“She is not our prisoner,” Iria said. “We have control of the Lera capital because of her. All of this is because of her.”
“No kidding,” Cas muttered.
Iria ignored him. “If she wants to take Casimir as her prisoner, that’s her choice. She’s earned at least that.”
“I don’t take orders from Ruined,” Miguel said through clenched teeth.
“And they don’t take orders from you,” Iria said.
“I certainly don’t.” Aren emerged from the forest, dropping another armful of branches off for the fire. Miguel spun to face him, arrow still ready to launch.
Miguel’s legs flew out from under him suddenly, the arrow soaring to the sky as his butt hit the ground. Aren strode forward, kicking the bow out of Miguel’s grasp. He grabbed the warrior’s collar, leaning down to bring Miguel’s face in line with his own.
“Point that thing at me again and I’ll crack every one of your ribs in half and pull them out through your belly button.”
Miguel swallowed. Aren shoved him away and straightened. He grabbed the bow and held it out to Iria, some of the anger draining from his face when he looked at her.
“Maybe you should hold on to that.”
She took it with a nod. Aren spun on his heel, walking past Miguel and grabbing the sticks to start arranging them for the fire.
“Thanks,” Em said quietly to Iria.
One side of Iria’s mouth turned up. “Sure.” She glanced back at Cas. “It’s your choice. But if he kills you, I’ll never hear the end of it from those guys.”
“I’ll try to avoid it.”
“Good.” She took a step away, turning to face Em with a smile. “I’d be a little sad if you died.”
“Only a little, huh?”
Iria held up her thumb and pointer finger, leaving a small amount of space between them. “A tiny bit.”
Em laughed, turning back to Cas. The sound died in her throat as soon as she looked at his angry face. “Thank you for not killing me earlier.” She kept her voice low, only for him. “And please understand that if I die, no one else here will hesitate to kill you. I’m on your side.”
His lip curled, and he leaned closer to her. “You have never been on my side. You’re a liar, and a murderer. Maybe my father was right to exterminate every last one of you.”
She stood, clasping her hands behind her back to hide the fact that she was shaking. “He was right to kill my mother and slaughter almost everyone living in the castle? Even the staff? Children?” She cocked her head. “At least he’d be proud to see you’ve turned out the same.”
Em marched away from Cas, blinking away tears.
THIRTY
CAS TRUDGED BEHIND the horses, his hands bound together in front of him. His shoulder ached and burned, but he kept his expression neutral and walked in silence.
Emelina was next to him. Aren and the three male warriors were on the horses, and Iria walked beside them. She kept glancing back at him and Emelina.
He stole a quick look at Emelina. She wore the same dress she’d had on last time he saw her, but now it was smeared with dirt and grime and ripped in places. Her dark hair was pulled back, her expression grim. She’d cleaned his wound and spread some berol root on it without a word, and she’d barely acknowledged his presence since they’d started walking.
Guilt tore through his chest, and he hated her even more for making him feel it. The words had tumbled out of his mouth without him pausing to think about them—maybe my father was right to exterminate every last one of you—and Cas couldn’t stop replaying them in his head.
He hadn’t meant it. He knew, with absolute certainty, that his father had been wrong to kill the Ruined without cause. He’d killed them out of fear, and he’d died because of it. Even if Cas hated Emelina with every fiber of his being, he didn’t blame the entire Ruined species for her actions.
“What happened to the real Mary, Emelina?” he asked, breaking the silence.
“I killed her. When she was on her way to Lera.”
“You just killed her. Without provocation.”
“She killed my father and left his head on a stick for me to find. I wouldn’t say I wasn’t provoked.”
Cas swallowed, determined not to feel sorry for her. But he also didn’t feel particularly sorry he never had the chance to meet the real Mary.
“And it’s Em,” she said, quieter. “Most people call me Em.”
A flash of memory—I was educated at the castle with Em and Olivia—and Cas drew in a breath. “You knew Damian.”
“Yes. He was a friend.”
