Page 85 of Lies That Blemish
“Sign here.” The priest handed Maxim a pen.
He grinned and leaned forward, signing the document. Then he handed me the pen. I tried with everything I had to fight him,but my stupid traitorous arm snaked out and grasped the pen. In that moment, a wild hope came over me and I scanned the crowd and the fields behind them, praying Kohen would jump out and save me from this fate. But as my hand came down on the paper and I signed my name, my fate was sealed. Though this wedding might not be legal, it was happening whether I wanted it to or not.
The crowd clapped again.
“By the power I carry as a priest of the high church of Luska, I grant this marriage,” the priest said quickly. Then I was walking again, following Maxim out of there. The crowd stood, seeing us off, as Maxim and I walked over to the two generals wearing Luskin uniforms. “I have what I need now. Take Amersea.”
Take Amersea. Those words were like an arrow to the heart.
“Lord, we’ve lost Sergeant Whitney. We have no activated bombs.”
Maxim shoved the papers into one of the men’s chests until they caught it. “You have this. Bring me my bounty by morning, or you’re fired.”
Maxim then walked angrily away, and I scurried after him against my will. Take Amersea by morning? Stars, had my people had enough time to flee?
‘Liana, they’re attacking tonight. Make sure Riverine is empty.’
‘We just blew up their western base,’Liana said.‘Hold on.’
Surprise rushed through me at her words. She blew up their western base?
‘It’s too late. We’re married. I married Maxim and signed away all my rights to Amersea.’Whether it was truly legal or not, it was done. The papers were signed in front of a hundred people.
‘Did Kohen have a new vision? Did he see us both making it out of this alive?’I asked as hope began to beat in my heart.
‘Just hold on,’Liana said again, and my hopes were dashed.
If Kohen died trying to rescue me, I’d never forgive myself.
‘Liana, tell him not to come unless he’s sure!’I told her frantically as Maxim forced me back towards the house after him like the loyal little pet I was.
But Liana didn’t answer, and I knew then that my sweet, protective Kohen would risk his life for even a chance at saving me. If I had to mourn the love of my life and live as Maxim’s slave forever, then my heart would never recover.
Just as we were stepping up onto the back porch, a uniformed soldier came running toward us. “Prime Leader!” he called. There was a handheld radio in his palm, and he was wide-eyed. “Grigov Base has been hit, a direct hit by the Amerseans!”
Maxim froze, and my heart beat wildly.
“What?” he asked in a deadly calm, his gaze flicking to me.
“Sir, they had two dozen Talanagi. Dropped a large payload on the base. We’re still getting a body count. We think they are coming back with more. In retaliation for…” The soldier’s gaze fell to me.
Two dozen. Charlene and the new cadets pulled that off?Incredible.
Maxim released my facial muscles, and I grinned.
“Tell me what you know of this,” he commanded me.
For a wild second, I thought he actually had the power to force me to tell him the truth, but nothing came out of my mouth.
“Tell me!” he bellowed.
I stayed silent with a half-cocked smirk.
He turned back to the soldier. “Send all available troops west. Kill any Amerseans on sight.”
My gut clenched when he said that. Charlene and… Valor weren’t there, was she?
‘Liana, get everyone out of there. They are sending all troops your way,’I told her as Maxim grasped me by the back of my hair and the sky filled with flying Talanagi heading west.
