Page 35 of Lies That Bind
“Kohen Badshah,” I warned. He’d seen something. Some vision related to my power?
“You don’t always have this power, Aisling,” he said sadly, stroking my cheek.
Fear washed over me, fast and hot. “What do you mean? How?”
“I just know that you lose it, that there is a time you need it, and it doesn’t come to you—for a short time or forever, I have no idea.” He shrugged. “I wish I could fit all the puzzle pieces together, Aisling, I really do. But there are so many holes.” I could see the agony written on his face as he tried to recall things in his mind, and I nodded, appreciating that he was being honest and sharing.
“When I really need it and don’t have it… what happens to me?” I asked, suddenly fearful. This power felt like a curse, but not when it was saving my life.
His face became fierce. “Nothing you need to worry about because I will always protect you.”
My heart fluttered. Kohen’s loyalty and protectiveness and adoration was… overwhelming in the best way. I’d never sought safety from anyone, not even my father. I’d been taught to fend for myself, but with Kohen, I felt like I could lean on him and trust him to carry me through hard things.
He reached up and brushed his thumb over my bottom lip. “There’s so much I want to say, Aisling, but I can’t.”
I swallowed hard, tendrils of heat rushing down my body at his touch. I wanted to hear all of the things he wanted to tell me, but I also knew that him speaking about the future before had freaked me out. About us. I wanted to live it, not hear about it and wonder if he was guiding me into it.
“Do we ever fight? Or are we blissfully happy forever?” I smiled up at him.
A dark shadow crossed over his face, and he eyed the tree line behind me. “Come on, we should get going.” His hand slipped into mine and he pulled me forward, towards the Wall, but my mind was spinning. Why didn’t he answer me? And why did I care so much?
Oh Kohen. He might be my undoing.
Chapter
Eight
We finally made it to the Wall and then trudged through the river like we had in the Wilds right before we’d claimed Onyx and Liana. Kohen’s warm hand in mine felt so natural that I’d forgotten we were even holding hands until the moment we stepped up to the Amersea border. He pulled his fingers from mine and offered for me to climb the riverbank first.
“After you, Empress,” he said formally.
We were back in Amersea, back to hiding our relationship or whatever this was.
My mind raced with everything that had just happened. We blew up the Red Palace, Liana and Onyx left us, and then the red rider saw me use my power! Now Finn was gone. Oh stars, Kohen killed Finn just to keep my secret. I felt sick, like a delayed processing. The image of his burned skin was embedded into my mind and kept coming up when I thought of him.
Lieutenant Colt and Captain Jade were missing. This mission would be deemed a success in most eyes, but in mine, it had completely failed. I’d failed my people.
The second we stepped onto land, there was a rustle in the bushes to our right. I pulled my blade just as Jade stepped out, covered in mud and soaking wet.
“Empress.” She bowed.
There was a bleeding cut above her left eyelid, but other than that, she looked okay.
Relief surged through me. She made it.
Her gaze peered behind Kohen and I, and my heart sank, crushing the sudden relief I’d felt.
“Finn?” Her voice shook, but she kept her cool. I had a feeling Finn, Colt, and Jade were all very close. I wanted to crawl into a black pit and hide forever.
Kohen bowed his head and placed his fist over his chest. “Died at the hands of a Luskin. Saved our empress’ life.”
The lie felt dirty, and guilt threatened to eat me alive, but Jade smiled. “A hero’s death is all he ever wanted.”
My gaze flicked to Kohen to see if any remorse or guilt shone there, but he was a mask of calm.
Remember, everything I do, I do to protect you, he’d once said to me. It was true. A harsh truth I was now living.
Jade stepped up before me and bowed deeply. “Now that you are back safely, I would like permission to go after Colt.”
