“Yes, yes, I know. You were such a kind soul to agree to marry me, and I should fall at your feet and thank you for kidnapping me.”
August’s nostrils flared. “Betrayal has a price.”
“You’re all about to find out just how high that price is,” Em said.
“And even putting aside the political benefits, it was still better for you,” August said, ignoring her last comment. “You’re not that pretty, and you’re Ruined. There’s still a chance you could develop some of those hideous marks and look even worse than you do now.”
“August,” Lucio said sharply. “There’s no need to be rude.”
“I’m never developing any Ruined marks,” Em said. “But if I’d known you found them so unattractive I would have wished for them harder.”
August muttered something she couldn’t hear.
She leaned forward, putting her elbows on the table. “Let me ask you a question. Did you kidnap me because I betrayed you, or are you simply throwing a tantrum because I don’t like you?”
His sour expression hinted that it was the latter, and she laughed as she picked up her fork again.
“So what does Casimir have that he doesn’t?” George asked, amusement in his voice. August frowned at him.
Everything? She didn’t know where to start. She didn’t have words for Cas anymore. Kind and reasonable and thoughtful didn’t even seem enough now. She could spend an hour explaining everything about him—his willingness to stay with her, his strength when he decided to go back to the fortress, the way his lips turned up in a smile when he woke up with her by his side, the determination in his expression when he said he was going to kill Jovita, even though she knew, deep down, he would never do it—and no one here would even begin to understand him.
Tears welled in her eyes, and she looked up from her plate, letting the table see them. Let that be the answer to George’s question.
“Stop teasing our guest,” Lucio said.
“Prisoner,” she corrected.
George laughed and clapped Dante on the shoulder. “What about Dante, Emelina? Do you like the look of him? I’d really like to marry you off to one of my brothers. Dinner would be so much more interesting.”
“I will pass on that charming offer. You’ll all be dead once Olivia arrives anyway.”
Lucio’s wife paused with her fork halfway to her mouth and shot her husband a worried glance. He shook his head and patted her hand.
“Besides, I think my sister was right,” Em continued. “I shouldn’t have considered the alliance. You did nothing to save us when the Ruined were being exterminated. You only want our help when it’s convenient for you.”
George had the decency to shift in discomfort, but Lucio waved his hand dismissively. “We weren’t in a position to help then.”
“Sure you weren’t.”
Lucio changed the subject, and Em took a bite of her meat and tuned them out. What would have happened if she’d listened to Olivia and sent the warriors packing? She wouldn’t be trapped in the Olso castle, for one.
But she wasn’t sure they would have been able to successfully invade Sacred Rock. Or maybe the Vallos soldiers might have taken the city back when they attacked. The Ruined might have simply starved to death without the warrior’s supplies.
She was grateful to August for that, at least. Not that she would tell him that. His head was big enough without any help from her.
She looked up to see him watching her, and a smile spread across her face.
“What?” he asked.
“I’m just so grateful I don’t have to marry you. I’m feeling really smug about how smart I am.”
The table burst out laughing again.
THIRTY-EIGHT
“EM, WAKE UP!”
“Emelina! Wake up!”
“They’re attacking! We have to go!” Damian’s voice echoed in Em’s ears as she struggled to escape from sleep’s grasp. Damian. Why was Damian in her room?
She gasped, sitting straight up. August stood next to her bed, his panicked face illuminated by the lantern in his hand.
“Olivia’s here,” he said. “We need you to talk to her. Quickly, before she kills anyone else.”
“I told you,” Em said, glaring at him as she threw her blankets off.
“Would you just hurry? She won’t listen to anyone.”
She grabbed her pants and pulled them up her hips. August walked to the door, leaving her in darkness as she tore her nightshirt off and pulled on the shirt and jacket Lucio had provided her. She laced up her boots and ran into the hallway to meet August.
Screams greeted her. They drifted up from below and outside. She could smell smoke.
Damian reached for her hand. “Stay with me. Don’t drop my hand, no matter what.”
Em took in a shaky breath and closed her eyes until the image of Damian standing in front of her dissipated.
August grabbed her wrist, roughly tugging her to the stairs. They ran down them and through the hallway, to the people standing in the smoky main entryway. Lucio and his family. Three kids were huddled together in a clump, one of them clinging to George’s leg.
“Where is she?” Em asked Lucio.
“Outside. I’ll come with you,” Lucio said.
“That’s not a good idea.”
He shot her a look that clearly said he didn’t care. He ran to the door, warriors appearing from all sides to accompany them. Em wondered if they actually thought they could keep their king safe.
The cold air stung her face as the doors swung open. She gasped at the scene in front of her.
Well over a hundred Ruined were making their way to the castle. The drawbridge was still up, so many were swimming across the moat, bodies of warriors floating around them. The torches lining the castle gate were lit, casting a yellow glow over the water.
A good number of Ruined were already on land, holding torches and using their magic to fan the flames already licking up the side of the castle.
Olivia stood near the edge of the moat, her clothes dripping and plastered to her body. She must have been freezing.
“Olivia!” Em screamed, running toward her.
Olivia whirled around. Her face was pale, her lips blue, but her eyes were clear and furious.
“I’m fine,” Em said, grabbing her sister’s hand. “Please stop.”
Olivia looked Em up and down, as if confirming she was really fine. “Why?” she asked.
Em didn’t have a good response to that. Not one that would convince Olivia, anyway. “Let’s just go,” she said, holding Olivia’s hand tighter.
“Olivia.” Lucio’s voice was cautious as he approached them. “I’m King Lucio. I—”
“Oh, good.” Olivia dropped Em’s hand and narrowed her eyes at Lucio’s chest. She caught the king’s heart as it flew out of his chest. She tossed it over her shoulder. “I thought it was going to be harder to find him.”
Em pressed a hand to her mouth. Lucio’s body hit the ground with a thud. No one could say she hadn’t warned him.