Page 53 of Lies That Blemish
By the timeI got home in the late morning, the girls and Elaine had already left to head back to Sky Reach.
“You just missed them,” Tetra told me as she stroked Ariyel’s fur. They were both curled on the couch. “I told them you were checking in at the Wilds.”
Dang. I hadn’t meant to be gone so long. “I’ll see them tonight. And Iwaschecking in at the Wilds,” I told her.
She grinned devilishly. “You look different.”
I smiled, trying not to. “What are you talking about? No, I don’t.”
I couldn’t stop smiling.
“Aisling Everhart, you’re madly in love. Tell me everything. What did Kohen say?”
If I couldn’t trust my best friend, who could I trust? I sat down next to her.
Pulling out my necklace, I slid the ring off and slipped it onto my ring finger.
She gasped. “You’re engaged to Kohen! You went to apologize for your dad pinning a terrorist attack on his father and killing him… and you got engaged?”
I shook my head, and her face fell in confusion.
“I kind of actually married him?”
“WHAT!” she shrieked, and I laughed.
“It was like a spur-of-the-moment thing. But it feels so right.”
“Aisling, that issounlike you. I’m loving this rebellious empress.” She pulled the ring closer and looked at it. “It’s beautiful.”
“It was his mother’s,” I told her. “We had the best night. He had a priest waiting there, and it was… perfect. Just us two.”
Tetra pouted. “I mean, I’m kinda mad you didn’t wait for me. Can we have a big party to celebrate or something?”
My face fell. “I don’t know when we can actually tell people about this, Tetra. Amersea thinks Kohen’s dad caused the Great Blackout and that he killed my father. I can’t tell them I’ve married him.”
“Then tell them your dad did it and clear the Badshah name and all of the hate against Imbrians.”
Her plea tore at my heart. “Then they will think I come from bad stock, and the Everhart name will be tarnished.” But even as I said it, I felt selfish.
Tetra frowned. “Well, you at least have to tell the admirals. You can’t let them go on thinking Imbria is our enemy, or that Kohen is. Not if you love him, you won’t.”
Her last sentence stung as if she was judging me for not calling an emergency meeting right now to clear Kohen’s name with the higher military officials.
“Okay, you’re right. I will. Geeze,” I told her, shame coloring my cheeks.
“Sorry, I just… feel bad that this entire time we’ve judged Imbria for something they never did.”
I did, too. I actually felt sick about it if I focused on it too long. “You’re right, though. I shouldn’t care about my family name more than I should care about the truth.”
She pulled me into a side hug. “This is hard stuff. Be gentle with yourself.”
I nodded. Tetra was the best. So understanding and supportive. Even if I was scared of the outcome, I had to do what was right.
“Did you have sex?” she asked casually, and I pulled away from her, laughing.
“What? You’re married. You totally had sex! What’s it like? Was it good? Did it hurt?” Her rapid-fire questions caused mycheeks to go hot. I really needed to call a meeting with the admirals, but ten more minutes with my bestie wouldn’t matter, right?
Tetra’s face fell then as if she’d just realized something.