“And I let you argue to set him free. I’m such an idiot.”
“You’re not an idiot. You were kind to him. You don’t know what that meant to me.”
He didn’t know how to respond to that. He could have told her that he would do it again, because Ruined didn’t deserve to die simply for being magical, but he wasn’t in the mood to be nice to her. He kept his mouth shut.
“Do you have to walk so close to him?” Iria called over her shoulder. “It makes me nervous.”
“He’s not going to hurt me, Iria,” Em called, and Cas felt a surge of anger that she didn’t seem to think he was actually a threat to her.
Maybe because he’d squandered the opportunity to kill her. He could still see her face as he pointed his sword at her head. His blade had been locked in place, the terror at actually having to go through with murdering her making his stomach rise up into his throat. Even now, as he stared at the scratch on her neck where he’d nicked her, he felt a little sick.
He should have been able to kill her. He should have enjoyed it. She hadn’t just betrayed him, she’d made him care about her so thoroughly that he couldn’t even hate her properly. And now he was a hostage, injured and still at her mercy.
“I do want to apologize, Cas, for—” Em began.
“Don’t apologize to me,” he spat. “You’re not sorry. You manipulate people. You say and do what you think they want and then turn around and use it against them. Your apology means nothing to me.”
“Well, I’m apologizing anyway!” she yelled, making everyone turn around and stare at them.
He rolled his eyes. “I’m sorry if I doubt the sincerity of an apology screamed at me.”
“I tried being nice. That just seemed to make you more angry.”
“When were you being nice? Was it somewhere between you taking me hostage and yelling at me?”
“I saved your life.”
He snorted. “Your bar for nice is awfully low.”
“I don’t—”
“Would you two be quiet?” Iria interrupted. “The entire jungle can hear you.”
Em shut her mouth, casting an angry look in Cas’s direction.
“I don’t accept the apology,” he whispered.
She took in a breath, like she was preparing to really let him have it. Then her body deflated, the last wisps of anger leaving her face as she shrugged.
“I understand. But I am sorry, Cas.”
He didn’t want her to understand. He didn’t want her to act all quiet and contrite. He wanted to see her being haughty and unashamed. He wanted her to laugh in his face and tell him he was stupid. He wanted to scream at her, to shake her and tell her he would never forgive her. But the traces of her last words—I am sorry, Cas—lingered in the air, and he couldn’t bring himself to say anything at all.
“Should we tie up his legs?”
Em looked over at the sound of Iria’s voice and shook her head. “No, I think he’s fine.”
Cas glared at Iria. They’d stopped not long after the sun set, and he’d collapsed against a tree without a word. Em suspected he was far too tired to run.
Em sat down on the ground near him, watching as Miguel leaned over and muttered something to Francisco. It was dark, but the moonlight cast a glow over their faces, and they both seemed to be very pointedly avoiding her.
Koldo stopped in front of her, offerin
g some dried meat. She took two pieces and passed one to Cas.
“Thanks, Koldo,” she said, smiling at him.
He mumbled, “You’re welcome,” without meeting her eyes, pink spots appearing on his cheeks.
She tore off a hunk of meat with her teeth and watched as Koldo handed a piece to Iria. None of the men had talked to Iria much since she’d defended Em, but Koldo looked visibly uncomfortable just being near her. Iria stretched her legs out in front of her, apparently oblivious.
“I’m going to see if I can find some bananas,” Aren said.
“No,” Em said quickly, hopping to her feet. “I’ll do it. Will you stay here and watch him?” She gestured at Cas.
Aren’s head tilted, like he knew something was wrong. She touched his arm as she passed him.
“They’re planning something,” she murmured. “I’ll stay close by. Let them think I’ve left you and Cas alone.”
He barely nodded, and she let her hand drop from his arm as she walked away. She walked into the thick trees, making noisy footsteps as she jogged into the darkness. Then she stopped, silently doubling back.
