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)
I pressed the button, causing the lens to lower again. In an instant, my world went topsy turvy, the ceiling swapping places with the floor. Nausea instantly struck. Around me, several soldiers toppled, unable to stand. How I remained upright, I wasn’t sure.
“During round two, there will be two holograms rather than one.” The monsters appeared at the HP’s side, and I flinched. “Activate dark mode.”
I swallowed a ball of apprehension as I adjusted my lens, but it didn’t help. Especially when the cloak of darkness returned, erasing my surroundings. Fewer people, double the holograms.
“You’ve probably noticed the sensation of being upside down stays with you, even without visual aid,” our leader said. “Learn to deal with it. Go.”
Ack! With a huff, I charged for the wall with more confidence than before. Pandemonium ruled when other trainees did the same. I crashed into someone and ricocheted backward, slamming into someone else, who shoved me. “Sorry, sorry,” I blurted before I could stop myself.
A hologram flashed into my line of sight. I didn’t hesitate, diving to the right. Someone—Juniper—grunted. Oh, no! My actions caused her harm. But I didn’t apologize. Not this time. Noise would only draw a hologram our way. Instead, I scrambled up and charged for the wall with renewed energy, ducking and dodging any trace of action while my entire world remained inverted.
Come on, come on. I must, must, must almost probably be close to the cubbies.
Fingers snagged in my hair, yanking me backward. I landed on a fallen lord-in-training. Someone stomped on my hand. I yelped at the pain but surged to my feet, determined to win this. Not for the meal vouchers—not anymore—but to feed a stubbornness I hadn’t known I possessed. I could do this.
Another hologram flashed into my path, reaching for me. I twisted to avoid—boom! Another soldier knocked into me, and we crashed to the floor. Others rushed over me as I grappled for purchase.
An elbow slammed into my face. More pain flared, and my world spun. Stars winked inside my head. Blood poured from my nose, a loud roar in my ears.
I swiped at my mouth, mopping up the blood, then stood, burning through every ounce of adrenaline swamping my veins.
“Round over,” the HP said as I took my first step.
“No!” The denial burst from my tongue. I couldn’t have lost in round two.
My world righted as I lifted my lens. Oh, I’d lost all right. The cubbies were filled, several teammates eyeing me with sympathy.
Jericho winked. “No meal vouchers for you and your new bump buddy, eh, Ardie. Bet you lost your shot at top soldier too. Not that you ever had one.”
I ground my teeth, angry, disappointed and embarrassed.
“Roosa, you’re out,” High Prince Dolion announced, devoid of emotion. His arctic expression proved worse than my injuries. “Get her to an exam room.”
A medic rushed over to press a piece of cloth beneath my stinging nose and help me to my feet. I stumbled out the door as the HP began his explanation of round three. For some reason, leaving him was the last straw, and I teared up. It wasn’t that the HP was a comforting presence. I just—I missed my mom more than ever. And my plants. And Shiloh and Mykal. The HP was the next best thing. Someone I had begun to kind of, sort of trust.
The medic ushered me to the medical sector. He tried to whisk me into exam room one, but I recalled Shiloh’s promise the day I’d run out of Archduke Heta’s class and entered the second instead.
“Is Shiloh around?” I asked as my companion collected a vial of blood.
He walked out of the room, silent, no doubt afraid of being recorded. Alone, I checked the gurney for a message from Shiloh. Dang. Nothing.
I sat again, acting totally normal as the tech wheeled in a large machine. He x-rayed my hands and face, then gently palpated my nose. Sharp stings flared and subsided.
“Well?” A second try wouldn’t hurt. “Is Shiloh around or not?”
“Do not leave this room,” he said, exiting with the machine, then closing the curtain.
I lay back. Sat up. Walked around. Sat down. Hours passed before High Prince Dolion entered as if he owned the place, easing a tight knot of tension between my shoulders. Except, hmm. A fresh cut marred his branded cheek, a bead of blood leaking from the edge.
“Anything broken?” he demanded. He hadn’t changed since I’d last seen him, yet he looked completely different. Frayed to the point of exhaustion, maybe.
“No, sir.” The medic rushed up behind him. “She’s cleared for transport.”
I gripped my knees. Shouldn’t I be the first to hear news about the condition of my body?
The medic motioned to the HP’s wound. “Should I bandage your—”
“You are dismissed.”
The medic beat feet.
The HP pulled the curtain, excluding our third wheel, and collected my reader. “How do you feel?” he asked, looking over the information. No emotion infused his voice.