Allied (Ruined #3)(84)

Of course, Em had failed as well. She was no longer able to protect Olivia, and Olivia certainly had no interest in protecting Em.

“Do you mind me asking questions about Ruina and your family?” Mateo asked quietly. “I understand if it’s too painful.”

It was painful, but she smiled at him anyway. “No, I don’t mind. I would prefer you ask, honestly. There are a lot of misconceptions about us.”

“That’s true. Someone asked Cas if you all had horns a few weeks ago.”

“Horns?”

“Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that.”

Em laughed as she pushed open the door to the guards’ quarters. Mariana was sprawled out on a couch in the guards’ common room, and she waved when they walked in. Two female guards sat in the chairs across from her.

“Did you hear someone thought we had horns?” Em asked.

“Yeah, one of the guards told me.” She patted her head. “I’d look cute with horns, I think.”

“You would,” one of the guards confirmed. Mariana smiled at her.

“Do you want to go for that walk?” Em asked. “Mateo’s coming with us.”

Mariana hopped to her feet. “I’m ready.” She followed Em and Mateo out of the castle and into the late-afternoon sunlight. They walked east down the dirt path, in the direction Em had gone once with Galo and Cas, the first time she’d seen Royal City.

“Have they given you a decision about your marriage to Cas yet?” Mariana asked as they walked.

“Not yet. It was just yesterday that I, uh . . .”

“Politely pointed out that a marriage alliance with you is actually a very smart choice?” Mateo guessed.

She laughed. “Is that how Galo described it?”

“He said something like that.” Mateo gave her an amused look. “Did you have to convince the other Ruined as well?”

“No, we were fine with it,” Mariana said. “As long as she rules equally with Cas.”

“We should get some Ruined together tomorrow and do this again,” Em said, looking up at the cloudless sky. “They should see the city they’ll be living in.”

“I can have a few more guards accompany them tomorrow, if you want to bring all of them,” Mateo said.

“All the Ruined at once,” Mariana said. “That won’t terrify people.”

“Maybe half,” Em said with a laugh. “We’ll ease them in.”

They were nearing the city, and Em noticed Mariana’s shoulders stiffen as they passed a group of women engrossed in conversation. They didn’t even glance at the Ruined marks visible on Mariana’s arms.

“Or they won’t notice us at all,” Mariana said happily.

They rounded a corner, the buildings of Royal City now in front of them. Em could hear the bustle of the city as they approached—horse hooves on the road, carts creaking, the sound of people shouting orders to each other. But another sound cut through it all, loud and sharp.

A scream.

Em came to a sudden stop. Mateo drew his sword. Mariana surveyed Em.

“You didn’t bring a sword,” she said.

“There’s a dagger in my boot. I thought a sword might make it appear like I was looking for a fight.”

“We may have found one, whether you were looking for it or not,” Mariana said as another yell ripped through the air, followed by a crash.

“Let’s go see,” Em said, breaking into a jog. The logical part of her brain knew it probably wasn’t Olivia—there was no fire, and certainly not enough screaming—but her heart pounded anyway.

She ran in the direction of the scream, Mateo picking up his pace to run slightly in front of her. They skidded to a stop as they turned onto Main Street. A fruit cart was overturned, and an elderly woman sat on the ground with a hand pressed to her bloody head. A few people were running down the street, following a person Em couldn’t quite make out.

“That can’t be Olivia,” Mariana said. She’d obviously been thinking the same thing. “She wouldn’t run. Not away from violence, anyway.”

A young man rushed to the side of the elderly woman, and Em grabbed the cart and righted it. Mateo helped her.

“Who was that?” she asked.

“The king’s cousin,” the young man said, bending down to examine the woman’s wound.

“What? Jovita?” Em whirled around, but the end of the street was empty. She turned back to the woman, who was trying to wipe blood from her eyes.

“Do you have a clean rag?” Em asked the man.

He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and handed it to her. Em grabbed a jug of water from beside the cart and held it up. “Is this yours?” The woman nodded. Em poured some water on it, then knelt down next to the woman, who hesitantly moved her hand from the wound. It was deep, but the bleeding had slowed. Em wiped the blood from her face, then folded the fabric and pressed it to her forehead. The woman winced.

“Just keep pressure on it so it doesn’t start bleeding too bad,” she said. “And don’t try to get up. You might feel woozy if you stand.”

The woman nodded, blinking at Em like she’d just realized who she was. The man was staring at Mariana’s arms. Em stood, putting her hands on her hips.