She ducked under a vine, crouching behind a bush. Francisco, Koldo, and Iria were exactly where she’d left them. Miguel was gone.
She slowly removed her sword from her belt, casting a quick glance around her.
A cricket jumped across the ground in front of her, and she watched as it disappeared into the darkness. Rustling noises and chirps echoed from the jungle, making it difficult to hear if someone was nearby.
She waited several minutes, barely breathing. Finally, Miguel emerged from the trees behind Aren, making a slow and silent approach. A piece of cloth dangled from his hands. Probably for Aren’s eyes. If they blindfolded him, he wouldn’t be able to use his Ruined magic, and she and Cas were screwed.
Francisco had moved in front of Iria, standing over her and blocking her view of Aren. Em watched as Miguel took another step toward Aren.
“Aren, behind you!” she yelled.
Aren sprang to his feet and whirled around. Miguel’s arm swung straight up, the blindfold fluttering to the ground. The arm twisted backward with a horrible crunch.
Miguel’s scream echoed through the trees as Em darted out of the bushes. Cas scrambled to his feet, stumbling as his bound wrists threw him off balance. Francisco rushed at him, sword drawn. Cas barely jumped out of the way in time.
Francisco lifted his sword again, and Em ducked beneath it, planting herself between him and Cas. The warrior’s blade crashed against hers, and she quickly blocked his next attack.
Miguel’s screams made Francisco glance away for half a second, and Em lunged. She drove her sword into his side, aiming to wound, not kill. If she was ever going to make peace with the warriors, it was best not to leave them dead.
She grabbed Cas by the ropes around his wrists and sliced her blade through them.
“Aren! Sword!” she yelled, holding her hand out.
He turned away from Miguel, tossing her Cas’s stolen sword. She caught it and thrust it into Cas’s hand.
“The horses,” she said, jerking her head in their direction.
Cas’s eyes widened at something behind her. He slammed his hands down on her shoulders so hard she crumpled to the ground. He leaned back as Koldo’s blade sailed over Em’s head.
Em kicked Koldo’s knee, and the warrior went down with a yelp. “Go!” she yelled at Cas.
He ran past Iria. She stood a few paces away, her mouth in an O as she surveyed the scene.
Koldo scrambled across the dirt, his hand reaching for Em’s ankle. His wrist cracked suddenly, the back of his hand hitting the top of his wrist. He howled, cradling the arm against his stomach. Aren was slumped against a tree, his chest heaving up and down.
She took off after Cas. A body slammed into hers and she hit the dirt, hard. Two hands pinned her to the ground.
“Punch me,” Iria said in her ear. “Make it look good.”
Iria loosened her grip and Em wriggled free, springing to her feet. She whirled around and swung her fist, connecting with Iria’s jaw. The warrior hit the ground with a grunt.
Em winced and gave Iria an apologetic look before turning back to Cas. He’d just freed the second horse. Koldo sprinted toward them, and she took off running, grabbing the reins of the horse. Cas moved toward the third horse, but she shook her head.
“Leave it!” she yelled.
He jumped on the horse. Em mounted the other horse, aiming her boot straight for Koldo’s face as he tried to pull her off. He stumbled backward, landing on his butt as she rode past.
Aren still stood by the tree, and he reached his hand out as Em’s horse galloped his way. She grabbed his arm and pulled him up. His body was limp from the exhaustion of using his magic, and he slumped against her back as soon as he was on the horse. She kicked at the side of the horse and they took off at a gallop, leaving the warriors in the dust.
THIRTY-ONE
CAS COULD HAVE easily left Em and Aren behind as they rode away from the warriors, and he considered it as he stared into the black jungle. Em’s horse carried two people, and was far slower than his as a result.
Em slid off her horse, leaving Aren hunched over on the saddle by himself. He looked like he might be asleep. She walked to Cas, holding out her canteen. He took a small sip and handed it back.
