Page 74 of Lies That Bind
Okay, that was good. It sounded like an ultimatum, which I didn’t like, but my father had taught me that keeping the admirals and those high up in the chain of command happy and making them feel heard was important. I was going to get married sooner or later. Better that my people saw I would marry for the good of our country. Especially before this rumor of my being intimate with Kohen got out.
Kohen. I was still in shock at everything that had happened with him.
Why move aside on the first day to allow Tetra to stand near me at the Lottery?
Why leave his alliance so that I would take over and protect his friends when he could have done that?
Why protect my life when I was attacked at school?
Why help me get Liana right after we’d bonded and the Luskins had taken her?
Why, why, why? I had more questions than answers, but it really was simple when I took my heart out of the equation. He did all of that, so I would trust him. With that trust, he got close to my father and killed him. And now he was back in Imbria with his friends, probably working with a rebel faction to become king again and break away from Amersea.
We’d be two nations again, and I’d be fighting two wars, one with Luska and one with Imbria. No, I wouldn’t let that happen.
“Aisling?” Elaine peered at me and I cleared my throat, slightly embarrassed about being lost in my thoughts.
We stepped out of the medical center, and when we got outside, Tetra threw herself at me.
“That rat bastard!” she growled.
She was talking about Kohen. If I had my way, I’d never hear his name again.
“I’m so glad you’re okay.” She squeezed me so tightly it hurt, but I squeezed her back.
When we pulled away, I noticed Alek and Roc were standing with her, concern etched across both of their faces. Their creatures hung back a few feet behind them—except for Iniki, who was perched on Alek’s shoulder.
I looked at her and Alek. “Thank you for your help.”
Alek nodded, frowning. “Of course. I’m glad to see you alive… again.”
The unsaid thing hung in the air like a pungent perfume.
I died and came back to life.
It was weird. I should probably address it, but I didn’t have the energy right now.
Roc saluted me. “Permission to be on the front lines when we dish out payback to Kohen and Imbria.”
I grinned. “Permission granted.”
Roc was loyal, always had been.
Tetra peered at the boys. “Can I speak to her alone, please?”
They nodded, and Alek gave me one last lingering look before they walked away.
When I was finally facing just my bestie, I felt some of the cement wall around my heart crumble.
“Ash.” She placed her hands on my shoulders. “I know how much you cared for him. I’m so sorry. I feel partly at fault for encouraging you to like him.”
I shook my head. “You didn’t do this, Tetra. He was calculating from the second he saw me on Lottery Day. This was always his plan. Anika and the others, too.”
I knew she’d grown close with Anika.
She chewed her lip, and I saw something cross her face.
“What?” I asked her, eyeing the door to the war room behind her. I was expected there soon.
