Allied (Ruined #3)(66)

Tears sprang to Iria’s eyes as she limped forward. Bethania eased the door wider and opened her arms, enveloping Iria in a hug as soon as she stepped over the threshold.

Iria couldn’t stop the tears now that they’d started, and her shoulders shook as Bethania held her tighter.

“I can’t believe they actually did it,” Bethania murmured, her tone almost amused.

Iria smiled through her tears. “They had a bit of help from you?”

“Some. But I let those crazy boys go in on their own.”

Iria laughed as she pulled away. Her bruised eye stung as she wiped her tears away. “That was probably smart.”

Bethania stepped back, waving Aren and Galo in. “Come on. Quickly.”

Iria stepped farther into the house. The front two rooms were completely empty, a few pieces of trash scattered on the wooden floors, like someone had just moved out.

“I knew the house was vacant,” Bethania said, following her gaze. “We have some clothes for you, and food. We don’t think it’s smart to stay long in this area, because they’ll probably go house to house when they can’t find you on the road.”

“We’re going to wait until they sweep the roads in this area, then we’ll go back out,” Aren said. “Bethania got us some horses.”

“I stole them,” Bethania admitted.

“You always were stealthy,” Iria said. She slid down the wall and hit the ground heavily.

“Why are you limping?” Bethania asked.

“I was injured,” Iria said, closing her eyes briefly. It seemed easier to not look at any of them. All of them had matching worried expressions on their faces. Even Galo, a man she’d barely spoken to, seemed alarmed.

“How?” Aren asked.

“A knife. They had to take off part of my foot.”

“Who?” Aren asked sharply. “One of the guards?”

Iria nodded wordlessly.

“Does it hurt?” Bethania asked. “I can maybe find bandages, if you need.”

She started to say no, but the bandages hadn’t been changed today and the last thing she needed was an infection.

“We should probably change them,” she admitted.

“I have some fresh clothes for you too,” Bethania said. She ushered Galo and Aren out of the room and sat in front of Iria with new bandages.

Iria leaned her head back against the wall. “Thank you. For asking them to leave. I need a moment.”

“I could tell.” One side of Bethania’s mouth lifted as she unwrapped the old bandages on Iria’s foot. “I can also tell you’re happy to see Aren.”

“Yes, well.”

“It’s complicated?”

Iria blew her hair out of her face. “Yes.”

“I like him. He’s crazier than you are, which is saying something.”

Iria laughed, her first genuine laugh in weeks. Bethania had thought she was insane to volunteer for the mission to Lera to help Em, and she hadn’t been shy about expressing that feeling.

Of course, this whole situation proved her right. Iria decided not to mention that.

“They really took off a substantial portion of your foot,” Bethania said as she bandaged it. “Was it that bad of an injury?”

“I don’t know, I passed out. It was a very large knife, though they might have decided to amputate instead of treating just to spite me.”

“Bastards,” Bethania muttered. She finished and sat back, glancing over her shoulder. Aren and Galo were still out of sight, and Iria could hear mumbled conversation from another part of the house. “They’re taking you back to Lera. Is that what you want?”

“Do I have any other choice?”

“I’m sure we could come up with something.”

“Lera is fine. Is Aren . . .” She trailed off, her eyes darting to the door. “What part of Lera? Is he dropping me somewhere?”

“Let’s change your clothes and you can ask him yourself.” She tossed Iria brown pants and a white shirt. Iria slowly got to her feet and changed, tossing her prison clothes aside. The new clothes were softer against her skin, and she gratefully shrugged into a warm coat. It wasn’t that cold, but she was shivering nonetheless.

Bethania opened the door and called for Aren and Galo as Iria plopped down on the floor again.

“Iria was asking where you’re going,” Bethania said.

Aren met Iria’s gaze. “Em’s at the castle with a bunch of other Ruined. We’re going there, if that’s all right with you.”

“And Olivia?”

“She’s on her own. I’m staying with you in the Lera castle. I won’t leave you.”

She felt more relieved than she wanted to admit. She didn’t want to go to Lera by herself, especially not now.

Aren reached into a bag and pulled out a canteen and something wrapped in a cloth. He sat down in front of her, crossing his legs. A piece of the cloth flopped over, revealing a sandwich.

Her fingers brushed his as she took the sandwich. He looked at her as if he had a million things he wanted to say, but he just lowered his eyes. Maybe it was because Bethania and Galo were there, or maybe he just felt too awkward. She’d thought he was going to kiss her that night in the woods, when he’d told her she’d have to go to Royal City without him, and the uncomfortable buzz of that night still lingered between them.