Page 19 of Lies That Bleed
I handed her the mug. “Have some. Too much messes up my stomach anyway.”
She looked at me warily and I rolled my eyes,pulling the cup to my lips and taking a big swig. “It’s not poison. I’m being nice.”
She took the cup and drank some of the black liquid.
“Whoa, that’s strong.” Her lips puckered and I grinned.
It would be easier to pass the time if she wanted to talk a little.
“What’s Imbria like?” I asked, hoping it was a neutral question that wouldn’t start an argument.
She smiled. “Noisy, full of life, chaotic, beautiful, colorful—it’s amazing. Better before the occupation I am told, but still amazing.”
The occupation. That’s what they called it?
I’d never been there, it wasn’t exactly safe. Yes, we’d merged Imbria into Amersea, but not by choice. If I, the emperor’s daughter, went there, I would probably be torn apart in the streets.
“Is it true you give babies red chilis to suck on?” I asked.
She grinned. “Gotta build up tolerance.”
I wasn’t sure if she was serious or not but it made me laugh. Imbrian food wasn’t popular here as it was associated with our enemy of so many years, but I’d heard it was amazing and full of spice and had always wanted to try it.
“My turn,” she said.
I nodded. “Shoot.”
“Is it true you killed a man in training practice when you were five?”
Now I laughed. “Is that what they say? That’s pretty cool. I don’t know if I want to shoot that rumor down.”
She smiled. “So never killed anyone?”
I shook my head, chuckling. “Have you?”
A shadow crossed over her face and she took a long swig from my coffee. “Thanks for the coffee. I’m going to walk the perimeter.” Something dark had entered her features, a memory she didn’t want to talk about, and I felt awful for asking. She was in the Avasan with Kohen—of course she had killed. Probably to survive.
She strode away and I sat there for a little while feeling bad, like maybe I didn’t know the whole story there and shouldn’t judge.
If I grew up unable to afford a simple cup of coffee and my family worked in the mines for next to nothing… what kind of lengths would I go to in order to survive? I didn’t even know what we paid the ember-sorting workers, just that it was awful work.
The next several hours slogged past with me walking circles around the campfire, my fingers twitching over my sword, and Anika giving me the silent treatment. It was the dead of night and I was officially tired. Anika sat down on a rock and leaned against her pack, dagger gripped firmly in her hands. I watched as her eyes grew heavy and herlips went slack.
She was out.
I’d let her get some sleep.
I peered across the space to where Kohen sat behind his fire, whittling something with a small knife. As if sensing me, he looked up. We locked eyes and it felt like the world melted away. Even at this distance his presence had a tangible feel to it. In the darkness of this lonely night, I felt the emotions of the day rush up to greet me.
Jace cheated on me. I wasn’t good enough and so he went elsewhere. It was like a hot knife to my heart, but I wouldn’t allow myself to deal with it here. Not in The Wilds, not tonight. Shoving all of the emotions back down in the little black box I kept inside of my heart, I held Kohen’s gaze. He wasn’t looking away, and I hated to admit I would kill to know what he was thinking.
The Badshah family stories I heard growing up had caused me to form a picture of Kohen, the eldest of three brothers. I was told he was a heartless, rule-breaking, Amersea-hating monster who would slit your throat for a single coin.But was he?
A shadow moved in the bushes behind him and I jolted into action without thinking.
“Anika!” I shouted loudly to wake her as I sailed over Tetra’s sleeping form.
Anika leapt into a standing position, knife in hand, as I ran for Kohen. He’d seen my alarm and spun just as three imperial soldiers dragged him into the woodsby the throat, covering his mouth to muffle his scream.
