Page 65 of Lies That Bind
“Thefrowned-uponthing with Imbrians and Amerseans. That’s not right. I don’t know why we allow it to be. We’re one people. We can trust them. It’s been over a decade since the Blackout. It’s time to show the people that we are happily cohabitating.”
Tetra appraised me. “I’m liking this kind of talk. How will you do that?”
“I have no idea. But I’m in charge now, so I’m sure I can figure it out.” Maybe being empress wasn’t so bad. Maybe I could make a positive difference for the country. I’d alwaysbeen trained to take over the war, but what if I could fight the prejudice between our people as well? A thrill went through me at the thought. It was as if my father dying had opened my eyes for the first time.
“Kohen is on the training field with Onyx, in case you are wondering.” Tetra batted her eyelashes.
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “You’re amazing. Have I told you that lately?”
She shrugged. “Being your best friend is a tough job, but someone has to do it.”
I squeezed her before I let her go and started making my way to the practice field to find Kohen.
As I crossed the main quad, soldiers saluted me left and right. It was kind of exhausting to have to keep raising my arm to salute them back. Would a head nod do?
“Aisling!” Elaine’s voice had me spinning around and chills rising on my arms. It was the tone of her voice that raised the alarm bells. Panic.What now?Stars, how much more could I take?
She ran towards me with a large white envelope in her hands. Admiral Caruso and Commander Ledger flanked her.
At the sight of all three of them, I stood taller.
Another letter from Maxim?
“What is it?” I asked.
Commander Ledger took the envelope from Elaine’s hands and handed it to me. “The report finally came back on your father’s toxicology bloodwork.”
I steeled myself, unprepared for this, and yet… excited.
“Does it lead to anything useful?”
“It’s classified. For your eyes only.” He handed me the envelope, and I turned it over, seeing the red and blue taped seal and tiny printed words.
For Empress Aisling Everhart only.
I peered around me, wondering if I should take this to my office or just open it here. I’d have to speak to Kohen later, I guessed.
“Thank you. I’ll go over it and then call a meeting,” I told them. I wanted some time alone to deal with whatever it said. If there was somehow evidence in here that pointed to a single person, I wanted to process that alone. Especially since we were looking at fellow Amerseans, someone with close access to my father. Or Maxim. I just didn’t know anymore. I didn’t want to say it, but it could very well be Caruso who stood before me. Just because she’d been interrogated didn’t mean she couldn’t lie.
Commander Ledger appeared disappointed by that but saluted me, and then they all left.
‘I’m resting in the tree line if you want to open it by me,’Liana offered.
I peered up at the tree line and grinned.‘Are you always stalking me?’
‘I prefer to call it keeping you safe, but yes, I am always looking out for you, Aisling.’
Reading this with Liana felt perfect. I walked across the quad and into the thick forest that blanketed the southern edge of the base.
I found her lazing on the ground with her head nestled in her right wing as she was curled up and nearly asleep.
“I don’t want to disturb you,” I said as I sat next to her and leaned on her back.
‘You’re never disturbing me, young one.’
I smiled at the nickname.‘Everyone is younger than you.’
‘True,’she laughed, and it was a cute snorting huff.
