Page 18 of Lies That Bind
“For training? That’s messed up!” Tej commented.
I squirmed a little under their gaze. My father wanted to make sure I was ready for anything, and so even against Elaine’s consultation, he made me go without food often. For training, of course.
“Being trained to be empress isn’t all glory and riches,” I declared. Though I did have a nice life with all the comforts, so I wasn’t complaining.
When I looked up into Kohen’s eyes, I could see an inferno of emotions there. He looked mostlyangry…
A yawn escaped me then, and I covered it. “I should be getting back. I still haven’t checked on my sisters.”
Kohen nodded, giving his brothers a hug. “Mind the teachers, and don’t get in trouble. I’ll send more money when I can.”
Tej shook his head. “You already overextended yourself paying for this place. I have ways of making money.”
Kohen pinned Tej with a glare. “You willnotsteal for money. I will send you money next paycheck. Stay out of trouble until then.”
Steal?Was the Fleet not paying enough for Kohen to take care of his brothers and himself? I’d have to look into how much we paid entry-level soldiers. Though this place looked nice. I was glad he was able to get them here.
Tej rolled his eyes and grumbled, “Fine.”
He and the triplets would get along well, I decided. They both had sass.
After bidding them farewell, we went out front, where our creatures were waiting. Something about coming and meeting his brothers felt a little off to me. Like Kohen was going out of his way to get them to like me. And for what?Who cares?I liked meeting them, but I wanted to know if he had a motive behind it.
“Why were you making me sound so good to them?” I asked him before we saddled up to ride home.
Kohen glanced over at me with those handsome blue eyes, and my stomach warmed.
“Well, first of all, youaregood. Secondly, one day it will be important that my brothers like you.”
A chill broke out onto my arms, and he said nothing more. “Let’s head back,” he agreed, and we took to the skies.
He’d had a vision, and this was all to play into that. I decided right then and there that I wished Kohen had the power to control people and I could see the future. When I used my power, I took away a person’s basic freedom, which felt awful. When Kohen used his, he knew everything, which put him at an advantage over me. It felt like we were playing chess, and Kohan was three moves ahead of me at every turn.
Chapter
Four
Ididn’t expect anyone to be awake when I got to Tetra’s at 4 a.m. But I needed to see my sisters and make sure they were okay. I was beyond tired and had reached a point of heightened clarity where my brain felt like it was buzzing. The second I stepped off of Liana, a shadow moved on the porch. I held my hands up, ready to fight, and then Elaine walked out into the moonlight with Vespa at her side.
“You went to Imbria?” she scolded me.
Old Aisling would apologize, but I was empress now. “Yes.” I tipped my chin up. “They are my people, too.”
Elaine sighed, resigned. She looked exhausted. “I’ve been worried sick. Let’s get some rest. In the morning, we find a new house and move your sisters into it.”
I nodded, and then the door opened. Tetra, my best friend, stood there looking disheveled. Her eyes were a bit puffy, like she’d been crying, and her hair was a mess. Elaine stepped off the porch with Vespa trailing behind her before she slipped into an unfamiliar car. I knew she’d waited up to make sure I’d gotten home safe.
“I’ll see you in about three hours,” Elaine said.
Three hours?I was going to be a dead woman walking.
I spun back to Tetra, who leaned on her cane as she stood to the side and allowed me into the house. I stepped into her small living room and peered at my best friend in the low light. Her bonded wolf, Ariyel, was curled up asleep at her feet.
“Do I have to bow to you?” she asked.
I grinned. “Hell yeah. Or I’ll imprison you.”
That got a small smile to grace her lips. “Can I… hug you?”
