Page 72 of Lies That Blemish
I shook my head. “You fought as best you could. We all did. Are you okay?”
She let out a shuddering breath. “I need… to rest. But I will be.”
“I’ll take you inside.” Meera, the small and unassuming Imbrian girl, walked up and hooked arms with Elaine.
Where was Aisling?
Elaine reached out, caressing the side of my face and then Virtue’s, and nodded. “I’m so sorry.”
She’d lost Vespa. Victory. Our driver, Verik. I couldn’t imagine how she felt.
“It’s okay,” I told her.
“Valor Everhart.” Kohen’s voice was formal behind me.
I turned, wondering why he was acting like that. He was wearing a cold mask of steel as he handed me a letter.
“Your sister went after Victory. I gave her my solemn vow that I would not let you be harmed. Read this letter, then we need to evacuate your people. I will stay with you the entire time to make sure you are safe.”
My eyebrows nearly hit my hairline.
Whatdid he just say?
Evacuate my people?Why?
Kohen walked away then, and Tej ran after him.
“What do we do?” he asked his brother.
Kohen straddled Onyx. “Prepare for hundreds of thousands of refugees. Tell the adjoining cities and villages. Anddon’tcross that border into Amersea. Promise me.”
“But—”
“Promise me!” Kohen snapped.
Tej promised, and I looked down at the letter. I was too much in shock to argue or say anything.
When I opened it and read it, my heart fell into my stomach.
Valor,
There is nothing I wouldn’t do to keep you girls safe. So please forgive me now for having to marry Maxim to keep Virtue safe.
I stopped reading for a moment.Marry Maxim!
You will beinterim empress while I’m gone. I’m sorry you are having to take this on so young, but Luska has threatened to bomb Riverine. You need to order a mass evacuation. Trust Kohen and the Imbrians. Father lied about the Great Blackout. It wasn’t Imbria. It was him. Stay strong and take care of Virtue. I love you.
Aisling
.
It wasn’t Imbria. It was him.
It was him.
I staggered backward, handing Virtue the letter.
Father was the one who killed thousands of our people?No. He was mean, but he wasn’t evil. Right?
