Em tightened her fingers around the handle of her sword but didn’t lift it. She stood there, motionless, watching as Olivia drew closer. Em waited for her to slow down or lower the sword. She kept coming.
Em raised her sword at the very last minute. Olivia’s blade hit hers. It would have been Em’s chest if she hadn’t reacted in time.
Olivia tried to point her sword at Em again, but Em easily deflected it. The sword tumbled out of Olivia’s hand. Em had told Olivia once that she should spend more time learning to use a sword. It might be necessary one day, Em had said.
Olivia glared at her like she could tell what Em was thinking.
“Was this your plan?” Olivia asked, gesturing to the dead bodies around them. “Lead us to a battle, and then refuse to fight? Did you think that would be enough to defeat me?”
Em didn’t respond. She was still looking at the sword on the ground. Olivia would have killed her if she hadn’t stopped it. Her sister would have driven that sword through Em’s chest, and she was suddenly rooted to the ground, her body cold.
“Were you hoping they would kill me?” Olivia asked. “Were you hoping they would kill all of us?” She gestured to the Ruined behind her.
Em still had no response. She hadn’t been hoping for that, no. Dreading it. Expecting it. She’d spent the last few days feeling sick over her decision, living with a constant rock in her stomach, and she didn’t know how to handle the fact that Olivia was both alive and wanted to kill her.
“You’re a traitor,” Olivia said. “You and everyone who helped you.”
“I’m sorry,” Em finally said quietly. Her voice shook. “You left me no choice.”
“You’re sorry?” Olivia balled her hands into fists. “You’re choosing that boy over me, over your people, and you’re sorry?”
Em couldn’t deny that. She had chosen Cas over her sister. She’d chosen a lot of things over her sister.
“It’s bigger than that,” a voice said. Ivanna was standing a few paces away from Em.
“You’re worse than her,” Olivia said to Ivanna. “A useless Ruined isn’t a Ruined at all. But you should know better.”
A rustling noise made them all turn, and Em saw a dark-haired girl jumping over bodies, trying to dart out of sight. Jovita.
Olivia waved her arm, sending Jovita crashing to her feet. “I know that one.” She glanced over her shoulder at Ester. “Bring her here.”
Ester trudged to Jovita and grabbed her by the shirt collar. Jovita clawed at Ester’s hands as she dragged her across the dirt.
“Cas’s cousin, right?” Olivia asked. “The one you so desperately didn’t want to have the throne?”
“Yes,” Em replied. Jovita landed in a heap behind Olivia, breathing heavily.
“Weren’t you going to kill her?” Olivia asked. “Failed at that, too, I guess.”
“Cas was going to kill her,” Em said. “But he didn’t need to.”
Jovita looked startled, and then insulted, even through her fear.
“Get some rope and tie her up,” Olivia ordered.
Jovita threw a panicked look at Em as Ester dragged her away. Em felt sorry for Jovita—she felt sorry for anyone Olivia took hostage—but there was nothing she could do for her. She had to make sure the Ruined made it away from Olivia.
“Let’s go, Em,” Ivanna said. “We’re not leaving without you.”
Olivia looked around, like she suddenly realized just how few Ruined were left with her. She jumped forward and grabbed Em by the collar, bringing their faces close together. A few flecks of blood were spattered across her cheek.
It took Em a moment to realize what Olivia was doing.
Her sister stared at her, eyes wide and wild. Her brow crinkled.
She was trying to use her powers on Em.
Em felt a flood of relief when nothing happened. Her body didn’t move. It didn’t even twinge. Dread quickly followed the relief. Olivia was trying to kill her. Again.
She jerked away. “Did you just try to use your powers on me?”
“You’re not Ruined,” Olivia snarled. “You’re nothing.”
Part of Em wasn’t surprised to hear Olivia say that. Another part of her was devastated, thinking of every time Olivia told her she still had value even though she was useless. Those two words—you’re nothing—immediately canceled out every kind thing her sister had ever said to her about her lack of Ruined power.
“Whatever I am, you can’t control me.” Em’s words came out a little bitter.
Olivia’s expression darkened. The truth hurt, it seemed.
A hand touched Em’s arm. She turned to see Ivanna standing next to her.
“It’s time to go,” Ivanna said softly.
“I’ll consider everyone who goes with Em a traitor,” Olivia said. “You will not be welcome back.”
“You’re not our queen,” Ivanna said. “She is.”
For a moment, it was as if Ivanna had slapped Olivia. The anger melted off her face and she just looked hurt, like the girl Em had once known.
Then Olivia lowered her eyebrows, pure rage in her gaze as she stared at Ivanna.
Ivanna screamed. Blood soaked through her shirt and trickled down her arms. Em pressed a hand to her mouth and squeezed her eyes shut. She heard the body drop a moment later.
Gasps echoed across the forest. When Em opened her eyes, she found even a few of the Ruined behind Olivia were horrified. Priscila stared openmouthed at Ivanna’s dead body. Carmen looked like she was going to vomit. Em’s stomach churned.
Olivia grabbed a fistful of Em’s shirt and yanked her closer. “I’m going to kill you.”
Em’s heart dropped into her feet. Her sister wasn’t being dramatic or just speaking in anger. She was dead serious.
Em thought briefly of their mother, of her big plans for Em to rule by Olivia’s side. She wondered suddenly if their mother would be horrified by both of them, or if she would have taken Olivia’s side. The uncertainty was too much, and Em had to push the thought away.
“Em, let’s go,” Aren said, his voice strained. He knew Olivia was serious.
Em tried to tug her shirt from her sister’s grasp. Olivia held tighter.
“Why do you look so surprised?” Olivia asked. “You led me here hoping I would die, didn’t you? You and I are exactly the same. I just have the guts to kill you myself.”
Em finally wrenched her shirt from Olivia and took several steps backward. Em was breathing heavily, even though she hadn’t done anything strenuous. Tears pricked her eyes.
Olivia was pale, her shoulders sagging. The use of her magic on Ivanna had truly exhausted her. She glanced back at the other Ruined. They looked even worse.
She turned back to Em. Disappointment crossed her face, and Em realized with horror that she was upset she didn’t have the strength to kill Em now.
Em quickly turned. Aren took her hand and squeezed it.
“You can run now, sister,” Olivia said from behind her. “But I’m coming for you. I promise.”
TWENTY-ONE
GALO FOLLOWED AREN and the other Ruined away from Olivia. They were all silent as they hurried through the jungle, to the spot where the Ruined had left the horses and wagons.
“Are we still going to Royal City?” a young woman whispered to Aren. She glanced at Em, who was pale and shaky as she untied a horse from a tree. “Because this plan . . .” Failed. She didn’t have to say the word.
“We don’t have a choice,” Em said without looking at them. “We can’t stay with Olivia. And we can’t stay out here, with the Olso and Vallos armies so close by.”
“It’s the safest option,” Aren said. “We need to get far away before they regain their strength.” He looked over his shoulder, his face troubled. Galo knew he had to be thinking about his plan to go to Olso.
“It’s fine, Aren,” Em said. “You should go.” She turned to face a worried girl hovering around her. “Mariana, can you make sure the wagons are ready to go?” Mariana nodded and hurried away.
“I can’t go, Em,” Aren said as she mounted her horse. “Olivia is livid. She’s going to come after all of you.”
“She’s going to come after me,” Em corrected. “And I don’t need you to protect me from Olivia. We’re so close to the Olso border. It would be ridiculous not to go now.”