Her smile suggested she knew what he had in mind for after dinner. “I’d love to.”
THIRTY-FOUR
AFTER THE WARRIORS did a sweep of the street, Aren ushered everyone out of the house. He could still feel the humans in the prison from the house, and he was eager to get as far away as possible.
He carried Iria on his back as they made their way down the street. Galo took over when Aren started to get tired, and he could tell Iria was frustrated with having to be carried—she mentioned several times that she could walk, but her pain was apparent every time her feet hit the ground.
Aren was curious about the full extent of her injury, but she wasn’t forthcoming with details and he didn’t want to pry. At least she could walk, if she had to. They could worry about the details later.
Warriors spread out through the streets of the city, and Galo suggested they stay not far behind one group as they made their way out. It was easy to stay away from any humans as they ventured farther out of town, since Aren could easily feel them coming.
Bethania had tied up the two stolen horses in trees near the tracks that led back to the border. Iria slid off Galo’s back as they approached them.
“I have to leave you here,” Bethania said. “I should get home before someone shows up at my door with questions.”
Iria walked to Bethania and pulled her into a hug.
“You could come with us?” Iria said it as a question, her face in Bethania’s shoulder, and Aren could barely hear the words.
“I know. They offered.” Bethania pressed a kiss to Iria’s cheek and pulled away. “But this is still my home.”
Iria swept a hand across her eyes, but her body was angled away from Aren, so he couldn’t see her tears. He had the same feeling he’d had at the house—that Iria was more upset than she was letting on, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Bethania said good-bye to Galo, then smiled at him. “It was nice to meet you, Aren. You better get her to Lera safely.”
“I will.”
Bethania hugged Iria again, briefly, then quickly turned away. She didn’t look back as she jogged down the road.
Aren let Iria watch for a moment, then quietly said, “Ride with me?”
Iria nodded, swallowing hard as she turned around. He mounted the horse first, then extended his hand to her. Galo helped lift Iria onto the horse, and she settled in behind Aren.
“I’m really tired,” she said softly. “I might fall asleep.”
“Go ahead. I’ll wake you up if there’s a problem.”
“You’re headed to the south section of the border, right? Bethania told you about the abandoned posts?”
“She told us.”
Her arms slid around his waist, and he felt her cheek against his shoulder a moment later. “Wake me up if you need help navigating.”
He laid his hands on top of hers for a moment. “I will.”
Bethania was right—a portion of the Olso border to the south was unguarded, the towers abandoned. Iria was still asleep as they crossed, and Aren sat up straight, alert and waiting for trouble.
It never came, and they easily crossed into the unguarded Lera. Aren found himself breathing a sigh of relief. When had Lera become his safe place?
They rode for a few hours, putting some distance between them and the border. They stopped not long after sunrise, and Galo led the horses to a stream while Iria sank down against a tree. Aren sat across from her and held out her canteen.
“Thanks.” She tipped her head back as she drank.
They sat in silence for several long moments. Galo didn’t come back, and Aren thought he was probably making himself scarce so they could talk. Aren wasn’t sure where to begin.
“The Ruined are really at the Lera castle?” Iria finally asked.
“That’s where they were headed when we left,” he said.
She jerked her head in the direction Galo had disappeared. “How’d you convince him to come?”
“I didn’t. He offered. We . . . became friends?” The statement felt strange, and came out as a question. But the word friend seemed the only appropriate way to describe Galo.
Iria laughed softly. “Huh.”
“And I think he feels guilty about everything.” He didn’t expand on what everything was, but he knew she understood.
Silence stretched out between them again, and he took in a deep breath, trying to find the right words.
“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “For abandoning you. For not saving you when the warriors took you.”
“You tried,” she said to the ground.
“If it hadn’t been for Olivia, I would have been at full strength and those warriors wouldn’t have stood a chance against me. I’m sorry I was too scared to separate myself from her.”
“I understand you had to stay with Em.”
“Maybe me and Em don’t always need to be together anymore. We want the same thing, and we can do it separately occasionally.”
She nodded. “It’s . . .” Her voice trailed off. “Thank you, Aren. For rescuing me. For everything.”
He noticed she didn’t say It’s all right, because maybe it wasn’t yet. Still, she didn’t seem mad at him. She looked exhausted, and in pain, and he thought that her relationship with him probably wasn’t her first priority at the moment.
“You’re welcome,” he said. “And if you need any help with your foot, don’t hesitate to ask.” He gestured at his scarred hands. “I have experience treating terrible wounds.”
She managed a small smile. “I’ll let you know.”
THIRTY-FIVE
EM PICKED A familiar pink dress for dinner. It was low-cut in front with a million buttons in back, and something about it appealed to her. It was beautiful, but it was more than that. When she pulled it out of the closest she was sure something great had happened the last time she wore it.
Em stared at the dresses for a long time before making her choice. Cas’s mother had picked out every one, and Em could hear the queen’s voice in her head—I have excellent taste—when she looked at them. She wasn’t sure if the queen would be furious or smug that Em still wore them after her death.
But apparently Cas didn’t mind her wearing them, since he’d brought them to his room. And she certainly wasn’t going to waste a huge wardrobe. Someone had worked hard, and quickly, to make all these dresses for her.
She’d told Cas she’d meet him in the private kitchen on the first floor, and she walked out of his room and through the castle hallway. It was still quieter than usual in the castle, but she spotted Mariana turning a corner to the sparring rooms with Mateo and another guard, Gisela following behind with a deeply suspicious look on her face. Em paused at the top of the stairs, wondering if she should go check on them.
No. She couldn’t hover around the Ruined forever, trying to ward off possible conflicts. The best thing she could do right now was to step back and let the Ruined get to know some of the people in the castle.
Two guards stood in front of the door to the dining room, and one opened it as she approached.
“Thank you,” she said as she stepped inside.