Page 22 of Lies That Bind
She grinned as if I’d fallen into her trap. “Good. I agree. I’ll have the treasury department come up with some numbers, and you can choose.”
I relaxed at that. Thinking of Kohen’s brother Tej saying he could steal to get by caused a lump to form in my throat. I hadn’t expected what I’d found in Imbria last night; it conflicted with everything I’d been taught my entire life. The people were… kind to me… and the city of Sorak was beautiful and upscale, nothing like what my father told me, nothing like the pictures we saw in school. Not that being upscale mattered, but it kind of did. Our history books had painted a picture in my head of the Imbrians being unable to prosper without us. And now that I knew that wasn’t true, I wasn’t sure what to think.
We’d only been driving for a few minutes when the car stopped and the window rolled down. I found myself staring at a sizeable home for this area. It was set back a good way from the road, which afforded it privacy. It had a white picket fence and was painted a pretty blue. A huge willow tree marked the front yard and hid the garage and half the porch. It was nothing like my father’s, not even grand like Jace’s. It was still nice, though, and very private, which was important.
“This is a four-bedroom house, with an office, close to school for the girls, but also to Tetra’s. The triplets can see Bethel every week. She has promised to tutor them in math and writing.”
I nodded. Bethel was a smart woman and patient, too. She’d make a good tutor for the triplets, and they were already comfortable with her. It would also provide extra money for her. Elaine was sweet to offer her the position.
“It would fit you and the girls comfortably enough, but it’s understated for someone of your rank and what you are accustomed to. I fear if we move you into a giant mansion, it willbe too obvious. This way, only a handful of people would know about it. The backyard is large and full of trees, so Liana can land without being seen, and I’ll have a guardhouse built by the end of the month for round-the-clock security.”
I nodded, seeing myself and my sisters here. It was a lovely little house, a modest home for an empress, which is why no one would look here.
‘I like the backyard. It has a pool, too,’Liana said.
“Buy it,” I told her.
“Do you want to go inside? I got the key for a private viewing. I said it was for myself.”
I shook my head. “I’m sure we don’t have time. It looks private, which is the most important.” I just wanted to keep my sisters safe.
She nodded, scratching another thing off of her list. The car started up again, and we headed towards the center of the city as the sun fully rose.
“Have you found a replacement to train the girls and take care of their daily needs?” I asked her.
Elaine nodded once. “Sergeant Gwenivere Black. Goes by Gwen. Tetra is interviewing her later this morning.”
I raised one eyebrow, grinning. “You are allowing my savage bestie to interview the triplets’ new governess?”
Elaine shot me a half-cocked smile. “Who better to ferret out any weakness? I’ve already met with and approve of Gwen. Caruso has questioned her and her loyalty is with you. If Tetra approves, she’s got the job.”
Brilliant. I relaxed a little, knowing my sisters’ needs were being taken care of.
Verik pulled out of the residential area of Riverine and headed for the more industrial part of town.
“Speaking of Tetra…” Elaine said, and I went still. There was something in Elaine’s voice I didn’t like.
“What about her?”
“Do you still want her to be a drill instructor at the training campus that was just attacked? Or would you like to take her with you to Sky Reach, where you will now be posted five out of seven days a week, with weekends off to see your sisters?”
I felt like I couldn’t breathe. It was an impossible choice. Take Tetra to Sky Reach? It was a death sentence. But the thought of keeping her here, without being able to keep an eye on her, killed me.
“Can we honorably discharge her from the Fleet?” I asked, and Elaine gave me that look. The look that said I was being crazy.
“She would kill you. And she’s not weak, sodon’ttreat her as such,” she scolded me.
I groaned, knowing she was right, and grateful she wasn’t sugarcoating the way she spoke to me now that I was empress. There was something comforting about a verbal lashing from Elaine. “But I want to keep her safe,” I protested.
Elaine nodded. “Then train her like I trained you. She’s got a creature and, from what I hear, a tremendous power. Mold her into an invaluable soldier, and maybe in ten years, she will be commanding your army instead of Jace’s father.”
Whoa.
It wassuchan Elaine thing to say. Leave it to her to see Tetra’s potential.
“Okay,” I said nervously. “But only if she wants to,” I added.
Elaine chuckled at that. “She already begged me to place her wherever you were going.”
