Em’s breath caught in her throat, a tiny glimmer of hope shining through the doubt. “I—I don’t know if …” She didn’t know anything. She didn’t know how to end that sentence.
“You know,” Cas said. He was so close to her their foreheads were almost touching. “You just have to make a choice. And I have faith you’re going to make the right one.” He put both hands on her cheeks and kissed her. She wrapped her fingers around his wrists and kissed him back.
He pulled away and met her eyes. “I love you. I’ll see you soon.”
She almost reached for him as he walked to his horse. She felt like she would fall over without him holding her up.
“Cas, I …” She let her words trail off, but the apology was etched all over those words.
He smiled at her over her shoulder. “You’ll make the right decision. I’ll see you soon.”
She quickly turned, blinking away tears. He had more faith in her than she deserved. She couldn’t stay with him. It wasn’t the right choice; it wasn’t a choice at all.
Was it?
She couldn’t help but think that Ruina no longer felt like home because he wasn’t there.
She kept her back to him for several long moments, afraid that if she turned around, she’d see his face and run straight back to him. When she finally looked, he’d disappeared, lost in the crowd of horses and soldiers.
She reached for her horse, grasping his saddle and swinging one leg over him. There would be no choice to make if Olivia killed Cas and leveled the city.
She drove the horse forward, heading west. The trees were no longer moving, but smoke rose from the outskirts of town. Em kicked her heels into the side of the horse, urging him to go faster.
“Olivia!” She started yelling before she could see her sister or any of the Ruined. She yelled her sister’s name as she passed a burning farmhouse, as she followed the trail they’d left in the dirt. She yelled Olivia’s name like if she screamed it loud enough, she could actually stop all of this.
Em rounded a corner and found Olivia stopped in the middle of the dirt road. The Ruined stood in clumps around her, their faces tight with exhaustion. There were fewer than in Sacred Rock. They’d lost at least twenty, it seemed. Homes dotted either side of the road around them, but Em didn’t see any people.
“Em,” Olivia said, without a trace of surprise.
Em jumped off her horse and walked to her sister. She took a deep breath to steady her voice. “What are you doing here?”
“What are you doing here?” Olivia’s tone suggested she already knew.
“The warriors dropped me in Lera. It was safer to stay with Cas until I found you.” She took a step closer to her sister. “Did you follow us here?”
“Yes.”
“Why didn’t you show yourself sooner? I was worried.”
Something like regret flashed over Olivia’s face, but it was gone as soon as it came. “I wanted to see Royal City for myself.”
“If you destroy the city—”
“I have no intention of destroying it. I’m going to stay.”
“Stay,” Em repeated slowly.
“There’s nothing left for us in Ruina. I’d rather stay here. What will Cas think about that?”
Em stared at her sister. Cas would let them stay if they agreed to live peacefully. But she had a feeling that wasn’t what Olivia was planning.
“Wouldn’t you rather live in Lera?” Olivia asked. She took a step closer to Em, hope flitting across her face. “I know Ruina is our home, but …”
But it was destroyed. And it was never as nice as Lera, even before the invasion. Olivia didn’t finish her sentence—perhaps she didn’t want to say the words out loud—but Em knew what she meant.
“I would rather live in Lera,” Em admitted quietly. “If you agree to sign a peace agreement, Cas would let us stay. I’m sure of it.”
Olivia face hardened. “I’m not signing a peace agreement. Not unless it comes with the heads of the Casimir and all the advisers.”
“No.” The word came out harsher than she’d intended it. Em was tired of having this conversation with Olivia. She wouldn’t explain again why Cas didn’t deserve her rage.
“That’s what I thought.” Olivia whirled around, striding in the direction of the city. Most of the Ruined followed her, but a few hesitated, regarding Em worriedly.
“Stop!” Em yelled.
Olivia came to a halt, but she waited a few seconds before turning around. Her eyes flashed as she looked at Em.
“We agreed that I took care of our interactions with humans,” Em said. “This counts. As your queen, I’m ordering you all to stand down.”
Olivia muttered something to Jacobo. He nodded and slipped something into Olivia’s hand. She kept it behind her back as she strode to Em.
“You were queen because I let you,” Olivia spat. “You’ve lost that privilege now.”
Em took in a sharp breath. Olivia’s words hurt even more the second time.
“This land was originally ours, and I’m taking it back. Cas can get out of the way, or lose his life along with his kingdom.” Olivia snapped her fingers and Jacobo and another Ruined rushed to her side. She pulled out a rope from behind her back.
Em took a step away from her sister, but it was too late. The two Ruined grabbed her by either arm, holding her in place.
“I’m sorry,” Olivia said as she wrapped the rope around Em’s hands. Em tried to pull them free, but the men’s grips were too tight. “I’ve cleared this area, so you should be safe until I come back. This is for the best. Trust me.”
I don’t. Tears pricked Em’s eyes as the words surfaced. She didn’t trust Olivia. Not even a little.
The men pushed her to the ground, and Olivia wrapped a leather belt around Em’s legs. She nodded as she stood.
“Good. That should hold her until we’re finished.” She squinted past Em. “I don’t sense Aren in the area. He must have stayed with the others.” She looked at Em for confirmation.
Em stared down at the ground. She’d been cocky when she told Cas she could stop Olivia. Had she really thought she could reason with her sister?
Olivia patted Em’s head. “I’ll be back soon. Don’t worry.”
Em rested her chin on her knees, refusing to meet Olivia’s gaze. Her sister walked away, the Ruined following her. None of them stayed with Em.
FORTY-FIVE
CAS LOOKED OVER his shoulder, even though it had been several minutes since he’d rode away from Em and he couldn’t see her anymore. Part of him could still feel her standing there, staring after him like he was insane.
She was going to make the right decision. He’d been certain of it before, but after seeing the way she looked at him, he would bet his life on it. She would come back to him soon.
He rode toward the city, weaving in between his soldiers until he was at the front of the line. Galo jogged to him on foot, looking up at Cas in concern.
“You should stay in the middle of the pack, Your Majesty.”
“Your Majesty? We’re being formal today?”
“I’ve decided to call you Your Majesty when we’re going into battle.”