He’d said It’s fine to his father this afternoon. His father had just patted Cas on the back and given him a look of approval.
“No, it’s not,” Cas repeated.
“I think she really did care about you,” Galo said.
“Are you trying to make me feel better?”
“No! I think she did.” He rubbed the blue bruise on his chin. Emelina had given it to him. “She didn’t kill me. She took the sword from Iria and didn’t let her do it.”
“They needed to run,” Cas said.
“There was plenty of time to kill me, to make sure I didn’t run after them.” One side of his mouth lifted. “And as much as I’d like to think it’s because of my sparkling personality, I suspect she spared me because I’m your friend.”
“They could have killed me too, I guess.” Cas scrubbed a hand down his face. “I ran after them without a sword, like an idiot.”
Though if Emelina wanted to kill him, she had plenty of other opportunities. She could have done it in his bed, as he slept.
That had to mean something, right?
Cas laughed out loud at the ridiculousness of it all. Was he really grateful that his wife hadn’t killed him?
My wife didn’t smother me with a pillow! Must be love!
He closed his eyes for a moment. “Are they sending you south? My father said he was ordering a few of my guards to join the search for her.”
“No, I’m staying here. They’ve asked me to act as captain of your guard. Temporarily.”
“They have?”
“Yes. If that’s all right with you.”
“Of course it is. You know you’ll be captain of my guard one day, permanently.”
A hint of a smile crossed Galo’s face. “Thank you.” He paused, his expression turning more serious. “May I make a request, as your temporary captain?”
“Sure.”
“Don’t run after Emelina again?”
“You ran after her as well.”
“Cas,” Galo said, with a hint of annoyance.
“You can make that request, but I won’t promise you anything.” He slowly got to his feet. The room felt too small suddenly, like just talking about Emelina had filled all the space around him. “I’m going to get some fresh air.”
“You know that now isn’t the time to leave the castle walls, right?”
“Of course. I’ll just be in the gardens.”
Galo took the hint that Cas wanted to be left alone and didn’t follow the prince out of his rooms. The hallways and kitchen were deserted, and he pushed open the back door to the gardens.
The cool night air blew across his face, and he took in a deep breath as he walked across the grass. He sat down at the base of a tree, stretching his legs out in front of him. Would people think it was weird if he slept out here beneath the stars?
He leaned his head back against the tree, listening to the hum of chirping crickets and the sound of the breeze tossing the leaves around. He didn’t care if people thought it was weird. At least out here there was plenty of air. Even Emelina couldn’t fill up this space.
A boom woke Cas from his sleep. His eyes flew open.
A second boom sounded in the distance.
The yelling began so suddenly his body lurched, his feet slipping on the grass as he scrambled to his feet.
A bell started ringing.
Someone was sounding the alarm to warn of an attack.
Cas ran for the back door, throwing it open and racing through the kitchen and into the foyer.
“Cas? Cas!” Galo’s voice echoed through the castle from upstairs as Cas ran through the foyer. The hallways were suddenly flooded with light as the staff rushed to ignite the lanterns.
“Here!” Cas called.
Galo’s footsteps pounded above him, and he appeared at the top of the stairs, his face grim. He raced down.
“Olso is attacking on the shore. We have to get you out of here immediately.”
Panic gripped Cas as the guards and household staff began running past him. They were unprepared for a fight. Emelina had been gone only two days, and they’d yet to call all the hunters back from Vallos and Ruina. Many of the guards were headed south, to search for her.
“We’ll go out the passageways in back,” Galo said, tugging on his arm.
Screams ripped through the air, and Cas twisted around to find his mother sprinting across the foyer with a guard close behind her. She wore a purple robe that had come mostly undone, her white nightgown peeking out as she ran.
“I won’t go without Cas!” she yelled.
“I’m right here,” Cas said, and she raced to him, her braid flying behind her.
“Into the passageways, now,” Galo said, giving them a push.
His mother grabbed his hand, and Cas looked over his shoulder as she pulled him with her. “Where is Father?”
“His guards will take care of him,” Galo said firmly.
The sound of glass breaking shattered the brief quiet, and Cas flinched, ducking his head as something hurtled through the front window.
Flames burst from the object, and the guards circled around it, stomping it out with their feet.