Page 84 of Lies That Blemish
“Get ready!” I called out to everyone.
There was an exchange of fire in the air, and then two bodies sank from their creatures like stones. I squinted, relieved to see that it wasn’t Charlene or Colt.
“Fly fast now!” I told our group, and their creatures flapped their wings like mad. Much closer now, I was able to confirm that it was indeed their western base, and over two dozen soldiers with flying Talanagi were now rising on their creatures to meet us.
“I’ve got you!” Tetra said, and I could see a shimmery shield in front of us as Charlene and Colt were flying back to get into her protection. Once they were inside, it was mayhem. The soldiers threw wind, fire, and arrows at Tetra’s shield as we made our way towards their base. I knew we didn’t need to send the bomb directly over their base, but it would be nice.
Tetra’s shield wobbled. She’d warned us that she was still refining her gift and that she might, at some point, lose it. We were ready for that.
“Positions!” I cried.
We were almost directly over their base! The truth was, I wanted to blow their base sky high for what they did to my sisters.
Our fire throwers got in front of our group, and we all raised our bolt shooters.
“It’s going!” Tetra cried out just as her shield dropped.
The moment it was gone, we pummeled them with what fire and arrows and wind we could, blowing riders off of their creatures, and I peered down to see we were over their base.
“Now, Liana!” I cried in joy as she let go of the payload. I watched as it fell to the earth. Hundreds of soldiers scrambled like scattering ants, but they were too slow. The bomb exploded, taking out anyone in the vicinity on the ground. Everyone in our group whooped and hollered as the other Luskin soldiers left us to return to base and help. I thought I would feel a triumphant joy as I looked down on the carnage of a job well done—of Luskins killed. But instead, I felt numb inside. They killed us. We killed them. Back and forth until the end of time. Would this war ever end?
I sat back, dropping a little as Tetra leaned into my ear. “What’s wrong, Val? We did it!”
“We did what? We killed hundreds of people.”
Tetra’s face grew serious. “They have your sister. Doing stars-knows-what with her. We had to do this.”
I nodded. Maybe this time we did. But the others? The decades of war… did we have to do that? I felt sick the entire race home. All I could do was pray we’d given Kohen time to get in and get my sister unnoticed. I was ready for Aisling to be in charge, for her to be the one who was responsible for all the deaths. I wasn’t cut out for this, I realized. Leading people felt great, but killing them wasn’t something I wanted to do ever again. I knew it was very un-Everhart of me to say, but I was done with war and killing. I wanted peace.
Chapter 31
Aisling
It feltlike an out-of-body experience walking down the aisle with Maxim as the sun set on the horizon. I’d fought him again, and he’d taken full control of my body, even my tongue. I was gagged, cemented in whatever shape he wanted me. I walked with a military posture, jaw clenched shut as I screamed a guttural wail from my closed throat. The onlookers, about a hundred in all, watched in a mixture of mild fascination and horror as Maxim and I met the priest at the end of the aisle. I wore a stupid white Luskin dress, and I hated everything about this moment, but nothing as much as the stack of papers waiting for me at the end of the aisle.
As we reached the end, I peered down to see the wordsSurrender of Amersea to Luska, and I felt like I was going to throw up.
No, no, no. Not like this. This wasn’t even a peace treaty where we both agreed to stop fighting. This was me giving a madman ownership of my country.
I screamed louder, but because Maxim had frozen my tongue and jaw, it was just an animalistic, garbled wail. I wanted to trigger him. I wanted his people to see what a psycho he really was.
And it worked. Maxim’s hand snaked out and wrapped around my throat, pinching off all sounds along with airflow.
“Shutup. Let’s get this over with,” he growled.
The priest looked uncomfortable, but I peered around to see a few men in the front row wearing red Luskin soldier uniforms who were grinning. Everyone else appeared in shock at Maxim’s behavior.Good.
When he let go, I gasped for breath through my nostrils, my jaw still clamped shut.
Maxim looked at the priest. “I want this done in sixty seconds. Make it legal.”
The priest nodded fearfully. “We are gathered here to witness Aisling Everhart’s surrender of Amersea to Luska by her legal marriage to Maxim Vlek. Under Luskin law, when a woman marries a man, her possessions become his possessions.”
I snorted, and Maxim glared at me. Well,thatwas a convenient law. Everything made sense now! I knew now why Kohen had us marry first, other than being in love. It meant that this truly wasn’t a legal wedding. I felt a grin trying to tug at my lips.
“By signing this agreement, you enter into a lifelong marriage, and Aisling’s possessions, including her rulership, pass to Prime Leader Maxim.”
Everyone clapped loudly, but I could see their eyes bugging in shock; the clapping was too coordinated. He was forcing them.
