifle my groan. Or a jolt of surprise. He might be teasing me. “What do you have planned for us?”
“I won’t ruin your day off with the answer.”
“It’s that bad?” I groaned again.
“Actually, Bubble Gum, it’s worse.” He looked me over and almost smiled. “I prefer the pink.” With that, he strode past me, leaving me reeling.
I watched him, eyes wide. Had he maybe, possibly issued a compliment? In, like, a flirty manner?
No. Absolutely not. I’d mistaken the sexy tone in his office, and I was mistaken about his flirtiness now. He was only being nice because of his father.
Relieved—only relieved—I called, “Guess you’re gonna call me Lady Blue now.” Two could play this game.
“Don’t be silly.” He performed a slow spin as he walked. “Pink and blue make purple.”
Why, why, why did that strike me as the peak of awful?
“Don’t have too much fun today,” he added. “Tomorrow is a pruning day.”
Great. Wonderful. A crush of people enveloped me before I could respond, forcing me to motor in the opposite direction.
The closer I got to the train, the tighter the crowd became, the more I struggled to make progress, and the harder I longed to return to my room. No wonder Mykal had rushed us. If you didn’t arrive early, you didn’t fit in the windowless carts. But make it inside I did, passing my infection scan just as the doors closed behind me. The cart wobbled, then shot into action, zipping along a dark, narrow tunnel at a faster and faster rate.
How was I supposed to find—“There you are,” a familiar voice called.
Shiloh! The handsome medic shouldered through the throng. My relief was so great, I threw my arms around him the moment he was within reach. “I’m so happy to see you.”
He hugged me back, almost clinging.
Remembering yesterday’s scowl, I asked, “How are you?”
“I’m with you.” He pulled away with a smile that didn’t quite reach the rest of his expression. His usual sparkle had dulled. “Everything is good.”
Anxiety screwed with my heart. What was going on? Unfortunately, now wasn’t the time for a conversation. But I did take his hand and sign “lemons.”
A tiny flicker of relief flared in his irises, and he linked our fingers. We stayed like that until the train stopped. He guided me from the cart, through a tunnel, up a flight of stairs, and into a sunlit city. We cleared the crowd, and a fantasyland opened around us.
“This can’t be real,” I breathed. Massive statues topped marble daises, where costumed people danced. Other monuments crowned oddly shaped buildings made of a shimmery silver material that seemed to ripple with the wind. Lights flashed from signs advertising reducing or increasing the age listed on your birth certificate as well as walk-in surgeries to change anything you disliked about your body. Holograms beckoned pedestrians inside stores. Superfast music played in the background. I almost couldn’t process the splendor.
“There’s more,” Shiloh said.
As we slipped down the street, I gaped at this and that, relying on my companion to guide me. I only snapped into protect-myself mode when we came to a section of the Rock. Utilizing a skill I’d perfected over the years, I kept my focus anywhere else. Or tried to . . .
The surface. It seemed to thin, becoming translucent and revealing a handsome bearded man wearing a red robe. He stood inside the stone. For once I didn’t feel as though I was being watched by a thousand eyes, but two. Even with the metal dogs and their cameras, I felt seen by the man and no other as he tracked me with a narrowed gaze.