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)
Pain hit the second I stepped inside the gloom, just as it always hit, but I noticed it less this go-round. Then I was standing in light, Cyrus directly in front of me.
“You good?” he asked, expectant.
“Yes. You?”
“I am, thank you.” He flashed a warm smile before stalking off and calling, “Get to decontamination. We have a busy day ahead.”
As a team, we headed for the decon stalls. Alone, I stripped and stood under the water spray, anticipation suddenly warring with foreboding. By the end of the day, I would be standing in front of the Rock, hopefully speaking with Soal. If he wanted to recruit me so bad, he could take a few minutes to answer my questions.
I dressed in clean fatigues, blown away by the softer-than-usual material. Good gracious. It was like being engulfed by clouds. Hopefully, Mykal and the others received the same upgrade. Amazed and thankful, knowing Cyrus was responsible, I exited the stall.
Cyrus waited for me at the end of the hall, no one else around. No doubt he’d ensured the other stall doors remained locked from the outside.
His expression turned hot and languid as I closed the distance. “We’ll keep our normal schedules,” he said, leading me through a secluded corridor. “I’ll get you keyed into my quarters after drills.”
“Keying in can’t be done remotely?” The longer we remained at the base, the less time I’d have at the Rock before night arrived and curfew activated.
“At such a high level, both remote and in person are required. Once that’s taken care of, we’ll deal with the aidem injection.”
I gave a violent shake of my head, lengths of hair slapping my cheeks. “I meant what I said. No shot.” I wouldn’t surrender the ability to decipher glower-speak. Nor would I risk being poisoned, as Shiloh and others might have been. “Please don’t try to force the issue.” I’d leave the fort. Somehow.
He slipped his fingers through mine and traced his thumb over my knuckles. “Explain why you are so adamant about this.”
Nope. No, thank you. I wouldn’t be revealing details found in the Lemon Ade file.
“Do you trust me, Pink, even the slightest bit?”
I did. Maybe a little more than slightly. It was the only reason I’d agreed to any of this. “You, but no one else,” I admitted.
“Good. Because I meant what I said when I told you I would never do anything to harm you. So let me administer the shot. I’ll take care of the details, keeping everyone happy.” He didn’t say it out loud, but his tone suggested there was a way to fool the system.
This was a risk. A big one. It would mean his loyalty belonged to me, not Cured. That he was courting me, for lack of a better word, for the very reason he’d provided. That he wanted us to be together. A concept almost too good to be true.
I’d asked him to put me to the test. Now, I would do the same to him.
“All right,” I said and nodded. “Yes. I’ll get an injection as long as you’re the one who administers it.”
“Thank you. I’ll see you at your evaluation.” He gave me a little squeeze before releasing me. We turned a corner, and he picked up his pace, striding off.
I watched him until the last possible second, then hurried to my cell. No sign of Mykal, unfortunately, but my soil looked well hydrated. Still no sprout, dang it. With a sigh, I headed to class.
For the first time, I floated through the exercises, eager to get to my evaluation. When the bell rang, I sprinted out the door.
Dr. Korey waited for me in the hall. She stepped into my path, ensuring I couldn’t bypass her. “Follow me,” she commanded.
Not this again! “Is something wrong?”
“I’ll be overseeing your aidem injection.”
What! A tsunami of adrenaline crashed into my veins. “You need to speak with Cyrus. He insists on being the one to handle it.”
“He’s High Prince Dolion to you, and he’s not a medical professional.”
I called upon all the bravado I possessed. “Well, I’m his minder, and there’s a chance my title outranks yours, so I decline the invitation to join you.” Shoulders squared, I soared past her—or tried to.
Two armed barons made themselves known, stopping me. My stomach sank. She’d brought muscle.
“Follow me, or I’ll have you escorted to our treatment facility,” she informed me with a smirk. She didn’t wait to hear my response, her heels clacking against the floor tiles.
A baron motioned me on. Focused on my breathing, I trudged after her. Where was Cyrus? I searched for his face every time I turned a corner. No sign of him. Somehow, I maintained my cool even when I sat on a gurney in an exam room, with the barons posted at my sides. Their hands rested on the hilts of their netters.