He swallowed, moaning as he shifted against something warm and solid. He was leaning against someone.
“Here,” a voice said. A cup appeared in front of him. “Drink.”
He frowned at the cup suspiciously.
“It’s just water.”
The voice sounded like Em’s. Was he dreaming again? Her voice kept floating in and out of his dreams. It was so vivid he’d swear she was next to him.
He took the cup with a shaky hand and tipped some water into his mouth. Someone took the cup away when he was finished. He turned, tilting his head up to see whose body he was snuggled up against.
Em.
He reeled back, blinking several times. He was definitely still dreaming. Or he’d died. Was this what waited for him after death? Waking up in Em’s arms?
She smiled. “Hi.”
“What are you …” His voice sounded strange.
“Galo and your friends were bringing you through Vallos to get you away from Jovita. Happened to run into me.”
“What are you doing in Vallos?” He was still half sure he was hallucinating.
“Retaliating. It’s a long story.”
A wave of dizziness crashed over him and he let his head sink into her chest.
“Am I dying?” he mumbled.
She ran her fingers through his hair. “Absolutely not. I gave you something to help neutralize the poison. It was a rough day, but you’re doing much better.”
“How long have I been here?”
“Since this morning. The sun just set.”
“Are Galo and Mateo all right? And Violet?”
“They’re fine.” She had one arm around his waist, and he found her hand, lacing their fingers together and pulling her arm in tighter.
“I can’t believe you’re here,” he mumbled. “You’re here and I’m too sick to enjoy it. And I smell.”
Her chest shook with laughter. “You smell wonderful.”
“No I don’t.”
“No, you don’t.” Her lips brushed across his forehead. “But I don’t care. And I don’t smell so great myself. I’ve been traveling for days. So we’re even.”
“How considerate,” Cas said. His body wanted to whisk him back to sleep, but he forced his eyes open. He didn’t want to leave Em yet. “Jovita poisoned me.”
“I heard.” Her voice had turned to ice.
“My cousin tried to kill me. She convinced everyone I was insane and pretty much took the throne. Now that I’m gone she’s probably officially taken it.”
“She’ll pay for it.”
“What kind of king lets his cousin steal the throne right out from under him?”
“The kind who would never dream of doing that to his cousin.”
“The weak kind.”
“Her reign will be short,” Em said.
His eyelids fluttered shut again. He tried to open them and only half succeeded.
“Sleep,” Em said in his ear. “You need the rest. I’ll still be here when you wake up.”
He squeezed her hand tighter. He let his head sink into her chest and gave in to sleep.
Aren tapped his fingers on the table, his gaze fixed firmly on Galo. The guard caught him staring for the hundredth time and made an annoyed sound.
“Would you stop staring?”
“Can’t help it,” Aren said. “I don’t trust you.”
“The feeling’s mutual.”
“Em ordered that none of you were to be harmed. We’ll obey.”
Galo and Mateo didn’t seem convinced.
“So.” Aren leaned forward, propping his chin up on his hand. “Did Cas make you the captain of his guard?”
“Yes,” Galo said.
“Not doing such a great job there, friend. He’s been stabbed, captured, and poisoned recently. I think he might want to consider a change of staff.”
Galo’s jaw twitched. “Whose fault is that?”
Aren pointed a finger at himself, pretending to be baffled. “Me?”
“I knew there was something weird about you from the moment you stepped foot in the castle.”
“Yet you never figured it out,” Aren said smugly. Galo looked like he was considering the best way to murder him.
Across the room, Violet stirred on the couch. She rubbed a hand across her eyes and sat up, blinking at the dark windows. “Was I asleep a long time?”
“A couple of hours,” Galo said.
“Is Emelina still up there with him?”
“Yes,” Aren said.
“She’s been up there all day. Should I offer to take over again?”
“Don’t bother,” Aren said. “She’s not leaving his side.”
Violet stood and walked to them, sliding into the chair next to Galo. She was trying not to stare at the burns on Aren’s arms and failing. Aren knew the expression well. He placed his palms flat on the table so she could get a good look.
“She actually cares for him?” Violet asked, her tone full of surprise.
“She’s not up there saving his life because she hates him,” Aren said dryly.
“Yes, she cares about him,” Galo said. “And the feeling’s mutual.”
“He’s more forgiving than I would be,” Mateo muttered.
Aren glared at him. “And she’s more forgiving than I would be.”
“What does Cas have to be sorry for?” Mateo asked.
“Sitting back and letting his people murder us? His father killing her mother? Kidnapping her sister and experimenting on her for a year?”
“Cas did none of that himself,” Violet said.
“Staying silent in the face of horrible atrocities is just as bad as actually committing them,” Aren said.
“I don’t know if I agree with that,” Mateo said.
Aren opened his mouth to shoot out a reply, but Galo got there first. “Cas would agree with you,” he said to Aren.
“Really.”
“Yes.” He didn’t elaborate.
“Have you checked on him recently?” Violet asked after a brief silence. “Is he doing all right?”
“I went up not long ago. Em said he woke up for a few minutes and was actually lucid.”