He didn’t have a canteen, or any idea where he was going in the dark. Once the sun rose he could figure out which way was south, but he’d lost track of their position after being captured. He had a sword now, at least, but what chance did he really have by himself? If he’d come across Iria and the other warriors alone, he’d be dead.
He squinted at Em as she put the cap back on the canteen. Was this all part of the plan? Was she pretending to save him in order to use him further? Did she really want to take him prisoner and trade him for Olivia?
The dark jungle suddenly seemed like a better idea than staying with her. He must be at least halfway to the Southern Mountains. He could make the rest of the trip by himself.
“I won’t blame you if you take off.” She turned around and walked back to her horse. “We should be to Gallego City by morning. If you want to ride with us until then, I promise you’ll be safe.”
Gallego City meant Lera soldiers. It meant finding out if his mother and Jovita were alive, and having a guard to protect him. He hadn’t even realized they were close to Gallego.
“I’ll ride with you,” he said, and almost added the words “thank you,” but they died in his throat.
Em nodded, and it was the last time she looked at him that night. They rode in silence, her and Aren in front, and he found himself drowning in the frenzied sounds of the jungle, wishing one of them would speak. Now that he was temporarily out of danger the weight of the last few days felt like it might crush him. The images from his final moments in the castle played over and over in his head, until his chest was so tight he thought he might never take an easy breath again.
When the sun finally started to rise, he almost cried with happiness. His body was stiff and sore from a night on the back of a horse, but he sat up straighter, taking in the bright-green leaves around him, the colorful bird perched on a tree not far away.
Aren had apparently regained his strength, because he slid off the horse and walked alongside Em. She glanced over her shoulder at Cas.
“We’re close,” she said.
He craned his neck. “How can you tell?” he asked, his curiosity overruling his desire not to appear stupid.
“The area is well traveled.”
He glanced around, baffled. It was exactly the same jungle he’d been in the past three days. “What makes you think that?”
“Footprints, broken branches, crushed leaves, trash. When you’re being hunted every day of your life, you learn how to look for signs of other people.”
He stared right back at her, refusing to show an ounce of sympathy. Because of her, he was the one being hunted now
. She didn’t deserve any sympathy.
She turned back around, and Cas ignored Aren’s withering stare. After seeing what he could do last night, Cas thought it best to leave Aren alone.
They rode for several more minutes, until Em stopped and slid off her horse. Cas did the same, shaking out his aching legs as soon as his feet hit the ground.
“There’s a chance the warriors have taken the city,” she said. “It’s best to go by foot, to make sure. We won’t want to be spotted.”
“We?” Aren exclaimed. “No. He can go by himself.”
“I’d like to know if the city is still under Lera control,” she replied. “Will you stay here with the horses?”
Aren looked from Cas to Em and back again. He pointed a finger at Cas’s face. “If you hurt her, I will break every bone in your body.”
Cas’s fingers itched for his sword, even though he knew it would be useless against a Ruined as powerful as Aren. He crossed his arms over his chest instead. “She’ll be fine,” he said through gritted teeth.
“Come on,” she said, jerking her head for Cas to follow her.
They walked until the signs of people became so obvious even Cas could spot them. The trees were thinner, a distinct dirt path free of leaves and debris winding out of the jungle. He’d only been to the city named after his ancestors once, a few years ago, and he was embarrassed to admit that he didn’t even remember what route he and his parents had taken to get there. They had gone by carriage instead of taking a boat down the shore, but he hadn’t paid attention to the path the guards carved out for them.
Em’s hand hovered over her sword, though she didn’t seem aware she was doing it. It stayed there as they walked, poised to pull the blade out at a moment’s notice. He tried doing the same, but found that his mind wandered and he’d push a hand through his hair or cross his arms over his chest. If anyone snuck up on them, Em would have her sword immediately and he’d be stuck fumbling around for his.
She moved smoothly through the jungle, even in her dress. Her boots barely made a sound against the ground, and he noticed her stepping around twigs and leaves he wouldn’t have thought twice about stepping on. He followed her example, putting his boots in her smaller footprints.