Kingdom of Tomorrow (Book of Arden, #1)

by Gena Showalter

Fear isn’t an emotion but a force; it starts with a spark and grows until it torches your entire life.

Mom was my person; I’d do anything for her, even put my life on hold again.

Be bold enough to let go of your past so you can grab hold of your future.

There will always be someone who can’t see your worth. That’s a fact of life. Don’t let that someone be you.

It didn’t matter what I owed, I supposed. I had already paid the ultimate price—my life.

Despite their similarities, the younger guy was too rough and intense to be labeled handsome, but it didn’t matter. He was something far better: Interesting. A warrior forged in the heat of battle, any hint of weakness hammered out of him.

“I will be the top lady,” I whispered to myself. Though I had no idea what constituted such a title. The most captures or kills, probably. And loyalty. Strategy too. But it still didn’t matter. I would stop at nothing.

With so much new being tossed at me, I was tempted to do something foolish and protest. A mistake I couldn’t afford. Just like I’d done every time before, I gathered and dumped the frustration into an ever-growing cauldron, letting it simmer in the shadows of my mind.

Controlled power formed an almost tangible shield around him. But that was expected. What wasn’t? The incredible scent wafting from him, infiltrating every molecule of oxygen. Mmm. What was that? Fairy dust and ambrosia? The sweet cologne so did not fit the skull and crossbones bottle.

Numerous windows shattered the illusion, however. There were more panes here than I’d ever seen in one building, an occurrence I didn’t understand. The maddened loved to break glass. They thrived on destruction of any kind, really.

Do not be late. And never forget everything is a graded test.”

“I knew you were made of determination, drive, and the smarts to thrive!”

I really hoped so, because I was tired of being made of failure, fear, and many tears.

Some solutions cannot be worked out in your mind: they must come from an enlightened heart.

My widening attention whipped to the high prince. He stood in profile, his brand stark against his skin and a beautiful testament to his strength and courage.

A good leader didn’t simply deny accusations. She disproved them.

Correction equaled progress.

“Fear doesn’t forge good leaders, Miss Roosa. It destroys them.”

He was turning out to be a good leader already. Strong and courageous, sometimes playful, but tough when needed. Complicated but also straightforward.

“First principal of warfare with the maddened. They attack on only two occasions. When you’re ready, and when you’re not.”

Words spoken are planted in the garden of your heart to feed your life; choose wisely.

“Don’t ask a ridiculous question. Make a bold statement. Fear doesn’t listen if you don’t mean it. So mean it and hit me. Hard.” “You’re acting as if fear is alive.” I tossed up my arms. “A living thing.” “Isn’t it? It speaks to you, and you listen. It leads, and you follow. It commands, and you obey.” Dang him. “Why would it be afraid of me and obey my command?” “Because it’s fear. It can only give of itself, and it always backs down in the face of a stronger opponent. Hit me,” he repeated.

Remember, you can’t help others if you can’t help yourself.

“We do not say can’t, soldier.” “Fine.” I sniffled, and there was no stopping the humiliating action. “I’m currently unable to can.”

My chin quivered. I looked away from Cyrus, the medics, everyone and everything. I didn’t want to be here. Didn’t want to be anywhere. I’d killed Shiloh. Me. I’d ended his life and erased his future. Because that’s what I did. I drove people to the edge, then pushed them over.

Guard your heart, for it steers your life.

“No matter how many times you fall, you rise. That takes an incredible amount of bravery and resilience.”

“Venting might feel better in the moment, but the aftermath makes everything worse.”

Never ignore a possibility.”

“His inability to see your worth speaks of his faults, not yours.”

“Don’t get ahead of yourself. You should learn to slay a bear before you take on a giant.” My chest constricted hard. Cyrus had once advised the same thing.

Maybe I was supposed to face my deepest nightmare alone. For too long, I’d allowed terror to hobble me. Again and again, I’d crumbled under the pressure of what-if. But here, in the battlefield of my mind, with the lives of Cyrus and my mother at stake, I accepted a forever fact. For their safety, I would risk everything.

The night was never supposed to be a time of fear but beauty, rest, and renewal.