Page 61 of Lies That Bleed
Jace dropped it on the floor and yanked his hand free, spinning around and getting right up in Kohen’s face.
“What the hell, Badshah?”
One by one, the Imbrians from our table rose. Anika, Dev, Nikhil, even little unassuming Meera. They didn’t make a move on Jace but their message was clear. They had Kohen’s back.
“Where I’m from, if you take food from a woman, it means you are a coward,” Kohen spat.
Jace moved blindingly fast then, coming up with a right uppercut, intending to connect with Kohen’s jaw. But Kohen was ready for it. He blocked the move andtook Jace to the ground quickly, kicking his legs out from under him.
As I watched the boys fight, anger boiled within me. What the hell did Kohen think he was doing? Last night with the admiral and now this? Over a French fry?
I got up from the table, picked up my French fry tray, and chucked it at the boys on the floor, letting my food spill all over them. They stopped their fighting when the fries pelted their face and looked up at me.
“Grow up!” I snapped, and stalked off, hungry and pissed.
I stormed outside and headed for the woods, toward where I knew Liana would be waiting. I could feel her, like a gentle nudge in my heart, beckoning me closer.
‘What’s wrong?’she asked.
‘Men suck,’I told her, and trudged through the thick trees.
I found her and Onyx together in a field with a few other creatures. It took me a moment to recognize Lieutenant Ashendell’s hawk and Alek’s. They all stood in a circle like they were having some kind of bird chat.
“Am I interrupting something?” I asked.
Liana stepped over to me and bowed,‘We are wing training in the air today. Let’s go for a flight before class starts.’
I needed that. I needed to get the hellout of here and away from Kohen’s possessiveness. I happily crawled onto her back, surprised when I saw that she was wearing a small harness that had two handles.
‘They outfitted us this morning,’she told me, and kicked off the ground.
I screamed in excitement as my stomach dropped and the wind rushed through my hair.‘You let them?’I was impressed. She didn’t seem the type to allow any kind of restraint.
‘Yes, so that we can do this. Hold on,’she said, and I grasped the handles and clenched my thighs, thinking she was going to do some evasive sharp left turn. Instead, she did a full flip. A scream of terror ripped from my throat as my heart beat frantically. She righted herself and I could almost swear she was smiling.
‘What the hell? I could have fallen!’
‘You’re not thinking of stupid men anymore though, are you?’
That got a smirk out of me. I was not.
‘Touché.’
‘Do you want to talk about it?’Liana asked.
She had this mother energy, an energy I had been missing most of my life. I felt like I could come to her with anything and she wouldn’t judge me and might even give sound advice.
‘Kohen is being…’I fought for the words.‘We’re not friends, okay. He’s my family’s sworn enemy and yet he’s being nice and possessive over me. Like he’s protecting me.’It felt good to tell another person what I was thinking.‘Maybe it’s because Onyx and you are close and he is feeling some need to protect me because of that?’
‘That’s not why,’she answered, and I frowned.
‘Then why? Why is he so… why won’t he just leave me alone?’I asked. ‘Is he playing some kind of game? Trying to draw me in so he can get revenge for his father’s death?’
She was quiet for a long time, so long I thought she might not answer me.‘Let me be clear, Aisling. My allegiance is with you and you alone. I will put your safety above anyone else I may care about, including Onyx and by extension Kohen. But, as this does not concern your safety, I will not answer you. Kohen can tell you when he’s ready.’
I felt like I’d been slapped. She knew the answer and wouldn’t tell me.‘Is it related to his power?’I questioned.
‘Yes,’she replied.
