Allied (Ruined #3)(53)

“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?”