“Galo. He’s from Lera.”
“You two are insane,” she muttered. She dropped his hand and stepped back. “Come in, come in. Before someone sees you.”
Aren and Galo stepped inside, and Bethania closed the door behind them. She ushered them into a small sitting room at the front of the house and gestured for them to sit on the couch. Papers were spread out all over the table in front of it, and Aren leaned forward to study them.
Bethania sat in the chair across from them, reaching over to shuffle the papers into order. “I’m working on Iria’s appeal. She’s only allowed one, so I’m doing as much research as possible.”
“How do you know Iria?” Aren asked.
“We dated a couple of years ago. We’re friends now.”
Aren blinked, surprised, and wondered if perhaps he’d read Iria completely wrong.
A smile twitched at the edges of Bethania’s mouth. “Don’t worry, she dates both men and women. She told me all about you, in fact.”
Galo made a sound like he was trying not to laugh. Aren felt his face warm.
“You’ve seen her since she came back?” Aren asked.
“No, only at the trial. But I saw her briefly after she came home from Lera the first time, before heading to Ruina. She told me about her time in the castle and the jungle with you and Em.”
A lump formed in Aren’s throat. Iria had told Bethania about him even before their time together in Ruina. He’d still been guarded and suspicious of her back then.
“You know I’m not here to help with an appeal, right?” he asked.
Bethania sighed and rubbed her forehead with two fingers. “I was afraid of that.”
“Would an appeal work?” Galo asked.
“If I could . . .” She trailed off, then pressed her lips together. “No. It would take a miracle. And Iria’s already been attacked once in prison. I’m not sure she has that much time.”
“What?” Aren sat up straighter. “Is she all right?”
“I heard she was injured, but not too seriously. Some guards claimed it was an accident, but they didn’t even bother trying to hide the truth.”
“Then I need to get her out as soon as possible,” Aren said. “Do you know anything about the prison? How hard would it be to break in?”
Bethania looked from him to Galo and back again. “It’s just you? And a Leran?”
“Yes.”
“He’s the most powerful Ruined alive,” Galo said.
“Still.” Bethania appeared skeptical. “She’s in the most secure prison in the country.”
“I can take out thirty warriors just by looking at them,” Aren said. “If I can just get an idea of what the prison is like, I can get her out of there in minutes.”
“And take her where?”
“Lera.”
Bethania winced slightly. She clearly didn’t like the idea of Iria leaving for Lera forever.
“It’s her only option,” Aren said quietly. “You can’t tell me she’d rather stay in a prison in Olso for the rest of her life?”
Bethania shook her head. “No, she wouldn’t. And from what I heard, they forced her back to Olso? She’d already decided to stay in Lera?”
Aren nodded.
“Then you should take her back to Lera.” She leaned forward, rubbing her palm across her forehead. “You’re going to have quite a time getting in. And out. But I think I can get you the general layout.”
“Any chance of help on the inside?”
“None.”
“Has there been anyone else?” Aren looked around, like they might pop out. “Anyone interested in helping Iria?”
Bethania waved one finger in a circle. “This is it.”
“Seriously?” Galo asked. “She must have had friends. They all deserted her?”
“In their opinion, she deserted them first.” She met Aren’s eyes. “Honestly, I’m glad you’re here. I don’t think she has anyone else.”
Aren blinked to keep back the sudden threat of tears. “Let’s get to work, then.”
TWENTY-SIX
CAS PUSHED OPEN the door to the north wing of the castle and stopped. A common room stretched out in front of him, and the two guards sitting in faded red chairs scrambled to their feet. It was evening, almost dinnertime, and the guards were out of uniform, in loose, comfortable clothing.
“No, don’t get up,” he said quickly. The guards didn’t sit. He’d never been in the guards’ quarters before—he figured they probably needed a space to relax where they didn’t have to worry about the royal family—but he wanted to find Mateo without having another guard fetch him.
