Page 27 of Lies That Blemish (The Ember War #3)

Aisling

My worst fear was 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 heirs made 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.’

The truth? My gut sank. ‘She told them what my father did?’

‘Yes. And they still follow her to safety.’

Relief settled over me. If I did die here, or worse, had to live in the situation forever, at least my people would follow Valor, and Kohen’s father was vindicated. It was good news.

‘I should go.’ I didn’t want Maxim to get upset, and I still had to read the letter Whitney had furiously scribbled. I drained the tub and dried off quickly.

‘Aisling, they are trying to find a way to rescue you both. Don’t give up hope.’

I tried to feel any level of excitement about that, but I couldn’t. I knew Kohen hadn’t seen any reality in which I was free from Maxim and alive.

‘Okay,’ I said and then paused before shutting down the bond . ‘Tell Kohen I love him and that if they can’t rescue us, it’s okay. Tell him to move on and just… be happy,’ I said as a tear fell down my cheek. I imagined Kohen married to Anika with children and no drama. That was probably what he needed.

‘Aisling—’

‘Goodbye, Liana.’ I shut down the bond.

“Almost done in there?” Maxim asked.

“Yeah, I just have to go to the bathroom,” I told him, and grabbed my dirty clothes, slipping them back on as I stepped into the smaller toilet room, shutting the door behind me and pulling out Whitney’s note. There was no time to dwell on my sadness about the future I might have had with Kohen. The second I read the first line, that all washed out of my head. The handwriting was shaky, but the words were powerful.

I’m taking my sister tonight. I’ve been planning our escape for weeks, but now that I’ve seen you and your sister, I will take her with me, too. I cannot bear to see an innocent child used as a pawn in a war game. I will kill Ricov, and we will all flee to Amersea and plead for sanctuary. I’m assuming since I have the heir of the empress, they will grant it. I wish I could do more for you, but with Maxim’s new power to control people, I cannot get close to him. I’m sorry. You’re on your own. May God bless you and keep you, and may you take comfort in knowing your sister will be safe.

- W

Tears rolled down my face onto the page and I nodded, smiling. The Luskins believed in one God, one being who looked down on everyone and guided them, and at this moment, it was a comforting idea to me. To know that my sister would be taken away from here was the only thing I could ever hope for.

A loud bang came at the door, and I jumped in alarm, crumpling up the note quickly and dropping it into the toilet, flushing it down.

“What are you doing in there?” Maxim’s voice was right outside the door, which meant he’d breached the other bathroom door. I’d been so caught up in reading the letter that I didn’t hear it. I made sure the note had flushed and then wiped my cheeks, opening the door and coming face to face with him.

“Relieving myself,” I said flatly.

He skeptically ran his gaze all over me before resting on my shirt. “Why didn’t you change?”

He was standing before me shirtless, in low-slung pajama pants. In another world, I’d say his body was fit and attractive, but I was so repulsed by the obvious evil in him I felt sick just looking at him.

“I feel more comfortable in my clothes.”

He rolled his eyes, and I felt his power—my power—slide over me. One second, I was standing with my arms at my side, and the next, I was pulling my t-shirt over my head and standing before him in my bra. “You bastard,” I spat as he made me reach for the button of my pants.

He grinned. “You should have worn the clothes I so graciously had made for you.”

I unzipped my pants and watched as he let his gaze linger over my underwear while I dropped my trousers to the floor.

I felt a wild rage rise up inside of me. Smoke began to simmer off the skin on my arms.

“Stop it,” he growled, and I pushed against his command. I was standing in my bra and underwear against my will, and all I could think about was ripping his head from his body.

The smoke didn’t stop, and Maxim’s eyes widened. “Stop!” He lashed out, and I felt the power like a physical slap. The smoke fell away, leaving me breathless, and Maxim gave me his back. “Get dressed and come to bed. Tomorrow, we wed, and I become ruler of Amersea.”

My stomach tied into knots. Based on Whitney’s letter, it was probably best to keep Maxim calm, and in this room. If she had some big plan to escape tonight, the best thing I could do was make sure Maxim was asleep.

“Okay,” I said quietly, and then picked up the pajamas and put them on. I walked out of the bedroom to find him watching me in a way that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

I spied a couch against the far wall and began walking toward it. “I’ll sleep there,” I said, but my legs glued to the hardwood floor halfway there.

“You’ll sleep with me in the bed,” he commanded. My body turned against my will, and I began to walk towards the bed. I stared at him, trying to stifle my panic.

“I’d rather not. I’m old-fashioned,” I lied.

His gaze narrowed as if he didn’t believe me. “You’ve deprived me of my sister, which means I need an heir as soon as possible. I’ve changed my mind about waiting. I don’t see the harm in trying now.” He again looked at my body in a way that caused me to panic, my mind struggling to find a reason to wait. I needed to keep everything calm so that Whitney could get away with Victory.

“Maxim?” I said his name in a sweet tone.

His gaze snapped up to my face with curiosity.

“I’ve come to terms with my new life here. As your wife. But I’d like to keep some of my culture and way of doing things. It would mean a lot to me if we could wait to share this bed until we were officially married. Please?” I put some extra syrupy-sweet inflection in my tone.

He said nothing. He just stared at me for an agonizingly long moment until, finally, he waved me off. “Fine. Sleep on the couch. I’m tired anyway.” And with that, my legs were unglued, and I hurried to the couch and yanked the blanket off, throwing it over myself and giving him my back.

I’d bought myself one night. Tomorrow, I wouldn’t be so lucky.