Page 15 of Lies That Blemish
I hated that I was doing this—that I had to. No one wanted to suspect their own father of hurting them. I felt sick to my stomach even thinking about it. He was strict, harsh even, but he would never plot to kill me.
Right?
I expected Liana to burst her way into my head then and tell me how she was glad I was finally looking into Kohen’s claims about my father, but she was silent.
‘I take no pleasure in your pain, young one,’she said then, and my heart fissured. I’d been so hard on her for the past two months, constantly at odds and fighting against her advice.
‘I’m sorry. Kohen broke my ability to fully trust anymore,’I told her honestly.
‘And he will have to answer for that. But he might also be right.’
I was not prepared for that. No way in any of the sixty days since Kohen admitted to killing my father and accusing him of a plot to kill me, did I think he could have been right.
I couldn’t even comprehend it, so I sat back in the dark car and let the numbness seep in.
Chapter 7
Valor
My watch beeped,and I pulled out another green flare. Tej reached out and stayed my hand. “I know you don’t want your sister to worry about you, but you’re telling her where we are going.”
I frowned. “So?”
Tej pointed to the map. “If she figures out you’re hunting Talanagi, she might come in and stop all of this.”
“Did your brother tell you that?” I asked.
“No, but it’s common sense. Your sister and my brother went where we’re going. If you keep sending flares so far north, she might figure it out—not to mention Luska might notice.”
With a groan, I stuck the green flare back into my pack. I was going out on a serious limb of trust here. “How do I know you’re not just here to take out the empress’ heir?” I asked Tej.
Arjun peered over his shoulder at me. “We could have done that by now. Besides, we’re heirs too.”
Technically, yes. I had heard that Kohen had officially been reinstated as king by his people. That would make them princes.
“I’m the heir. He’s the spare.” Tej elbowed Arjun, who scowled at him.
“Shut up!” he told his older brother.
Stars, they fought like cats and dogs, and they seemed so normal! If they were here to kill me, they were doing a poor job of it. They clearly weren’t professional assassins. And why would Kohen send his heirs into harm’s way? It didn’t make sense.
A chuff to my right, I froze, the hairs on my neck standing straight up.
We all spun just as a gorgeous and deadly lioness padded out of the woods, eyes on me. Her fur was cream, and her ember marks glowed bright yellowish orange, like fire.
Tej quickly stepped in front of me, pulling his blade. “That’s not who you bond,” he declared.
I shoved him out of the way, locking eyes with the magnificent creature. There was so much intelligence in her gaze. “I may never have another chance for a strong bond. She’s good enough,” I said.
The lioness roared, and Arjun hooked his hand under my armpit and dragged me away. “Come on. Kohen said not to let you challenge anything other than the small red dragon.”
I dug in my heels, but the bastard was strong, dragging me backward by the arm.
Tej was locked in a gaze with the lioness, speaking to her in low tones as if she could understand. Maybe she could.
“She was beautiful,” I whimpered. It wasn’t a Talanagi, but it was the next best thing.
“She’s not for you,” Arjun said as we followed the path around the corner and out of sight of the lion. She didn’t pursue me. When a creature wanted to bond, they pursued you at all costs.
