“I think we’ve spoken maybe five words to each other.”
“So . . . ?”
Galo stared up at the sky, black in between the tree branches. “Mateo says I have to save everyone.”
“Is that true?”
“Maybe. A little. I was a king’s guard, it was my job to save people. Or protect them, at least.”
“True.” Humor crept into Aren’s voice. “Are you going to protect me, then?”
“It seems so.”
“You should sleep,” Aren said, pulling a blanket from his pack. He tossed it to Galo. “I’ll watch.”
“Are you sure?”
“I’ll need to sleep more when we get closer to the Olso border, so my powers are sharp. And you look ready to pass out.”
Galo tucked the blanket under his head as he lay down. “Thank you.”
“Thank you,” Aren said quietly. “For coming with me.”
“You’re welcome,” Galo said. “Do you think Iria is expecting you to come?”
It took Aren several seconds to answer. “I don’t know. I told her I would, but . . . I don’t think she’s going to be happy to see me.” He said the second part quietly, almost to himself.
“Why not?”
“I was going to leave her in Lera and go with the Ruined. She was really mad.”
“You’re going to break her out of prison. I think she’ll come around.”
“Would you?”
“Yes.”
Aren looked at him skeptically. “Seriously?”
“Of course. You had a really tough choice to make. You couldn’t just abandon the Ruined to Olivia. Not when you’re the most powerful one.”
“The most powerful one,” Aren repeated under his breath, almost like he didn’t believe it. “This is crazy, isn’t it? Going to Olso right now?”
“Yes. But I’d do the same thing. Obviously.”
“I guess that means you’re crazy too.”
Galo smiled as he closed his eyes. “I guess so.”
TWENTY-TWO
CAS BURST OUT of the castle door and ran down the dirt path. The sun was setting, and he shielded his eyes as he squinted at the main gates. Four guards stood in front of them, matching terrified expressions on their faces.
“Open them,” Cas said breathlessly.
The guards did as he ordered. Beside him, Jorge tensed. He gestured at a few other guards to surround Cas.
Em stood on the other side of the gates. She wore black pants and a loose gray tunic, both of which were dirty. Her dark hair was pulled back haphazardly, and she had deep circles under her eyes. She was obviously exhausted, her olive skin paler than usual.
Behind her were more Ruined, most of whom Cas had never even seen before. There were about sixty, most of them just as haggard as Em.
But there was no one else. No Lera soldiers. No Galo.
His heart dropped as he met Em’s eyes again. She didn’t smile at him. He stepped forward slowly.
“Galo?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.
“He’s fine,” Em said quickly. His heart shifted back into place. She closed her eyes briefly, like she was too tired to think. “I’m sorry. I should have said it right away. He went with Aren to Olso. To rescue Iria.”
“He went where?”
“I know, but he offered. He said to tell Mateo he had to, and he’s sorry.”
He blinked, his brain still trying to process it. “Olso. With Aren.” Mateo was going to love that. He glanced behind him, but Mateo wasn’t among the guards. He was probably on duty in a different part of the castle.
“The others, though . . .” Em took in a shaky breath, and he realized she was trying not to cry. “Olivia killed all the Lera soldiers. I’m sorry, Cas. She almost killed Galo, too, but Aren saved him just in time. And the Olso army—” She cut herself off suddenly, glancing at the guards and others around Cas like she’d just realized they were there. She looked so lost, so upset, that he couldn’t stop himself. He rushed forward and wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her tight into his chest. She squeezed him in return, but it was a weak effort.
“I failed, I’m sorry,” she said into his neck. “The Olso and Vallos armies took off as soon as they spotted us. Olivia killed all the hunters and captured Jovita.”
He started a bit at the information that Olivia had taken Jovita. He wasn’t sure what Olivia could possibly want from her.
“I’m just glad you’re here,” he said softly. He pulled away, lacing his fingers through hers, and looked at the Ruined behind her. Nerves twisted in his stomach. “We have rooms prepared. Will you come inside?”
A stone-faced young woman just stared at him. “Em,” she said.
Em pulled her hand out of his and walked to the Ruined, saying something to them that he couldn’t hear. Several of the Ruined looked alarmed at the prospect of going into the Lera castle.
“You’ll be safe here,” Cas called.
The woman leaned to look around Em and rolled her eyes. “Please. We won’t be safer here than we are anywhere else.”
He opened his mouth to protest, but the look Em shot him made him shut it. The Ruined was right, as much as he hated to admit it. The castle could be attacked tomorrow for all he knew.
Em said something that finally made them all trudge forward. He took her hand again and led them down the dirt path. Several people were gathered in the front entryway to see what the commotion was about, Violet and Franco among them.
“The Lera soldiers?” Violet asked. Cas shook his head.
“I’ll set up a meeting right away and Emelina can tell us what happened,” Franco said. “Violet, get Julieta from—”
“No,” Cas said quickly. Em was staring straight ahead, her eyes dull like she wasn’t even listening. “They’ll rest first.”
Franco seemed like he was going to argue, but Cas gave him a look that meant there was no room for argument.
“I can tell them,” Em said. She’d been listening after all.
“It can wait,” he said, squeezing her hand.
He led them through the castle and to the west wing, where the guards’ quarters were. The rooms had been half empty since they returned anyway, and they’d squeezed an extra cot into each room so it could house three people. Staff members scurried around him, opening doors down the long hallways and ushering the Ruined in. They were visibly nervous, and he watched as one girl quickly darted away from a Ruined to avoid touching him.
“They’re bringing some food,” he said, to no one in particular. A passing Ruined man looked at him suspiciously. He glanced at Em, who was still by his side. “Is this all right? There are some rooms upstairs as well, if you want to take some Ruined up there.”
“I think they’d rather be together.”
“Will you stay with me?” he asked quietly. He couldn’t imagine leaving her here, not when she looked ready to crack at any moment.
“Just give me a moment,” she said, and walked away from him. She stepped into a room and emerged a few minutes later, looking upset.
“It’s fine if you need to stay down here with them,” he said. “If it will make them feel better.”