“Good.” Violet pushed her chair back. “Can I sleep on that sofa tonight?” She looked at Aren.
“Do you mean will I rip off a few of your limbs while you sleep? Probably not. Give it a shot and see what happens.”
“Aren.” Violet said his name almost wearily. He hadn’t realized she’d learned it. “I’m exhausted and I’ve spent the last few days taking care of our sick king and sneaking him out of a heavily guarded fortress. Can I sleep on that couch or not?”
He recognized her exhaustion. The kind that came with being on the run and losing everything.
“You can sleep there,” he said quietly.
“Thanks.” She shuffled back to it and plopped down.
Aren motioned to the stairs. “You guys go up and take the second bedroom. I’ll be down here all night. No one’s getting to Cas with Em around.”
He’d thought the guards would put up a fight, but Galo stood and extended his hand to Mateo. “Feel free to wake me if Cas needs anything,” he said.
“I will.”
Their footsteps disappeared upstairs, followed by the quiet sound of a door closing. Aren sat back in his chair, running a hand down his face.
“She’s your queen now? Emelina?” Violet asked. She was stretched out on the couch, her face turned to him. She’d tucked her hands beneath her face.
“She’s one of them,” he said.
Aren watched as Violet curled her legs into her chest. He’d started a fire, but the room was still chilly.
He let out a long sigh as he got to his feet. He grabbed a blanket off a chair and tossed it over her. She stirred, pulling it up to her chin.
“Thank you.”
“Sure. I was … uh, I was being a jerk earlier. I wouldn’t actually hurt you.”
“I appreciate that.”
He turned to find Iria standing in front of the open door, an odd expression on her face. She tilted her head, looking from Violet to Aren.
“No warriors,” he said, striding to the door. “Sorry. Em was clear. No warriors in the house.”
“I came to see if you needed anything.”
“We’re fine.”
She lifted her chin to look into his eyes. She always did that. She stared into his eyes with such intensity it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand straight up.
He wished she would stop. It was easy to ignore how pretty Iria was when she was across the room or surrounded by warriors. But when she stood in front of him and stared at him like that he lost control of his senses.
He rubbed the back of his neck and turned his attention to the floor. “Is there something else?” The question came out harsher than he’d intended.
She took a step back. “Sorry. No. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He shut the door behind her, turning at the sound of Violet’s laughter. “What?”
“You really are a jerk.” She rolled over so she was facing away from him. “Some girls like that, I guess.”
FIFTEEN
EM OPENED HER eyes to find Cas smiling at her.
She drew in a quick breath, bracing her hand against the mattress as she sat up. Sunlight streamed in through the window, and voices drifted in from downstairs.
“How are you feeling?” she asked.
“Terrible.” He smiled as he said it. “But better.”
She pressed her hand to his forehead. No fever. It had broken late last night, and he had fallen into a deep sleep. She’d dozed off with her palm against his chest, to make sure it didn’t stop moving.
Cas caught her hand as she pulled it away and brushed his lips across it. He tucked it close to his body. “Where am I?”
“Vallos. Half a day’s ride south of the fortress. A small town called Sacred Rock.”
“Why are you in Vallos? What happened to going back to Ruina?”
She tucked her legs beneath her and told him what Jovita had done. How they’d begun building a new life in Ruina when she attacked. She told him about August, and the warriors outside.
She left out the part about August wanting to marry her.
“I’m sorry, Em,” he said softly when she was finished. “I tried to stop her. I tried to convince people that the Ruined would leave us alone if we stopped killing them.”
“I know. And we were. I’d ordered everyone to stay in Ruina.”
He cocked his head. “You ordered?”
“Oh. Yes. I’m, um, the queen, actually. One of them. Olivia suggested forming a diarchy.”
Cas’s lips slowly turned up. “Very impressive, Your Majesty.”
She nudged his leg with her foot. “Stop it.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” He laughed when she wrinkled her nose at him. “You can call me ‘Former Majesty.’ Has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?”
Em’s smile faded. “You’re still the king, Cas. You just need to show Jovita you can’t be beaten.”
“What do you think the warriors outside would have to say about that?”
She had no reply, because he was absolutely right. The warriors had no interest in returning Lera to Cas. Just persuading the warriors not to kill him had taken some doing.
“I think I’d like a bath,” Cas said. “Is that possible?”
“Sure.” She slid off the bed. “I doubt you’re strong enough to do it yourself, though.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Was that an offer to help?”
Her face warmed. “That was an offer to get Galo.”
He sat up slowly, bracing his hands against the mattress. “Yes. Please. I will definitely need the help.”
“I’ll get him.” She walked to the door.
“Em.”
She turned. Cas’s face had grown serious.
“Am I safe here?” he asked. “Should we be worried about the Vallos army attacking? I can’t imagine they’ve forgiven you for killing their princess.”
“We should definitely be worried about the Vallos army attacking. But I have Ruined and warriors on watch. This is probably the safest place for you right now.”
“Thank you, Em.”
“Of course.”
“Come back later?”
