He scooted away from the statue. His shoulder brushed Iria’s, and she fidgeted nervously as Violet outlined Cas’s plan to bring an army north.
She had one hand on her thigh, tapping her fingers rapidly against her pants. Aren put his hand over hers.
“You look nervous,” he said under his breath. Violet, Franco, and Esperanza were deep in conversation with Mateo and Ric about how to pull the army together, and it didn’t seem like they needed input from anyone else.
“I am nervous,” she whispered.
“I meant guilty. You look guilty.”
“That too.” She gestured at Violet and Franco. “They trust us.”
“Apparently.” He raised an eyebrow. “Should they?”
“… yes?” She laughed softly. “Yes. I just—”
“Aren.” Violet’s voice cut off Iria’s words, and they both turned to her. “Will you go with Franco and Mateo and Ric to round up as many people as possible? We’ll map out a route so you’ll be back by tonight.”
“What about you and Iria?”
“We’ll stay here. Someone needs to stay and greet people as they arrive.”
He glanced at Iria, hesitant to leave her alone.
“It’s fine,” she said.
“I’ll take care of her,” Violet said. “The first thing we’re going to do is put that sword away so no one knows you’re a warrior.”
“Former warrior,” Iria corrected quietly.
“Right. Let’s not advertise it.”
“Sure. I understand.”
Violet stood. “Good. Are you ready, Aren?”
“Now?” he asked.
“No time to waste, unfortunately. I’ll get some food together for you to take with you.”
He nodded and stood, Iria following him as he walked to the front door.
“You’re sure you’ll be all right here?” he asked.
“I think so.” She jerked her head at Violet. “She seems all right.”
He stepped a little closer to her. “What were you going to say before? You said they can trust you, but there was more.”
“You can trust me,” she said firmly. “I didn’t think about what it meant when I chose you. It makes sense that the Ruined would have turned to Lera after we betrayed you, I just didn’t imagine I’d be joining the Lera army.”
He swallowed, the words when I chose you vibrating through his body. “Do you regret it?” he asked quietly. “You can leave anytime. You know that, right?”
“I know. I told you I don’t regret it.”
“Ready?” Mateo asked, reaching past him to open the door. Aren nodded.
“Good luck,” Iria said. Mateo and Ric walked out the door, leaving it open behind them. The sunlight streamed across Iria’s face.
He took her hand again for a moment. He squeezed it because he couldn’t find the right words. She smiled, and he looked over his shoulder three times as he walked away so he could memorize it.
FORTY
CAS HAD A bag packed. He’d prepared the staff and guard to leave at a moment’s notice. He was constantly staring southeast, waiting for Violet to return.
The only thing he hadn’t done was kill Jovita.
He’d never had the opportunity, he tried to reassure himself. He was rarely alone with her.
The reality was, he hadn’t looked for an opportunity. Violet should have been back yesterday, so if he was really serious about killing Jovita, he would have already done it.
He sighed, leaning his head against the cool stone of the tower. He was at the highest point of the fortress with Galo and another guard, watching for Violet. The round tower was completely empty, nothing but a small window on one side, but it still felt cramped to Cas. He was more than ready to leave.
“She’ll come,” Galo said, misinterpreting Cas’s sigh.
“Do you think Jovita will try to stop us?” Cas asked carefully, aware of the other guard’s presence.
Galo met his eyes, sympathy flickering over his features. He didn’t answer; he just stared with an expression Cas didn’t understand.
“Your Majesty,” the other guard said excitedly. He pointed out the window.
Cas braced his hands against the bottom of the window, leaning forward to see as far as he could. In the distance, hundreds of people rode toward the fortress on horses. More than he could count. Lera flags flew at the front and back of the group.
Cas darted out of the tower and raced down the stairs. Galo stuck with him, but the other guard took off to inform the rest of the fortress.
A soldier raced past Cas to the parlor. Jovita’s voice drifted out a moment later.
“What? With Lera flags?” she asked.
“Yes. From the southeast,” the soldier said.
Jovita burst out of the parlor. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Cas. “You know something about this?” she demanded.
He strode outside, footsteps scurrying after him. He glanced over his shoulder to see guards and soldiers brushing past Jovita to follow Cas.
“Open the gates!” he yelled. One of the gate guards looked past Cas, confused, but the others immediately followed the order.
“Cas!” Jovita grabbed his shirtsleeve, forcing him to turn. “What are you doing?”
“Leaving.” He shook her off. “We’re riding north to take back the castle. Any of the soldiers or advisers are welcome to come with me. You are not.”
She opened her mouth like she was going to argue, but her eyes caught something behind him. She paled.
Cas turned. The army was approaching the gate. Violet rode at the front, Franco beside her. A man walked in front of them, the man who had gotten Jovita’s attention. Aren.
“The bad one’s back!” Aren yelled, spreading his arms wide as he walked through the gate. Jovita scrambled backward. She hissed an order to a few hunters.
Aren pointed to her. “Don’t make me kill you.” He strode to Cas, a small smile crossing his face. Cas didn’t think he’d ever seen Aren smile. Not at Cas, anyway.
“Em?” Cas asked.
He shook his head. “I haven’t seen her or Olivia yet.”
Cas tried to keep the panic radiating through his body off his face. What if that was the last time he saw her? What if he’d just let those warriors take her and they hurt her?
Everyone was staring at him. He didn’t have time to fall apart about Em right now. He needed to believe she could take care of herself so he could focus on the task at hand. It’s what she would do.
Julieta and Danna walked out of the fortress with General Amaro. The general slowed when she spotted Aren, but she nodded at Cas. Soldiers fell into step behind her.
“If any of the other advisers would like to join me, feel free,” Cas said to the crowd lingering around Jovita. “If you don’t come now, I promise you will never be welcome in the castle again.”
Cas walked past Jovita to the gate, Aren on one side and Galo on the other. Horse hooves pounded the ground, and Mateo jumped off a horse and walked it over to Cas. He’d already attached Cas’s bag to the saddle.
“Thank you,” Cas said, taking the reins.
A group of hunters ran toward the staff members leaving the stables on horses, their swords drawn, and Cas pointed at them.
“Would you mind?”