“Some do. I don’t really pray anymore.”
He forgot sometimes that she’d known his mother, the castle priest. She’d known the younger, happier Aren who prayed and believed his life would be happy.
The smell of blood around him was suddenly too much. He turned on his heel, grabbing Iria’s hand and pulling her with him, away from the bodies. He dropped her hand as they reached the top of the hill, where Em and Olivia were standing with the Ruined council. Olivia frowned at him, and he quickly walked away from Iria and joined their circle. Mariana and Davi were leaning against each other in exhaustion, and Jacobo was on the ground, his hands pressed into the grass. Elemental Ruined claimed that connecting with the land after using their powers restored them. Only Ivanna appeared unruffled from the battle.
“It’s a good idea,” Ivanna was saying to Em. “We can’t sit here and wait to be attacked anymore. If the warriors go with us, we shouldn’t have a problem invading a smaller Vallos town.”
“We don’t need the warriors,” Olivia snapped.
“Yes, we do,” Ivanna said. “Emelina is right. She killed the Vallos princess; their people may very well attack us after we invade. And she’s smart to consider a marriage alliance with August. We—”
“I’m sorry, what?” Aren asked.
“I was telling them about a conversation I just had with August,” Em said. “August was sent here to marry the Ruined queen. It could be a smart move for us.”
Aren winced, and Em lifted one shoulder, like she’d resigned herself to the idea. First the prince of Lera, now the prince of Olso. Aren didn’t envy Em’s suitors.
“We’re not seriously considering this,” Olivia said. “Ruined do not partner with humans.”
“Things are different now. We can’t keep isolating ourselves,” Davi said.
“And what will partnering with them get us? More of this?” Olivia swept her arm in the direction of the Lera soldiers.
“The warriors helped us, Liv,” Em said quietly.
Olivia shot her a furious look. “This time.”
No one responded to that. Olivia turned away. “Don’t come crying to me when they try to murder us in our sleep,” she muttered as she left.
“I’ll convince her,” Em said as soon as Olivia was out of earshot.
“Can we trust you to take charge of this?” Ivanna asked.
Em nodded. “Of course. Prepare the Ruined to leave first thing tomorrow. I’ll make sure the warriors are on board. I’m sure it will require a tentative yes to August’s proposal.”
“And you’re fine with that?” Mariana asked.
Em hesitated for half a second, short enough that no one but Aren would notice. “Yes.”
“Good,” Ivanna said approvingly. “We’ll follow your lead, then.”
TWELVE
“I MEANT IT about force-feeding you.”
Cas didn’t have the energy to roll over and face Galo. He pulled his knees closer to his chest and sank deeper into his mattress. His bad shoulder was stiff from days in bed, and he winced as he shifted.
The room had been dark, but light filled the space as Galo lit the lantern. Cas squinted in the sudden brightness.
Footsteps sounded against the wooden floor, and Galo was in front of him suddenly. His anger melted into concern. He pressed the backs of his fingers to Cas’s forehead.
“You’re burning up,” Galo said.
“I’m cold.”
Galo disappeared from the room. He returned a few moments later with two women in tow. Cas squinted up at them. Violet and Daniela.
“Is Jovita back yet?” Cas mumbled. His head was full of cotton. “What happened?”
“She’s back; the soldiers are not. She only went to the border.” Galo pushed Cas’s shoulder, making him roll over on his back. He placed a cool rag on Cas’s forehead.
Daniela unbuttoned his shirt, and he frowned down at her hands. “I’m going to rub some medicine on you, Your Majesty. It should make you feel better.”
“Is anyone else sick?” Galo asked.
Daniela shook her head as she slathered a cool ointment on Cas’s chest. “Not that I’ve heard.”
Galo looked from Cas to the half-eaten breakfast tray next to the bed.
“I ate some,” Cas murmured. “Are you happy now?”
Galo didn’t respond as he strode over to the tray. “Who makes his meals?”
“Blanca,” Violet said. “The chef.”
“Go get her for me.”
Violet ran out of the room and came back only moments later. Blanca was with her. Both of them looked worried.
Blanca rushed over to his dinner tray and Galo followed her. They began whispering.
“I didn’t prepare that soup,” Blanca said, her voice rising a little.
“The soup is the best part,” Cas said, his eyes fluttering shut. He wondered who prepared the soup. Maybe they should take over in the kitchen.
“Who takes the tray to him?” Galo’s voice was tight.
“There’s a soldier. He shows up to the kitchen at every mealtime. George.”
“Mateo!” Galo yelled. His boots pounded against the wood. He said something Cas couldn’t hear.
“Have you had that soup often, Your Majesty?” Violet asked.
“A few times recently,” he mumbled.
A flurry of movement happened around him, and he hoped they were all leaving. He needed some sleep.
“Cas!” Galo’s voice startled him from his sleep. He was on the floor. When had he moved onto the floor?
“Open his mouth,” someone said.
He was propped up against someone, and fingers roughly opened his mouth. Violet stuck something down his throat and he gagged, trying to push away from her.
“Stay still.” It was Galo behind him, keeping both of Cas’s arms at his side.
He obeyed, simply because he was too weak to fight. He blinked a few times, trying to focus on the room around him. They were putting a tube down his throat.
Strange. He didn’t want a tube down his throat.
His stomach lurched suddenly. He thrashed against Galo as the contents of his stomach exited through the tube. The guard held him steady like it was nothing. Where had his strength gone?
The tube disappeared after several long moments. He swallowed. His throat burned.
“Drink,” Violet said, tilting his chin up. Cool water hit his lips. He winced as it went down.
Several pairs of hands lifted him off the floor and deposited him on the bed.
“Find out what that soldier gave Cas and then toss him out of the fortress,” Galo said fiercely. “Let the Ruined and the warriors have him.”
“It’s doubtful he acted alone,” Violet said quietly. “He may have had orders …”
“From Jovita,” Galo finished. “I don’t care. Toss him out. Tell Mateo to get horses and a wagon ready. We’re getting him out of here.”
There was a flurry of movement around Cas, and he curled up on the bed and let his head sink into the pillow.
Then, suddenly, he was out of his room. How did he get out of his room?
He jerked his head up, surprised to find that he was on his feet. Sort of. Arms on either side of him were holding him up.