Page 73 of Lies That Bind
‘Am I immortal?’I asked Liana.‘Will I age and grow old?’I suddenly wondered.
‘You will grow old, yes. And you are immortal so long as you can fight the fire beast. One day, when you are old and gray, you may no longer be able to fight her, and then you will join your place among the stars.’
Okay, that was a lot to process. “Kind of,” I told Elaine.
She blew air out through her teeth. “Too many people saw. We couldn’t keep this secret. They are chantingimmortal empressin the streets. The people have been inspired by this. They think you will reign forever and be able to protect them against anything.”
My stomach dropped. That was a lot of pressure.
“Immortal empress? Maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe that will make its way back to Maxim and Imbria.”
Elaine nodded. “It could be a good thing.”
I rolled out my neck, readying myself for what was ahead. “Okay, it’s time to declare war on Imbria. If they are trying to separate, we have to shut it down before Kohen can take control.” I moved to the door, and Elaine stepped out in front of me to slow my progress.
“Aisling, there is one more matter to discuss first,” she said, chewing her lip.
I braced myself because she looked like she was about to deliver unsettling news.
“Some rumors have started here at the base. Jace was overheard telling people that you kissed Kohen at the graduation ball?—”
“Jace ratted me out!” I screamed.
I never should have publicly kissed Kohen. That was so stupid. I never should have kissed Kohen at all. But at the time, my father was still alive, and I hadn’t known I’d be empress a day later.
“Yes,” Elaine said. “And so now people see that Kohen wormed his way into your heart and then killed your father and you. They think your decision-making is…”
I glared at her. “What?”
“Weak. The admirals are calling for you to get engaged now and then married within a year, someone loyal to the empire.”
“Oh, because as a woman, I’m weak and fragile, and I need a man to help me think?” I snapped and then realized it wasn’t Elaine’s fault. She was just delivering the news.
Take a husband? I knew that would come eventually, but so soon?
“I’m sorry,” I told Elaine. “This is just a lot.”
She nodded, giving me a compassionate look. “Aisling, we always knew you would be empress one day and take a husband and have heirs.”
She was right. “Do you think my decision-making is weak?” I asked her.
She paused for too long, and my mouth popped open as hurt crept into my heart.
“Hang on, let me explain.” She reached out and grabbed my hand.
“I think choosing to trust Kohen Badshah enough to let him into your heart was stupid. I will not mince my words on that,” she declared.
There was the Elaine I knew and loved my entire life.
“But,” she went on, “I trust that every decision you make is for the good of the empire, and one mistake will not blemish your reign over this country. We just need to fix this now so it can move to the back of people’s minds.”
I sighed. “Okay.”
She nodded. “Okay. Your friends are outside. You should see them quickly and then meet me in the war room with the admirals to choose your husband.”
“Thenwe can go to war against Imbria?” I pressed her.
She nodded. “Then we are all prepared to follow your lead on that.”
