“Good. Because I love you, and I’ll never let you go.” He pressed one of those too-swift kisses into my lips before striding away.
My mouth floundered open and closed. What? He hadn’t just ... he couldn’t have ...What?!
I trudged to the bus and boarded, still floundering. Forget what he’d requested regarding Domino. I’d figure that out later. Cyrus Dolion did not just confess to being in love with me. I’d misheard. Or ... or ...
He might actually love me?
My guards entered the vehicle behind me. I didn’t let myself consider Cyrus’s declaration a second more—I’d only melt. That must come after this field trip.
Winslet pointed to the bucket seat in front of her. “I saved you a spot.”
A whirlwind of emotions churned as I gathered the scattered pieces of armor and an assortment of weapons piled on the seat. Steeling myself, I slid into place. One guard stood watch up front, rigid and alert, while the other silently took position in the back, ready for whatever lay ahead.
Duchess Mimidae stood at the front as well. “You’ve learned to work together in pairs. Now, you’ll practice in a small group of five. Suit up.”
I obeyed, donning the armor. Pieces I’d worn before, each made of a lightweight substance with malleable seams. The arsenal consisted of a netter gun, a retractable spear, two regular daggers, one CO2 special, a gun known as the harbinger, and a pair of metal cuffs interlaced with stun pins. Hmm. I’d never worked with cuffs.
“Your individual goal is simple,” the duchess stated. “Without issuing a field test, identify and detain someone you suspect of being at the breaking point of Madness. Your group goal is to protect innocent civilians while securing each candidate.”
“How will we know who’s infected if we can’t run tests?” Cash asked. “Feeders without worms can pass as clean.”
Features pinched with disapproval, the duchess snapped, “At this point, if you need worms to identify those who exhibit symptoms of the Madness, you shouldn’t be a member of the gentry. Quit the program and go home.”
Silence swept over the bus. Any hint of excitement withered, replaced by unease that magnified as the vehicle ate up the miles. By the time we reached our destination in the heart of the city, many soldiers-in-training looked ready to shatter. Even Roman. I think we all understood the ramifications if we got this wrong. Innocent people would suffer.
“Stick together with your team, aid each other,” the duchess said. “Feel free to traverse the entire city. You may detain and interrogate anyone of your choosing. Your chips will open most doors, and there’s a badge on your vest the citizens of Bala City will recognize and respect. Return with someone in your custody or a very good reason why you’re empty handed.”
I glanced down at said vest and sure enough, an emblem decorated a spot above the left breast. A jagged circle with broken lines inside it, like Soal’s yet quite different.
“Do us proud.” Duchess Mimidae stepped aside and waved to the door. “The group that returns first wins the greatest prize of all: bragging rights. Pick your own teams. The countdown starts now. Go, go, go.”
We spilled from the bus at warp speed. Roman, Winslet, Merlot, and Miller invited me onto their team.
“Let’s go somewhere private so we can strategize.” Roman didn’t wait for our acquiescence but led the charge.
We marched down a busy sidewalk, my heart thudding all the while. The Rock called to me, urging me closer. Closer still, drawing me like a magnet. Longing choked me. What I wouldn’t give for five more minutes inside the library. Or even just a peek at one of the symbols on the surface. Just for a second.
The urge magnified when I spotted the statue of Astan. The horns seemed to have risen another two inches.
I rubbed the sudden burn in the center of my chest. What did that even mean? Domino had said we’d discuss it “later,” but we’d gotten busy with other things. And now, I might have to cut him from my life for reasons I didn’t fully understand.
Focus.Surely the most difficult task of my life. But I did it, visually x-raying everyone around me, ready to spring into action at the first sign of an impending break. Agitation. Wild eyes. Cold grins.
An unsettling wind kicked up in my head, swirling with debris. Something about this task wasn’t right.
Thoughts took shape. My first day at the base, Cyrus had voiced a profound yet often forgotten piece of wisdom.Everythingwas a test. So, what was the point of this one?
What had the duchess said?Without issuing a field test, identify and detain someone you suspect of being at the breaking point of Madness.
CURED could make anyone break, or seem positive, which meant absolutely everyone we encountered was a candidate. We could bring in anyone and pass.
Too easy!
Could we pinpoint outward signs of a coming break to support our choice? Yes. But many of those signs also pointed to anxiety. I should know. And who wouldn’t feel anxious with a bunch of armed lords- and ladies-in-training marching about, determined to arrest someone. The victim would lose a full day’s pay. And what if they had a dire medical appointment they were forced to reschedule, which could take months or a year? What if they missed a child’s birthday party?
After pressing the heel of his palm into an ID pad, Roman entered the lobby of an apartment complex. We followed. The concierge vaulted to his feet, noticed our vests, and paled. He eased back into his seat, trying to make himself invisible.
“Okay,” Roman said as we huddled together. “Here’s how this is going down.”
