Page 20 of Lies That Bind
“Are you too important for a hug?” she asked, opening her arms. It occurred to me that everyone in my life that I cared about would now be scared to hug me or say something that they thought might upset me or even just be around me. I wasempressnow.
“Never,” I told her and fell into her arms.
She rubbed my back as she held me, one of my favorite things, something she’d done since I was little, and then she released me.
“I have faith that you will lead us into peace and end this war,” she told me boldly.
Peace?It wasn’t something I’d ever considered or my father ever spoke about.
End the war, yes, we wanted to conquer the Luskins and put an end to the bloodshed, but peace? I hadn’t ever thought about a peaceful end until now.
She went back into the kitchen, and I sat down next to Valor. My sister was rigid, face forward, and barely seemed aware of my presence.
“It’s okay to be scared, or sad, or whatever you are feeling,” I told her.
She didn’t look at me, just squeezed her hands together in her lap. “I’m oldest. I know what’s expected of me now, Aisling.” Her voice was monotone.
My heir. My successor. The one to run this country if I died. And she was all of fourteen. She’d barely just gotten her period last year. I couldn’t expect this of her. And yet, the same had been expected of me. I’d lived my whole life as my father’ssuccessor. But I wanted more for her. I wanted her to have a carefree childhood before this crushing responsibility fell upon her.
I lowered my voice and leaned into her. “I can name Virtue my successor if you don’t want it.” We both knew Victory was too sweet and soft to rule the Imperial Fleet. Virtue was a blend of both of them.
Valor snapped her head in my direction, fire in her eyes. “I want it,” she growled.
I smirked. Stars, she was so much like me. How had I never seen it before?
“Okay, then,” I told her. “You will be my successor.”
She looked excited and terrified all at once and then profoundly sad. “Aisling?”
“Yes?”
She leaned into me. “I heard you last night talking to Vic. Father didn’t love us. He tolerated us because we fit into his plan, but he didn’t love us.” Her voice was laced with fury.
I nearly slapped her. “Don’tspeak like that,” I warned her.
How could she even think that?! She was always the rebellious one, like me. And here she was, going the anger route. Angry at a dead man. What good would that do?
There was a knock at the door, and I was grateful for the distraction. I stood to get it, but Bethel beat me to it. While she answered the door, I grabbed a cup of coffee and a thick slice of honeyed ham. This modest house in the suburbs was like a second home to me. These peach walls, the home-cooked food… it would always give me a warm feeling I would crave.
Elaine’s voice reached me from the doorway: “You’ll have to take that to go, Empress. There are urgent matters that require your attention.” I sighed, shoving the ham into my mouth and raising the mug to Bethel. “Can I borrow this?” I said between mouthfuls.
She gave me a sweet smile and nodded.
I peered at Valor. “Take care of your sisters. I’ll try to see you later this afternoon.” I needed to be at Sky Reach by nightfall to execute the new plan, but I would try to see them once more.
As I followed Elaine out the door, I noticed her face was pulled tight, lips pursed into a thin line.
“What is it?” I asked her.
She held a clipboard and a piece of paper with many things written on it. I ducked into the family car, giving a greeting to Verik, and then stared at the seat my father always sat in with Zuri beside him. It was slightly baggy where his butt had carved a dent. Elaine cleared her throat behind me, and I stepped inside, sitting in my father’s seat, feeling like an imposter. Vespa jumped in next, taking the seat on the bench across from me as Elaine slid in next to him.
‘I’m right above you if you need me,’Liana said.
‘Thanks,’I told her.
“I’m going to give you a quick rundown of things, and I need you to give me fast answers or we will be doing this all day,” Elaine told me as the car took off.
I frowned. Straight to the point on three hours of sleep. That sounded like good ol’ Elaine. “Okay. Shoot.”
