He let out a short laugh. “I suppose they don’t.”
She seemed annoyed he hadn’t taken offense. “What are you doing, Cas? You can’t really expect me to believe your opinion about the Ruined has changed so quickly.”
“No. I still think what my father did was wrong. I think he and my mother would still be alive if he hadn’t declared war on the Ruined. But we can’t change the past. We’re in this war, and we have to finish it.”
“Before, you were talking like you wanted to surrender to the Ruined. Or partner with them. Be honest. You let Emelina go after she attacked the fortress.”
“I let Emelina go,” he said. Jovita’s eyebrows shot up at the admission. “I had feelings for her.”
Jovita sneered. “Your mother told me you never even consummated.”
“We didn’t.”
“How sad.” She didn’t sound the least bit sad about it.
“I went to find her. I thought she …” He set his mouth in a hard line. “I thought she loved me.”
“What gave you that idea? The fact that she killed your actual fiancée? Or was it when she refused to have sex with you?”
Cas ignored the flicker of anger in his chest. “I know I’m an idiot, Jovita. No need to rub it in.”
“Sorry,” she said, and almost sounded sincere.
“She was going to let Olivia kill me. She laughed at me. We barely got out of there alive.”
“I could have told you that was what would happen,” Jovita said. “If you’d talked to me about Emelina I could have explained that the Ruined don’t love humans. Even useless ones.”
Cas knew so much more about the Ruined than her. Her ignorance of them, her absolute certainty that they were nothing but evil, was her biggest weakness. It hadn’t even occurred to her that he was working with Em. The thought wasn’t in the realm of possibility for her.
“I think our days of talking about things is over,” Cas said.
Jovita crossed her arms over her chest. “It would be better for you if we could work together.”
“Better for me?” He laughed.
“Just because you have the title of king doesn’t mean you have any power. I hope you know that. Most of the hunters and soldiers here still take orders from me.”
“Really? Even after you sent a bunch of them to their deaths? How sure are you of their loyalty?”
“Sure enough.”
“Fine. They can all stay with you here after I reclaim the castle. You won’t be welcome there.”
“You’ll die if you try to retake the castle.”
“That will work out just as you’d hoped.”
She stomped to the door. “I didn’t poison you, Cas.”
“Then find out who did. I’m sure the two of you will be the best of friends.”
She threw a furious look over her shoulder and slammed the door shut.
TWENTY-SIX
AREN LED THE party of warriors and Ruined out of Sacred Rock at dawn. He rode in front, Iria behind him. Clara and Santino brought up the rear. No other Ruined had volunteered for the mission, so Aren had to spend some time convincing them. Neither had very strong powers, but Olivia had forbidden any other powerful Ruined from going.
They were traveling east, to the coast of Vallos, then following it up into Lera. They passed several farms with long rows of crops just outside of Sacred Rock, but they disappeared as they neared the coast. The air grew colder, and he buttoned his coat and pulled on his gloves.
Aren had been to this area once, months ago, when he was on the run with Em. The long, overgrown grass was easy to hide in. He stepped carefully, scanning the area to make sure Vallos soldiers hadn’t followed them and had the same idea.
They stopped at the base of a hill as the sun began to set. They didn’t want to risk building a fire, so they ate dried meat they’d brought with them. Clara and Santino looked like they were going to eat by themselves, away from the warriors, but Aren shook his head and pointed for them to sit with the rest of the group. Dinner was eaten mostly in silence.
“Come on,” Iria said after they were finished. She jumped to her feet and held her hand out to him.
He let her pull him to his feet. A few warriors were clearing sticks and rocks from the dirt and placing blankets down. “What are they doing?”
“Group sleep,” she said. “We do it when it’s cold. Body heat helps everyone sleep better.”
“Are we included in this group sleep?” He gestured to the other Ruined.
“Unless you’d rather shiver all night.” She looked at Clara. “Unless she can make it warm?”
“Not for an extended period of time. It’s not a smart use of her power.”
“Then come on.” She walked to the sleeping area and plopped down. He hesitated.
“Are we all supposed to sleep together?” Clara asked, wrinkling her nose.
“It’s up to you,” Aren said. “We’re welcome, apparently.”
“I’m fine over here,” Santino said. Clara nodded in agreement.
Aren looked back at Iria. Some of the warriors had started to sit down, but there was no one on either side of her yet. He wanted to sit next to her more than he was willing to admit.
“Your choice,” he said to the Ruined, trying to sound casual. “I think it’ll be warmer over there.”
He walked away from them, toward Iria. He wanted to be warm. Right. That was exactly why he was doing this.
“The others don’t want to?” she asked as he sat down next to her.
“No.”
She reached down and grabbed the blanket at her feet, shaking the dust out. She threw it open, letting it fall over them. Aren scooted onto his back without a word.
The other warriors filed in, until there were people on either side of him and Iria. The snoring started almost immediately.
He couldn’t sleep. Every time he closed his eyes they popped back open. He could sense the presence of every human around him, but one in particular. It was like Iria was emitting a signal that his body couldn’t ignore. He could practically feel her heartbeat in his own chest.
The man next to Aren turned suddenly, his arm flopping onto Aren’s chest. He tossed it back. A soft giggle came from beside him. Iria was on her side, grinning at him. He rolled over to face her.
“This is weird,” he whispered.
“But it’s warmer, right?”
“I guess.”
“Ruined don’t huddle for warmth?”
“Not in a big group like this.” An image of Damian formed in front of him, and his voice was strained when he spoke again. “I did with Damian and Em sometimes.”
“What was …” She trailed off, biting her lip. “Do you mind if I ask what that time was like? After the castle burned?”
The guy on the other side of Aren rolled over, nudging him. He scooted a little closer to Iria.