“Absolutely.” She pulled the door open and walked into the hallway. The voices downstairs stopped as she descended, all heads turning to her. Aren sat at the kitchen table alone. Mateo, Galo, and Violet were in the living area.
Galo jumped to his feet. “Is he all right?”
“Much better. He wants a bath. Can you go, Galo?”
“Of course,” he said. “Mateo, can you get us some water?”
The guard nodded, grabbing a bucket from the kitchen before hurrying out of the house. Galo jogged up the stairs.
Em looked at Violet. The girl was about the same age as her, perhaps a couple years older. She’d gathered her dark hair into a loose bun, soft tendrils framing her pretty face.
“Violet, right? Are you guard or staff?”
Violet stood, crossing the room to stand in front of Em. “Neither. I’m the governor of the southern province of Lera. Recently.”
“Recently as in after the warriors attacked the castle?”
“Yes.” Tears filled her eyes and she quickly blinked them away.
“You and Cas knew each other before?”
“No. We met for the first time in the wagon. The one the warriors put us in—”
“I know the one,” Em interrupted. “What’s your opinion on the Ruined, Violet?”
The girl jerked her head at Aren. “Well, we’ve established he’s a jerk.”
Em let out a short, startled laugh. She tried to hide it by clearing her throat. Aren rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched.
“And you organized the raid on the Lera castle that killed my father,” Violet continued, returning her gaze to Em. “So I’m not inclined to like either of the Ruined in this room.”
The house went silent as Violet stared at Em.
“I’m sorry about that,” Em said quietly. Wariness colored Violet’s features. “But I meant your opinion on the Ruined as a whole.”
“I judge the Ruined like I judge everyone else. Case-by-case basis.”
Em almost smiled. It didn’t matter if this girl didn’t like her, as long as she didn’t harbor hate for the Ruined. She was Cas’s biggest ally, his best hope of regaining his throne. The southern province of Lera was the largest, and as far as Em knew, the warriors hadn’t taken it yet.
“This house will be for the four of you,” Em said. “No one but you, Cas, Galo, and Mateo may come in unless you say it’s all right. I’ve ordered that none of you are to be harmed. If you feel like someone is disobeying that order, come see me directly.”
“Fine,” Violet said.
“I will also order everyone not to speak a word about your presence. You’ll be safe here, for the time being.” Em walked to the front door and gestured at Aren. “Let’s go.” She stepped outside. Aren followed her, pulling the door closed behind them.
“Do we leave it unguarded?” he asked.
“For now. I’ll be back in the evening.” She scanned the area. The road in front of them led directly into the center of town, and warriors and Ruined walked by, laughter floating into the air.
“Olivia got the two of you an apartment next to the courthouse. I found a small place above the bakery,” Aren said. “And Olivia wants to talk to you.”
“I’ll bet she does.” Em rubbed her thumb across her necklace. “I need to talk to August first.”
“That should be interesting,” Aren said with a snort. He stepped off the porch.
“Aren.”
He turned back to her, squinting in the sunlight.
“Do I have your support here? Letting them stay?”
“I guarded them all night, didn’t I?”
“That’s not what I meant. I know you’ll d
o what I ask. I want to know if you think it’s a stupid decision. If you’ll back me up with the Ruined.”
“Of course I’ll back you up with the Ruined,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a stupid decision. I think the reasoning behind it is stupid.”
She looked at him curiously.
“You’re letting Cas stay because you care about him. Because you’re trying to hold on to a relationship that doesn’t have a chance of working out. You’ll have to let him go eventually, Em.”
He was right, but she couldn’t help the relief she felt at seeing Cas again. Like maybe these few days she’d get with him were a gift.
“But if it were me, I would keep them too,” Aren continued. “You have the king of Lera in there, and the governor of the largest province. I certainly wouldn’t let them go on their merry way. But that’s not why you’re letting them stay.” He rubbed his fingers across his forehead. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to find a place to sleep.”
“Thank you, Aren.”
“Explain it like that, all right? The way I did? Don’t bring your feelings into it.”
“I won’t.”
“Try to get rid of those feelings, Em. You may care about him, but he’s nothing compared to you. You’re our queen and our savior. You’ll be the best leader the Ruined have ever known. He’s just a boy.”
Aren’s words reverberated through her body. They were spoken calmly, kindly, but they still threw her off balance. She couldn’t come up with a response.
He didn’t wait for one. He turned on his heel and walked away.
He didn’t need for her to tell him he was right.
SIXTEEN
OLIVIA TOOK IN a long breath through her nose. It did nothing to quiet the rage bubbling in her chest.
She watched as Em left the house at the edge of town with Aren. Olivia could burst into that house and kill everyone in less than ten seconds. No more Casimir. Problem solved.
Olivia curled her fingers around the hip of the statue of Boda. Statues of the ancestors were all over this town, but none as big as the three in front of the courthouse. They were much taller than her, with ridiculous expressions on their faces that were probably supposed to be peaceful. They just looked tired, in Olivia’s opinion.
She scowled at the statues and took a step to the side. All these statues had done nothing to protect anyone. The people of Sacred Rock had still been run out of their homes. They should have spent their money on weapons.