Page 38 of Lies That Bind
“A nanny?” My voice was cold as I stalked over to him, walking right up into his face.
He swallowed hard, suddenly realizing that he’d overstepped. “I only meant that Lieutenant Steele is out of practice in matters of?—”
“Out of practice!” I tipped my head back and laughed in his face. “The empress who stands before you, the one who just killed Prime Leader Vlek and leveled their palace, wascreatedby Elaine Steele. Never forget that!” I snapped.
He lowered his gaze and nodded. “Yes, Empress. But imperial law states that in order for Lieutenant Steele to read that letter, she’d have to be an admiral or higher.”
I nodded in understanding. “Then make her an admiral. I’ll wait.”
I walked over to a desk, grabbed a piece of paper and pen, and then looked over at him.
His mouth opened in shock. “Oh, you’re serious?”
“Yes,” I said plainly.
“I advise against that. The admiral title is?—”
“Noted. Now, are you going to do as I have asked, or will I have to demote you and find someone else who can follow orders?”
A mask of anger crossed his face, but I held firm. He would always see me as the little kid who dated his son if I didn’t show him who I really was—that if you peeled back my skin, you’d find steel and concrete. I wasn’t soft, and he couldn’t intimidate me.
“Yes, Empress.” He saluted me and left the room.
Ten minutes later, Elaine stepped into the room with her hair in a messy bun and wearing a black robe. She was alone andwide-eyed as she stared at the note on the table, unable to read it from where she stood.
“Why did I just get sworn in as admiral in the middle of the night?” she asked me.
I grinned. “Because Commander Ledger pushed my buttons.”
That made her smile. “Aisling, what’s going on?”
I handed her the gloves. “Luska sent a letter addressed to me. Wear gloves in case of poison.”
She went very still then, raising one eyebrow, but nodded and donned the white gloves. As she read the note, her eyebrows climbed higher and higher. When she finished, she set the letter down, took off the gloves, and began to pace. Elaine was a fearsome warrior in battle, but the greatest thing about her was her mind. Second to my father, she had one of the best minds I knew. She got top marks in psychological warfare. She was a little insane in her revenge plots, much like Tetra, and that’s what I needed now.
“Tell me what you’re thinking,” I finally said after a few minutes.
“You have to reply,” she said, and I nodded. I agreed. The bastard asked for my hand in marriage and then threatened my sisters! That could not be met with silence.
She rubbed her hands together and grinned. “Oh, I’m so tempted to have you respond yes to the marriage proposal and feed him poison in his sleep.”
I nodded because I’d considered it, too. “But so much could go wrong. I wouldn’t even make it down the aisle likely, and it would involve my signing some type of peace deal.”
Which wouldn’t be peace. It would be a hostile takeover. They’d strip our mines, rape our women, and turn Amersea into a wasteland. I’d rather die.
“He threatened your sisters,” she growled.
I nodded. “I have nothing on him. I didn’t even know he existed before today. It seems my father was putting a lot of effort into maximum casualties and not into gathering intel. We need more spies.”
Elaine stopped then and met my gaze. “I have an idea.”
A thrill went through me because the look on her face was divine. Whatever idea this was, it was going to be good.
“Tell no one else of this letter. Order Commander Ledger to keep it quiet. Give me two days.”
I frowned. “Two days for what?”
She spoke in a string of such perfect Luskin, it took me aback. I knew she knew a little Luskin, but that sounded fluent. “What does that mean?”