“Can we help you with something, Your Majesty?” one of the guards asked.
“I’m looking for Mateo. Is he around?”
“I think he’s in his room, Your Majesty,” the guard said. “I’ll take you.”
“No, that’s fine. Can you just tell me which one it is?”
The guard hesitated, like he wasn’t sure if this was a test. He slowly pointed to the hallway to Cas’s right. “Down that hallway, last door on the left.”
“Thank you,” Cas said, turning on his heel and walking down the hall. He stopped at the last door and knocked.
“What?” Mateo’s voice called from inside.
“May I come in?” Cas asked.
The door swung open and Mateo’s eyes widened when they settled on Cas. “I’m—I’m sorry, I didn’t—”
“I know, you weren’t expecting me.” He bit back a laugh.
“That’s an understatement.” He stepped back, brow furrowed in confusion. “Do you want to come in? Or should I come out?”
Cas stepped into the small room, which contained only two small beds, a desk, and a wardrobe.
“Did you and Galo share a room?” he asked, realizing suddenly that he’d never been in Galo’s room when he lived down here.
“No, rooms are assigned by the captain of the guard. I was assigned to this one months ago, when I first arrived.”
Cas perched on the edge of one of the beds. “That must have been tough, trying to have a relationship when you both have roommates.”
Mateo let out a breath as he sat on the other bed. “Are you here to tell me bad news?” he asked, his words rushed. “Because I know Galo didn’t come back with Em, and someone told me he’s not dead, but he’s not here.”
“It’s not bad news,” Cas said. “I mean, it’s not good news, but—” He cut himself off before he terrified Mateo. “He went to Olso with Aren.”
Mateo blinked several times. “He went to Olso. With Aren,” he repeated slowly.
“Aren is breaking Iria out of prison. From what I understand, Galo offered to help.”
“Iria?” Mateo’s expression grew even more incredulous. “He doesn’t even know Iria! I know Iria better than he does—I traveled to the southern province with her and Aren.”
“I don’t know any more than you do. Galo said to tell you he was sorry, but he had to.”
Mateo made an annoyed noise. “He had to. Of course he did.” He flopped back on the bed with a moan. He quickly sat up again. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.”
“Mateo, I’m not here as the king. Do whatever you want.”
He dropped back on the bed dramatically. “It’s just dumb. We were running for our lives for weeks, and now, when we’re finally safe, he decides to go back out again. Stupid savior complex.”
“Does he have a savior complex?”
“Yes. He’ll deny it, but he definitely does. It’s how we ended up together.”
“I assumed you met on the guard,” Cas said.
“We did. He was assigned to some of my training when I joined. But we didn’t really get along until we were both on leave and—” He stopped suddenly, sitting up. “I just realized that maybe I shouldn’t tell you this.”
“Now you have to tell me.”
“It involves us doing something illegal. But for a good reason,” he added hastily.
> “Unless you’re about to tell me you were partnered with Em to kill us all, I really don’t care.”
“Not quite that bad.” He took a breath. “It was my brother. He was caught stealing. He’s not a bad guy, it’s just that our family was going through a hard time and he’s not known for his good decisions.” He looked anywhere but at Cas. “And, at that time, all criminals were being sent to join the hunters.”
“Oh,” Cas said, the shame of being his father’s son hitting him full force, once again.
“I didn’t think it was right, for him to basically be sentenced to death or become a murderer just for stealing some food,” Mateo said quietly.
“It wasn’t,” Cas agreed.
“So I decided to bust him out of prison, when they were transferring him,” Mateo said. “Galo came through town on his way back to the castle, and I was supposed to join him. But I was panicking at the time, and I told him everything, and he stayed and helped me.”
“You two were successful, then? You saved your brother?”
“We did. And Galo didn’t even know me that well at the time. If we’d been caught, the two of us would have been sentenced to the hunters as well. But he can’t pass up the opportunity to save someone.”
“Maybe he already liked you,” Cas said.
