“Much better. He wants a bath. Can you go, Galo?”
“Of course,” he said. “Mateo, can you get us some water?”
The guard nodded, grabbing a bucket from the kitchen before hurrying out of the house. Galo jogged up the stairs.
Em looked at Violet. The girl was about the same age as her, perhaps a couple years older. She’d gathered her dark hair into a loose bun, soft tendrils framing her pretty face.
“Violet, right? Are you guard or staff?”
Violet stood, crossing the room to stand in front of Em. “Neither. I’m the governor of the southern province of Lera. Recently.”
“Recently as in after the warriors attacked the castle?”
“Yes.” Tears filled her eyes and she quickly blinked them away.
“You and Cas knew each other before?”
“No. We met for the first time in the wagon. The one the warriors put us in—”
“I know the one,” Em interrupted. “What’s your opinion on the Ruined, Violet?”
The girl jerked her head at Aren. “Well, we’ve established he’s a jerk.”
Em let out a short, startled laugh. She tried to hide it by clearing her throat. Aren rolled his eyes, but his lips twitched.
“And you organized the raid on the Lera castle that killed my father,” Violet continued, returning her gaze to Em. “So I’m not inclined to like either of the Ruined in this room.”
The house went silent as Violet stared at Em.
“I’m sorry about that,” Em said quietly. Wariness colored Violet’s features. “But I meant your opinion on the Ruined as a whole.”
“I judge the Ruined like I judge everyone else. Case-by-case basis.”
Em almost smiled. It didn’t matter if this girl didn’t like her, as long as she didn’t harbor hate for the Ruined. She was Cas’s biggest ally, his best hope of regaining his throne. The southern province of Lera was the largest, and as far as Em knew, the warriors hadn’t taken it yet.
“This house will be for the four of you,” Em said. “No one but you, Cas, Galo, and Mateo may come in unless you say it’s all right. I’ve ordered that none of you are to be harmed. If you feel like someone is disobeying that order, come see me directly.”
“Fine,” Violet said.
“I will also order everyone not to speak a word about your presence. You’ll be safe here, for the time being.” Em walked to the front door and gestured at Aren. “Let’s go.” She stepped outside. Aren followed her, pulling the door closed behind them.
“Do we leave it unguarded?” he asked.
“For now. I’ll be back in the evening.” She scanned the area. The road in front of them led directly into the center of town, and warriors and Ruined walked by, laughter floating into the air.
“Olivia got the two of you an apartment next to the courthouse. I found a small place above the bakery,” Aren said. “And Olivia wants to talk to you.”
“I’ll bet she does.” Em rubbed her thumb across her necklace. “I need to talk to August first.”
“That should be interesting,” Aren said with a snort. He stepped off the porch.
“Aren.”
He turned back to her, squinting in the sunlight.
“Do I have your support here? Letting them stay?”
“I guarded them all night, didn’t I?”
“That’s not what I meant. I know you’ll do what I ask. I want to know if you think it’s a stupid decision. If you’ll back me up with the Ruined.”
“Of course I’ll back you up with the Ruined,” he said. “I don’t think it’s a stupid decision. I think the reasoning behind it is stupid.”
She looked at him curiously.
“You’re letting Cas stay because you care about him. Because you’re trying to hold on to a relationship that doesn’t have a chance of working out. You’ll have to let him go eventually, Em.”
He was right, but she couldn’t help the relief she felt at seeing Cas again. Like maybe these few days she’d get with him were a gift.
“But if it were me, I would keep them too,” Aren continued. “You have the king of Lera in there, and the governor of the largest province. I certainly wouldn’t let them go on their merry way. But that’s not why you’re letting them stay.” He rubbed his fingers across his forehead. “I’m exhausted. I’m going to find a place to sleep.”
“Thank you, Aren.”
“Explain it like that, all right? The way I did? Don’t bring your feelings into it.”
“I won’t.”
“Try to get rid of those feelings, Em. You may care about him, but he’s nothing compared to you. You’re our queen and our savior. You’ll be the best leader the Ruined have ever known. He’s just a boy.”
Aren’s words reverberated through her body. They were spoken calmly, kindly, but they still threw her off balance. She couldn’t come up with a response.
He didn’t wait for one. He turned on his heel and walked away.
He didn’t need for her to tell him he was right.
SIXTEEN
OLIVIA TOOK IN a long breath through her nose. It did nothing to quiet the rage bubbling in her chest.
She watched as Em left the house at the edge of town with Aren. Olivia could burst into that house and kill everyone in less than ten seconds. No more Casimir. Problem solved.
Olivia curled her fingers around the hip of the statue of Boda. Statues of the ancestors were all over this town, but none as big as the three in front of the courthouse. They were much taller than her, with ridiculous expressions on their faces that were probably supposed to be peaceful. They just looked tired, in Olivia’s opinion.
She scowled at the statues and took a step to the side. All these statues had done nothing to protect anyone. The people of Sacred Rock had still been run out of their homes. They should have spent their money on weapons.
Down the street, Aren walked away from Em. Despite his sour expression, he’d spent the night guarding those Lerans because Em told him to. If there were sides, Aren was definitely on Em’s.
Were there sides?
She had not given Em the opportunity to be a queen just for her to take care of Lerans. The Ruined were never going to respect their queens if they made such stupid, weak decisions.
Em headed her way, slowing when she met Olivia’s eyes. Her anger was on full display, it seemed.
“It’s temporary,” Em said quickly as she stopped in front of Olivia. “He—”
“Inside,” Olivia snapped. Ruined and warriors wandered all around them, carrying items they’d looted from shops. She wasn’t having this conversation in front of an audience.
Em followed her into the apartment next to the courthouse. It was two stories, with two bedrooms upstairs and a kitchen and living area downstairs. There were bigger houses farther out, but Olivia liked the location of this one.
She slammed the door behind them and Em jumped.
“Casimir can not stay,” Olivia said.
“Jovita poisoned him. He’s not a threat. He’s too weak to even walk on his own.”