Allied (Ruined #3)(20)

“I’m assuming you agree with my Ruined policies?” Cas asked Jorge.

“I do.”

“You understand it is my sincere hope that you will have direct contact with Emelina Flores soon, and often, and I’ll expect you to protect her the same way you protect me?”

“Yes.”

“Good.”

Cas asked a few more questions about security, then Galo ushered Jorge out of the room.

“Would you like to talk to a few more guards, or have you made a decision?” Galo asked, standing in front of Cas’s desk.

“I think it should be Jorge.”

Galo smiled. “I agree.”

“Why don’t you go change out of your uniform and meet me in the Ocean Room? I have a meeting and I’d like you to attend.”

“The meeting with Violet and Franco?” Galo asked, clearly surprised.

“And Danna and Julieta.”

“Are you sure?” Galo asked.

“I’m sure.” Cas wasn’t sure what role Galo should fill now that he wasn’t a guard, but he was happy to have another person he could trust. Surely he could find something for Galo to do, and Cas would start by keeping him by his side during important meetings.

Galo hurried out of the office, and Cas ate a few bites of the lunch a staff member brought him. Then he headed to the meeting, guards trailing after him. They stopped at the door of the Ocean Room and he stepped inside.

Everyone was already there, including Galo, now dressed in black pants and a crisp blue shirt. They all stood when Cas entered the room.

“Have a seat,” Cas said, sliding into the chair at the head of the table. Violet was on one side of him, Franco on the other. Next to them were Julieta and Danna, and Galo at the end.

“You all look grim,” Cas said. “Did Olivia attack another town?”

“No, Your Majesty,” Franco said. “She appears to have gone back to Westhaven after killing everyone in Fayburn.”

“It’s Jovita,” Violet said. Her voice was gentle, her eyes worried, and Cas already knew what she was going to say.

“She poisoned me,” he said. “You found out for sure.”

“Yes. I’m sorry, Cas.”

His stomach dropped into his feet. He’d known it, deep down, but maybe a part of him had still hoped she didn’t hate him that much. She hadn’t even had the decency to kill him herself. She’d just sent someone in with poisoned soup.

“How did you find out?” Galo asked after a brief silence.

“We talked to some of the guards,” Franco said. “Discreetly. Which led us to some people in the refugee shelters, who spoke to us once we assured them we wouldn’t try them for treason as well. None of them actually participated, they just knew of the plan,” he added quickly.

“We’re recommending a couple of guards be let go, because they didn’t come forward with this information earlier,” Violet said.

“You should pass the names along to Jorge,” Galo said. “He’ll take care of it right away.”

Violet nodded.

“This is not new information,” Julieta said. “Most of us suspected it was Jovita. And as long as Jovita is alive, she poses a threat. We understand that you’re not completely opposed to killing her, Your Majesty.”

The words were said so bluntly that Cas blinked, surprised. He glanced at Violet, who was chewing on her lip across from him. She must have told them that he’d asked if the soldiers could take care of Jovita.

“I . . . ,” he began, before realizing he didn’t know what to say.

“No one would blame you,” Violet said quietly. “She threatens the safety of everyone here.”

“Is there any news of her army?”

“It’s growing,” Danna said. “Jovita is smart, and determined. We all know what she’s capable of. We can’t just ignore her. She will attack again, Your Majesty.”

The words triggered a memory, and Cas suddenly heard his father’s voice in his head. Imagine if you were alone with him. Look what he’s capable of. He’d said it to Cas the night he’d captured Damian, as they watched the Ruined use his elemental powers as a result of being tortured. Cas remembered asking who Damian was, and what he’d done, and his father only had one answer: he was Ruined.

The situation with Jovita wasn’t the same—she’d technically broken Lera law by trying to take the throne. He could sentence her to death for treason and attempted murder and no one could argue.

But this had always been his father’s solution. Whether he was scared, or angry, or unsure, he always made the same choice. Kill them before they became a threat. Even if Cas had a better reason than his father, if the outcome still resulted in death, how was Cas any different?

Murmured voices sounded from behind the door, followed by running footsteps. Cas instinctively stiffened, waiting to hear the sounds of Olso attacking. He found himself listening for them at the first sign of trouble. They may have fled when the Ruined came to Lera, but he wasn’t convinced they were gone forever.

“Wait here, Your Majesty,” Franco said, jumping to his feet and flying out of the room. Galo stood and positioned himself in front of the door.

Franco darted back into the room a few moments later, breathless and eyes wide. “They’re saying Emelina Flores is at the gates. Alone.”