Mateo ducked his head with a smile. “Maybe.”
“Where’s your brother now?” Cas asked.
“Um, he was moving around a lot.”
“I didn’t ask so I can punish him.” He reached over and grabbed a pen and a slip of paper from the desk and handed them to Mateo. “Write his name down, along with the town where he committed the crime. I’ll send a pardon.”
Mateo blinked. “Seriously?”
“Yes. I’ve pardoned at least a hundred criminals recently who fled instead of joining the hunters. I’m happy to.”
Mateo looked like he might cry as he grabbed the paper and scribbled on it. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
Mateo handed the paper back to Cas. “Galo really didn’t say anything else? No hint as to why he’s going to save an Olso warrior he barely knows with a Ruined he doesn’t even like?”
“I think he and Aren are becoming friends, actually,” Cas said.
“Oh, wonderful. That makes me feel better. Galo’s becoming friends with the ridiculously attractive all-powerful man.”
Cas bit back a laugh. “I don’t think it’s going to be a romantic trip to Olso.”
“It better not be,” Mateo muttered. “But Aren will protect him, right? He really is as powerful as they say, so he has to protect him.”
“I’m sure he will,” Cas said, as much to reassure himself as Mateo. “I don’t think Aren would have let Galo go with him if he didn’t think he could protect him. And Galo probably has faith Aren can keep him safe, or he wouldn’t have gone. He’s not stupid.”
“No, he’s not,” Mateo said, almost begrudgingly. “But I wouldn’t be surprised if he went just to spite me.”
“That seems like a bit of an overreaction.”
“I did go on a recruitment trip just to avoid him,” Mateo said.
“He didn’t seem mad about that. Just sad.”
Mateo dropped his eyes. “Oh.”
“For what it’s worth, I would have been mad at him too, if I were in your shoes. We just got out of danger and he ran right back into it.” Cas cocked his head. “I am a little mad at him, actually. Why couldn’t he just stay here and save himself for a change?”
“Thank you,” Mateo said, spreading his arms wide. “That’s exactly what I said.”
“Give him a hard time when he comes back,” Cas said. “For the both of us.”
“Oh, I will.” He vigorously ran his hand through his hair, mussing the curls. “How is Emelina? Or, Queen Emelina? I’m sorry, I don’t know how to refer to her.”
“I don’t know how she likes to be addressed, honestly. The Ruined are pretty casual with one another. And she’s fine. I’m giving the Ruined some space this morning. Have they come out of their rooms?”
“Not that I’ve seen.”
“I wanted to talk to you about Em, actually. I need someone coordinating the security of the Ruined while they’re here. And she wants to get started with the Weakling, so I need someone in charge of getting guards and soldiers to help her. A few staff members, too.”
Mateo’s eyebrows shot up. “Me?”
“Em is wary of new people, and you’re the only guard she knows. Jorge can’t do it all, and he already agreed to let you take charge, if you’re up for it.”
“But . . . you know I’m not actually the best guard, right? I mean, I’m fine, they wouldn’t let me stay if I wasn’t, but there are certainly better ones. I’m not nearly as good with a sword as Galo is, for example.”
“Most people aren’t as good as Galo.”
“Well that’s true.”
Cas smiled. “I’ve seen you fight, Mateo. I’m not worried. But the Ruined are capable of protecting themselves. This is more about making them feel welcome, and safe. I think it would be better if Em has contact with other people in the castle besides me. And I don’t have a lot of people I trust a hundred percent.”
Mateo blinked, like he was surprised to discover he was one of those people.
“You’re welcome to say no. It’s a request, not an order,” Cas said.
“No, of course,” he said quickly. “I’d be happy to.”
“Good. Jorge has some information for you, so you should meet with him, and then go to Em. I think she was headed to the shed after speaking with the Ruined.”
“I’ll go right away.”
Cas stood and walked to the door. “Thank you, Mateo.” He smiled at him over his shoulder. “And I’m sure Galo will come back safe.”
