Page 51 of Lies That Bind
“I say we distribute an official letter from the empress to the people of Amersea stating that she has killed the prime leader of Luska in retaliation for her father,” Commander Ledger said. “It will make her look strong.”
More nods of agreement. Then they looked at me.
“I’m fine with that, but it wasn’t just me. I had help,” I told them.
They waved me off.
“You lead this Fleet. Their win is your win,” Caruso said. “Now, what should we respond to this Maxim character who proposed marriage and then threatened to kill your sisters?”
Elaine and I shared a wry grin.
“Oh, I’ve already responded,” I told them.
Every single person in the room froze as if made of ice. Their heads slowly pivoted to me. Admiral Blade’s tone was accusatory. “What? When? How long have you had this letter?”
“You have no right to question the empress in such a way!” Elaine snapped, and the admiral’s cheeks pinked.
I pulled out a copy of the letter Elaine and I had sent. She’d made one so that we could show them. I laid it on the table.
As they read, I watched as each and every one smiled at my response, and then Commander Ledger peered up at me. “What gift did you give him?”
Elaine and I had talked about this. I was well within my right to send people out on covert operations and not tell them.
“A pair of his underwear that I had stolen from his very room,” I answered.
Ledger’s mouth opened, and he glanced at Elaine, who just raised one eyebrow.
“We’re sending spies into Luska now? Your father never did that,” Admiral Blade said.
“When we need to, yeah, we are. And maybe my father should have,” I responded. Silence covered the room.
“I think we’re done here.” Elaine popped up and walked over to the table. “Due to the response in our letter, which I just delivered to a messenger at the Wall an hour ago, I suggest we evacuate the entire base back down into the bunker for the next forty-eight hours and put our perimeter troops on high alert.”
Commander Ledger didn’t seem to like her calling the shots, but he nodded. “I agree.”
Fifteen minutes later,I was in the bunker in a gymnasium training room with the alliance, Kohen, and our instructors.
“Holy stars, Aisling, is it true you killed Prime Leader Vlek when you collapsed that building?” Anika asked.
“What?” Everyone chimed in and moved closer to listen.
I shared a look with Kohen, and he nodded. The word was officially out. I’d told Kohen during one of our closet rendezvous.
Kohen knew Vlek was gone, but he didn’t know about Maxim asking to marry me. Or at least I hadn’t told him. Whether or not he had foresight about it, I wasn’t sure.
“Yes,” I stated, and the room erupted into whoops and cheers, including our instructors.
“So that’s why we’re living underground,” Tetra said.
“Is it true Jace is missing training because he has explosive diarrhea?” I asked Anika, and she grinned as everyone else burst out laughing.
Meera winked. “It happens sometimes.”
Before I could say more, the walls shook slightly as a low rumble sounded above us, and everyone’s eyes went wide.
‘Liana?’I searched for her energy, panicked.
‘I’m fine. Out hunting with Onyx.’
