CAS DIDN’T GO to the site of his mother’s death after Jovita brought it up. He spent a few days locked in the castle, attending pointless meetings where everyone just yelled at one another.
But mostly they yelled at him for refusing to attack the Ruined.
He retreated to his room after the most recent meeting, which had ended with Jovita angrily stomping out. Danna and General Amaro had followed her.
Galo and Violet accompanied him into his room, closing the door quietly behind them. His room wasn’t much—two lanterns on the wall, a small bed, a desk, and a wooden chair in the corner. Violet sat in the chair. Galo began pacing.
“If Jovita implies you’re insane one more time, I won’t be responsible for my actions,” Galo said.
Cas sank down on the bed with a heavy sigh. “If she says it enough times, everyone will start to believe it.” They already believed it. He could see it in the eyes of the advisers, in some of the soldiers. He didn’t know what to do about it. Insisting he hadn’t lost his mind would only make matters worse. Only crazy people had to defend their sanity.
He let out a short laugh and Galo gave him an exasperated look.
“Laughing at nothing will not help your case,” the guard said.
“No one with any sense thinks you’ve gone mad,” Violet said with a roll of her eyes. Cas had seen that eye roll many times in just a few days. She didn’t hide her disdain for Jovita well. He liked that about her.
“Then I think there were quite a few people without any sense in that meeting,” Cas said.
“No kidding,” she muttered. “You need to put an end to this talk.”
“How?”
“Throw Jovita out of the meetings. Remove some of the advisers from their positions. Just because they served your father doesn’t mean they’ll be loyal to you. Clearly.”
“We’re at war,” Cas said. “I’m not sure it’s the time to throw Lera leadership into upheaval.”
“Too late. We’re upheaved. And you’re not going to get anywhere by being nice to all of them,” she said.
Galo looked from Cas to Violet, obviously impressed.
“Let me talk to some of the advisers. Julieta and Danna aren’t convinced that—” She stopped suddenly as a rumbling sound echoed through the fortress. It was low at first, and then slowly grew louder. Yells accompanied the noise.
Cas jumped to his feet and flew out the door, Galo and Violet close behind. The sound was coming from outside the fortress. He jogged down the stairs and pulled open the front door. The gray sky was overcast, the sun completely obscured.
A crowd was gathered around Jovita, who stood on top of a box not far from the front door of the fortress. The people were all stomping their feet in unison, a chant beginning to rise up from the crowd.
“Kill the Ruined! Kill the Ruined!”
“Louder!” Jovita yelled. She looked over her shoulder at Cas. “Your king is present!”
“KILL THE RUINED! KILL THE RUINED!”
Cas marched to Jovita. He grabbed her wrist and tugged her off the box.
“What are you doing?” he hissed.
“I’m showing you what everyone wants.” She yanked her arm free. “As king, you’re supposed to follow the wishes of your people. Not do whatever you please.”
He looked at the crowd again. All the hunters were there, as were many of the soldiers. But most of the king’s guard hadn’t joined, and plenty of soldiers stood on the outskirts, worry etched across their features.
“This is what you want, not the people,” he said.
She swept her arm out to the crowd. “What do you call this?”
“I won’t discuss this again. We’re not attacking the Ruined.” He turned to address the crowd. “Disperse—”
“Kill the Ruined!” Jovita yelled, stepping in front of him. She nodded to General Amaro. The general moved forward, a grim look on her face.
Hands closed around Cas’s arms. He twisted around to see two large soldiers behind him. He tried to pull free. They held tighter. He heard Violet gasp.
Jovita turned to face him again. “I’m sorry, Cas. We can’t have a mad king while we’re at war. You need time to rest and recover, and if you won’t do it willingly, I’ll force you to.”
Cas looked from Jovita to General Amaro. “Not wanting to attack the Ruined doesn’t make me mad.”
“You won’t listen to reason,” General Amaro said. “Your father took a strong position with the Ruined, and now is not the time to change that policy.”
“We’re in this mess because of my father! Both my parents died because of their hatred of the Ruined.”
“Your father died because of Emelina, and your mother died because of you,” Jovita said.
Her words cut him completely in half, and for a moment he wondered why he was still standing when half of his body was crumpled on the ground.
“Just take some time to rest, and think,” Jovita said, her voice softer. “I can lead in your place until you’re feeling better. I don’t mind.”
Cas let out a hollow laugh. “I’m sure you don’t.”
The edges of Jovita’s lips twitched, but she managed to hold back a smile. “Please take King Casimir to his room. Lock him in for his own protection.”
The soldiers pulled Cas backward. He twisted in their grasp, trying to break free.
“Please don’t make a scene, Your Majesty,” one of the soldiers murmured.
It was too late. Everyone in the area was staring at them. Some of the hunters smirked.
Galo made a move like he was going to lunge, but Mateo pulled him back just in time. He whispered something in Galo’s ear that made his face fall.
Cas’s shoulders slumped. There were too many on Jovita’s side. There was no point in resisting.
Jovita stepped up on the box again. “My soldiers have reported seeing numerous Ruined on their way to Ruina. Our first order of business is to take out as many as we can. We need to stamp out the alliance between the Ruined and the warriors.”
The crowd cheered as the soldiers dragged Cas up the steps of the fortress.
“I’m only sending half of you,” Jovita continued, “because we need plenty of people here to protect the fortress. Those with the most pins will go. You will kill all Ruined, no questions asked.”
More cheers rose up as Cas entered the fortress. They grew quieter as the door closed behind him.
“KILL THE RUINED!”
SEVEN
OLIVIA STEPPED OUT of her room and walked quietly past Em’s bed. Her sister was still asleep, curled up under the blankets.
Sunlight had just started to stream in through the windows and into the dusty living room. It was a small, pitiful cabin. The couch had probably been there for three generations. The kitchen table sat only two people, and a good kick would have killed the thing for good. She let out an annoyed sigh as she pulled the front door open.
Aren was waiting for her just off the porch. He had a sword at his hip, but she hadn’t bothered with a weapon. She never needed one.