Page 79 of Lies That Blemish
My heart broke then. For the first time in my young life, I couldn’t wait to one day fall in love—to have a man love me so much that they might be so affected by my smell.
“Got it,” I said. My sister was super private, so she hadn’t really told us about Kohen. When he’d said they married in secret earlier, my heart nearly stopped! But seeing him today, flying around with me and doing whatever needed to be done for the people of Amersea, I could see that his affection for my sister was genuine.
“Any more visions with the new plan?” I asked him hopefully.
He frowned. “No. Nothing.”
I nodded. “Good.”
He chuckled. “Good?”
“Yeah. It means you haven’t had a vision saying we would fail. I’ll take those odds. We’re getting my sisters back,” I declared.
He grinned, and it made him look so much hotter than his normal, grumpy, stoic face. I could see what my sister saw in him, and it made me think of Arjun. They looked so much alike.
“You’re just like Aisling.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I told him.
He nodded seriously. “You should. Goodnight, Valor.” He plopped onto the couch and sighed.
“Good night, Kohen.” I walked back to my room and face-planted on the bed, passing out in seconds with my boots on. My last thought was that this must really be what it feels like to be empress: complete and total exhaustion.
Chapter 27
Aisling
My worst fearwas realized when, after dinner, Maxim showed me to “our” room.
“But we’re not married yet,” I told him, searching for any way to head this off. The only saving grace was that Ricov had retired to another room with Whitney, and I was alone with my thoughts. They seemed to be keeping us in pairs.
Maxim unbuttoned his shirt, rolling his eyes. “I care not for propriety or your honor, but if you want to wait one more night before we begin to make heirs, it makes no difference to me.”
Begin to make heirsmade bile rise up in my throat. His pants came off next, and I turned, giving him my back. I didn’t like how casual he was being. This wasn’t how it was done. My heart hammered in my chest as I fought for a reason to get alone and read the note Whitney had shoved in my pocket. I suspected Maxim had to stay in close proximity to me in order to use my power; that’s why we were sharing a room. He’d posted two guards at the door and two at the window and made sure I knew it. There was no leaving this room.
“Can I have some private time in the bathroom?” I asked him.
“That’s fine, but remember, I can control everything you do. So be a good girl,” he taunted.
I nodded, walking across the room and slipping into the bathroom. I shut the door behind me and glanced down at the folded women’s pajamas that some maid had left for me. I didn’t want to get into them. I didn’t want to wear anything from him. I missed Kohen and Elaine and home.
I got undressed and ran the bath water quickly, splashing my face and soaping my body, skipping washing my hair. Then, I quickly opened my bond to Liana.
‘I can talk, but only for a minute,’I told her.
‘Are you safe? I’ve been so worried.’
‘I am, but Maxim is worse than we thought. He can take anyone’s power from within his physical proximity. He controls me with my own power, and his right-hand man can read thoughts, which is why I can’t contact you outside of right now.’
‘He has no soul,’Liana agreed.‘But you will be happy to know that Elaine lives. She’s safe with your sisters.’
I nearly broke down right then and there at that news.‘And my people? Maxim wasn’t bluffing about this weapon. I saw it make a crater in the forest… It blew me off my feet. He’ll come for Riverine if I don’t hand it over.’
‘Your people have decided to trust Valor. They have been evacuating all day and will continue into the night.’
Valor? I thought Kohen and the admirals would have been heading up the evacuations.
‘Valor has shown great responsibility and leadership. She told the people the truth, and they have seen a new generation in her—in you and all your sisters.’
