Olivia smiled, but Em got the feeling she wouldn’t heed that request. Their alliance with Olso might meet a more dramatic ending than she wanted.
She walked into the kitchen and grabbed her plate, depositing it next to the bucket on the counter. She didn’t have time to worry about Olivia or spying warriors tonight. She had to meet Cas, and she needed to leave soon.
“I’m going to bed,” Em lied. “Have a good night.”
“You too.”
She went to her room and sat down on her bed, listening to Olivia’s footsteps. After a few minutes, the door across the hall closed.
She waited about half an hour before slipping out of her room into the dark hallway. She grabbed her sword and coat and stepped outside, closing the door silently behind her.
The area around the apartment and courthouse appeared deserted, but she did a lap around the street just to be sure. Nothing. The street was empty as well, but she kept her head down as she made her way to the barn.
All the horses were accounted for in the barn, so she saddled the fastest one and rode out into the night. The journey seemed faster the second time, though her heart was in her throat again. She only half expected Cas to show up this time.
But she spotted him right away. The moon was full and bright tonight, and she could clearly see him cracking his knuckles not far up ahead. Violet was next to him.
“Hi, Em,” he said as she jumped off her horse and walked to him. His face and voice were softer than last time. Some of his anger had faded.
“Hi,” she said. “How was your journey?”
“Very good. We have serious support in the southern province.”
“Have you been back to see Jovita yet?” she asked.
“No, we’re going there next. And it’s not just me that the southern province supports—they agree with my Ruined policies.”
“Really.”
“I found out that my father ignored their protests when he went to war with the Ruined.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that once I kill Jovita, I can guarantee your safety. Maybe more. Maybe we could even work together. Come to an agreement.”
That seemed almost too much to hope for. “That would be nice, but we’re not there yet. Let’s talk about that after Jovita is taken care of.”
“Sure,” Cas said softly.
“Aren and the warriors should be headed back this way soon. Once they get here, we’ll be moving north. I can get you an exact day once they’re back. Let’s meet again in three days.”
“Is it a problem for you to get away?” Cas asked.
“It’s fine,” she lied.
Violet poked Cas in the ribs and walked away. Em stared after her. What did that mean? It didn’t seem fair they were already communicating without words.
“How are you?” Cas asked.
“What?” Em asked, confused.
“How are you?” he repeated, with a soft laugh. “I’m just wondering how you’re doing.”
“Oh. Fine, I guess.” Her main concern at the moment was August, but it didn’t seem right to tell him about that.
“How’s Olivia?”
“Better, actually. She’s starting to calm down.”
“Did she ever tell you she came to see me?”
“No. When?”
“A couple days after we arrived. She said she wanted to know why you liked me.” He chuckled. “I don’t think she figured it out.”
“Nah, she did. If she hadn’t, she would have told me how awful you were. I wondered why she suddenly stopped talking about you.”
His eyes held hers for several seconds.
“I should go,” Em said, breaking the silence. “Three days? You’ll come or send Galo?”
“I’ll come,” he said.
She took a step back, his face disappearing into the shadows. “Bye, Cas.”
“Bye, Em.”
She quickly turned away, her heart pounding in her ears. It was almost worse when he was nice to her. What did being nice mean? Was he over her? Was he moving on? It was far too early to move on. He had no right.
She put a hand on the side of her horse, letting out a slow breath. She could turn around and yell at him about it, maybe. But his footsteps were growing distant, and she just listened until they disappeared.
A hand clapped over Em’s mouth.
She gasped, the sound muffled against the hard grip on her mouth. She grabbed for her sword, but someone beat her to it. The handle slipped through her fingers.
“Do you think I’m an idiot?” a voice growled in her ear. August.
She twisted against him, panic shooting through her veins. He’d seen her talking to Cas. She’d just killed any hope of an alliance with Olso.
She launched her elbow backward, hitting soft flesh. August wheezed, the grip on her mouth loosening.
“Ca—” Another man darted in front of her and slapped his hand onto her mouth.
“Give it to me!” August said in a loud whisper.
A rope circled around her wrists. The man in front of her removed his hand and pulled a piece of cloth tightly around her mouth.
August leaned down so they were eye level. Even in the dark, she could see the fury on his face. “You’re going to regret the day you crossed me, Emelina.”
Cas mounted his horse, glancing behind him. Em had disappeared into the trees.
“It seemed like it went well.” Violet said. “With Em.”
“It did. She’s not ready to talk about an alliance between Lera and Ruina until Jovita is gone.”
“I heard that part. You know what I meant.”
“I don’t know. I—”
A sound echoed through the forest from behind him, cutting off his words. He looked over his shoulder.
“Did you hear that?”
“Yeah. Was it a bird?”
He jumped off his horse. “It sounded like Em.”
Violet jumped off her horse as well, following him back to where they’d met Em. He squinted in the darkness. He couldn’t hear the sound of her horse leaving.
A whisper echoed through the darkness. Then another.
He grabbed his sword, silently removing it from its sheath. He took another step forward, hidden behind the thick brush.
He spotted August’s light hair first, catching the moonlight. He was right in front of Em, surrounded by warriors. One was tying up Em’s hands.
He lunged forward, but Violet grabbed his hand, yanking him back. “Cas, look,” she breathed.
He followed her pointed finger. There was a group of at least twenty warriors on foot emerging from the trees. Em was still, her eyes narrowed and clear, but he could read the fear in her stiff shoulders. His heart jumped into his throat.
“I can’t leave her,” he whispered.
“There are only two of us,” Violet said, gripping his arm harder. “You can’t help her if you’re dead.”
His body began to shake. He couldn’t let them take Em. There was no telling what August planned to do to her.
He tossed Violet’s arm off and raised his sword.
“Cas,” Violet hissed. “What am I supposed to tell your people if you don’t return?”