“LET US GO with you. We’ll stay back. August will never see us.”
Cas shook his head as he shrugged into his coat. Em made an exasperated noise and plunked down on the edge of his bed.
“The message said not to bring any Ruined. That he’ll consider it an act of war,” Cas said. The note from August had been short, but clear:
King Casimir—Meet me after sundown in the clearing by the mill to discuss a peace treaty. If you bring any Ruined to this meeting, I will consider it an act of war.
“It’s a trap,” Em said.
He turned to face her. “I’m bringing an army of guards with me. And we already sent people out there to make sure it isn’t an ambush. The Olso army isn’t anywhere nearby. August came alone.”
Em let out a breath, clearly frustrated. “You can’t trust him.”
“I know. But he’s offered peace talks, and I can’t decline the invitation.”
“The proper thing to do would be for him to come here, to the castle, if he was truly serious about peace talks.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s so immature, sending you a note to meet him at a secret location.”
“Nothing you have ever told me about August makes me think he’s mature.”
“Good point.”
“Besides, the Ruined are here in the castle, and he seems very concerned about that. We could have one of them snap his neck as soon as he walked through the door.”
“I considered it. Gisela would be happy to do it.” Em couldn’t say it with a straight face. August didn’t know Em well if that was truly the reason he didn’t want to come to the castle. She would never have him killed on sight. She’d at least talk to him for a few minutes first.
He leaned down and kissed her. “This may take a while, so try to get some sleep. I’ll fill you in on what happened tomorrow and we can talk about . . . other things.”
She nodded. She knew what other things he was referring to.
Do you want to marry again? The question had sent an unexpected blast of terror down Cas’s spine. He thought he had more time. He thought they’d deal with Olivia first, and the Olso and Vallos armies, and settle into a regular life. He thought there would be hours of negotiations with the Ruined and a few formal dinner parties and plenty of time to show Em that this could work.
Instead, she was supposed to decide the day after arriving in the castle. And he was terrified of the answer. Em had never given him any indication she thought that their marriage was a realistic option, even after deciding to partner with him against Olivia. He’d told her that he loved her, and that he wanted to marry her weeks ago, during Olivia’s raid on the castle. She had never given him a response, on either point.
He said good-bye and rushed out of the room. Maybe he was a bit grateful for the timing of August’s note. He could delay hearing Em’s answer for a little while longer.
Outside, he found his horse saddled and ready to go. Twenty guards were traveling with him, with more spread out in every direction, many of them out of view. If August was indeed trying to lead them into a trap, he would have a very hard time succeeding.
The meeting spot was less than an hour’s ride, and it was dark by the time they arrived. They didn’t light a torch, instead waiting silently in the darkness. The sliver of moon provided minimal light, but it was so quiet in the open field that it would be near impossible for August to sneak up on them.
Cas didn’t dismount his horse, prepared to bolt at the slightest hint of trouble. The minutes ticked by, stretching into hours. He arched his back, annoyed. Perhaps the trick had been just to make him wait for no reason.
Finally, horses appeared out of the trees. August rode in front, flanked by a dozen warriors on either side. Several carried torches, the fire lighting up their faces as they approached.
Cas let August dismount his horse first, then did the same. Several guards followed him as he walked to the king of Olso, Jorge so close he kept brushing Cas’s right arm. August had a warrior on either side of him as he walked forward.
Cas had seen August only from a distance—a few times through the windows of his house in Sacred Rock, and again when he’d kidnapped Em. He was thinner, his cheeks sunken, and dark circles under his eyes. His blond hair looked greasy.
“Hello, Casimir,” August said as they both came to a stop. “Nice to see you again.”
“Have you seen me before?”
“Yes. You were barely conscious and mumbling Emelina’s name, so I suppose you don’t remember.” Perhaps the words were meant to be light, but Cas detected a trace of bitterness.
“I don’t remember, but that does sound like me.”
Behind him, he heard a sound like a guard trying not to laugh. August didn’t look amused.
“I’ve come to talk to negotiate peace between our two kingdoms,” August said. “Are you open to that?”
“Of course.”
“You heard we were ambushed by the Ruined in the jungle?”
“I did. I heard you left my cousin to die.”
“She’s been trying to take the throne from you. You could say I did you a favor.”
Cas just stared at him.
“I was only partnered with Jovita because she agreed to help me kill the Ruined. I don’t care who rules Lera, as long as it’s not a Ruined.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “I know that Em and some of the Ruined are in the castle.”
“They are.”
“And the rest of them are with Olivia somewhere. They’re divided. Together, we could defeat the Ruined for good.”
“You mean all the Ruined, don’t you?” Cas asked. “Not just Olivia.”
“All the Ruined,” he confirmed with a nod. “I will allow you to spare only Em, as long as you don’t have children. You’ll have to produce heirs with a human.”
“How kind of you,” Cas said dryly.
August’s jaw twitched. “They killed my entire family, Casimir. Even the children.”
Cas tried to hide the twinge of sympathy he felt for August. “I know that Olivia did that, but you can’t blame all of the Ruined for the actions of a few.”
“I won’t argue with you about this,” August said sharply. “There is no greater threat to Olso than the Ruined, and I’m here to destroy them. My offer to you is this: Abandon whatever alliance you’re forming with the Ruined and align yourself with me instead. You’ve heard that the people of Vallos have joined me?”
“I have.”
“Join us in standing against the Ruined, and we’ll sign a peace treaty immediately. We won’t leave until we’ve completely eliminated the Ruined threat from Lera. After that, no one from Olso will ever set foot in Lera again without your permission. And you may have Vallos.”
Cas barked out a laugh. “That is not yours to give.”
“I’ve spoken with the Vallos royal council. They’ve been in chaos since Mary was murdered. They’ve agreed that you may rule Vallos, if the Ruined threat is eliminated. You may also take Ruina, if you want it. I’d be willing to work out an agreement for the mines there.”
“My father would have liked this deal very much,” Cas said quietly. He could almost feel his father standing beside him, staring at Cas with mounting disdain.
“It’s a very good deal,” August said, like he thought Cas was actually considering it.
“You’ll let me have Em, but what makes you think she’d still want me after I betrayed her like this?”
“She won’t have anyone else.” August shrugged. “Besides, you forgave her once.”
August really didn’t know Em at all. Cas couldn’t help but feel a bit smug about that.
“No,” Cas said. “I’ve formed an alliance with the Ruined, and I won’t break it. If you’d like to join us in fighting Olivia and the Ruined standing with her, I’m open to that.”
August’s eyes flashed. “I won’t align myself with any Ruined.”
“Then we have nothing to talk about.”
“I don’t think you understand. If you decline this offer, we will come after you. I won’t allow you to keep Ruined in your castle.”