“He better.”
Em found the Ruined in their rooms, and recruited Mariana and Gisela to head outside to the stables with her.
“How was last night?” Em asked as they walked down the hallway. A maid saw them coming and quickly ducked out of sight. “Any problems?”
“No problems,” Gisela said. Her face was neutral, less angry than it had been last night.
“We’re fine,” Mariana said. “Uh, some Ruined went . . . exploring this morning.” She looked over her shoulder like she might spot them lurking in a corridor.
“Exploring?” Em repeated.
“They’re just checking out the castle.” Gisela cocked an eyebrow. “Were they supposed to be confined to their rooms?”
“No. They’re free to roam.” Em pretended not to be nervous about Ruined just wandering the castle alone. They knew the polite thing to do was to wait for a guide to invite them on a tour.
Em pushed a door open and stepped out into the sunlight. She spotted the shed straight ahead, not far from the stables. She’d broken into it once, a few nights after she’d first arrived in the castle. It had been full of cutlery and candlesticks and other boring things that had probably been unwanted gifts.
No one had been protecting it then, but now two guards stood in front of it, watching as Em approached with Mariana and Gisela. Em stopped in front of them and they bowed.
“I’m here to take a look inside,” she said. “They told you I was allowed access?”
The female guard nodded and turned to unlock the door. She stepped back to allow Em inside.
A yell sounded from her left. She tensed, reaching for the dagger she’d slipped into her belt, and whirled around to face the stables.
Two young Ruined—Selena and Patricio—stumbled out of the stable, a guard and a stable hand hot on their heels. The guard pointed at them and yelled something. He put a hand on his sword.
Em broke into a run, headed for the stables. Gisela and Mariana followed close behind.
“We weren’t doing anything!” Selena yelled, her hands balled into fists at her side.
The guard opened his mouth to reply, but Patricio narrowed his eyes at him. The guard t
umbled backward, head over feet, and landed in a clump on the ground.
“Patricio, no!” Em skidded to a stop in front of him, blocking his view of the guards. “You can’t use your power on anyone in the castle.”
“He had a sword out,” Patricio said through gritted teeth. “Why shouldn’t I use my power on them?”
Em turned to see the sword on the ground, the guard scrambling to grab it. The stable hand looked utterly terrified. He turned and sprinted toward the castle.
The guard jumped to his feet, sword stretched toward Em. She didn’t reach for her dagger.
“Put your weapon away,” she said.
“They were snooping through every corner of the castle,” the guard said, ignoring her request. “I caught these two in the stable. They scavenged the whole castle. We haven’t determined yet if anything is missing.”
“If anything is missing?” Selena yelled. “Why do you assume we’re thieves?” She jumped forward and Em put an arm out, keeping her from the guard.
“You need to put that sword away,” Em said. “Now.”
The guard didn’t move. Dread began winding its way up her stomach. She’d be insane to think the Ruined could stay here. Maybe Olivia was right to think they could never coexist with humans. It hadn’t even been a full day and they were about to kill each other. She was right when she said she had no reason to trust—
“Dominic!” a voice yelled. Em turned to see Mateo striding across the castle lawn. “Queen Emelina just told you to sheathe your sword.”
Dominic’s sword twitched as he turned to look at Mateo. “Jorge said we could use our weapon if a Ruined used their powers on us.”
“You drew your sword first!” Patricio sneered at him. “You want to see how well you can hold a sword if I break all your fingers?”
“Patricio,” Em said sharply. He rolled his eyes, but he looked away from Dominic.
Mateo said something to Dominic that Em couldn’t hear, a hard edge to his voice. “Go. Now.” He pointed to the castle. Dominic glared at him, but he sheathed his sword and walked away.
Mateo turned to face him, his eyes flicking to the angry Ruined around her. If he was nervous, he was good at hiding it. His expression was calm, like he encountered this kind of situation often.