Allied (Ruined #3)(87)

Cas wore a matching expression. “I would definitely like that, if you’re willing.”

“I can’t say for sure, but there are three strong possibilities. And if I go up to a lookout, I can probably take a good guess.”

“I’ll get someone to take you to one,” Cas said.

Aren wrapped his fingers lightly around Iria’s wrist, a silent protest.

“It’s fine,” she said. “Go get the Ruined ready.”

He held on to her wrist a little tighter, reluctant to leave her, but Cas was already walking, calling orders to his guards. Iria pried her arm from his grip with a hint of a smile, and then stood on her toes to kiss his cheek.

“Go do what you’re best at, Aren.” She took a step back.

“What am I best at?”

She laughed like it was ridiculous that he didn’t already know. “Saving everyone.”

Cas was trying not to panic about Em. He’d gotten Iria to the lookout, and met with General Amaro, and reassured everyone that yes, they are actually coming, even though you can’t see them yet, but it was all done with panic bubbling just under the surface.

“—lock down the castle,” Jorge was saying, and Cas snapped back to attention. They were standing in the front entryway, Galo at Cas’s side. People zipped by them, shouting orders.

“Not until Em and Mariana and Mateo get back,” Galo said before Cas could. Jorge clearly wanted to protest.

“We can’t even see the army yet,” Cas said. “And Mariana is a very powerful Ruined. She’s the one who clouded the vision of our lookouts when Olso attacked. We need her here.”

“Fine, but as soon as they get back we need to put you in hiding,” Jorge said.

“I can’t hide. I need to . . .” It occurred to him that he wasn’t sure what he needed to do. He’d put Aren in charge of the Ruined. General Amaro was in charge of the soldiers.

“You need to stay safe, because everything will be thrown into chaos if you die,” Galo said. His gaze cut to Cas’s sword, which Cas had grabbed after parting with Aren. “So don’t even think about it.”

The castle doors banged open suddenly, and Cas whirled around, hope blooming in his chest. Em charged through the door, her face grim. She was followed by Mariana, Mateo, and several members of the Royal City Watch, and then, to Cas’s surprise, Jovita. His cousin had her hands bound in front of her, and her hair was wild and dirty, but she was just as disgusted as ever when her eyes met Cas’s.

Cas rushed forward, putting his hands on Em’s cheeks. “I’m so glad you’re back. Aren—”

“Cas, Jovita told—”

“There’s an army coming, and you can’t—”

“Cas!” Em said sharply, taking his hands off her cheeks and holding them tightly. “Jovita told Olivia about the secret passageway from the kitchen, the one they took to escape the Olso warriors. She could be in the castle right now.”

“It’s sealed,” Galo and Jorge said together, before Cas could even begin to panic.

Em was clearly surprised. “It is?”

“Of course,” Galo said. “I had it sealed off as soon as we took back the castle.”

Jovita let out a loud, extremely annoyed sigh. She muttered something Cas couldn’t hear.

“The Olso warriors were in here for weeks,” Jorge said, looking a bit insulted. “There’s no doubt they discovered it. We’d be fools to leave it open.”

“Oh,” Em said. Her brow crinkled. “What were you saying about an army?”

Cas quickly relayed Aren’s message, and her face grew more serious as she listened.

“That’s why Olivia let Jovita go today,” Em said. “She was tracking the army, and she knew when they were going to attack. Olivia needs that kind of chaos right now.” She took a step back, dropping Cas’s hands. “We know where she’ll be, then—at the lookout tower, trying to get in the passageway.”

“She can get in the passage from the tower,” Galo said. “We haven’t fully filled it in yet, so it’s just blocked off once she gets to the other side. She’ll have to turn around and go back.”

“I’m going to go find her. She’ll start killing people when she can’t get in.”

Cas shook his head. “No. You have to go beyond the castle walls to get to that lookout, and there’s an army coming.”

She held her hand out. “I’ll need your sword, then.”

He made an exasperated noise, but he unsheathed his sword and handed it to her, knowing that arguing would be pointless. She rose up on her toes and kissed him quickly before turning to run out the door.

“Your Majesty?”

Cas turned to find Franco in front of him, out of breath.

“The lookouts have spotted the army.”





FORTY-FIVE


AREN RACED DOWN the guards’ quarters, where he found half the Ruined lounging in their rooms or in the common area.

“Attack, now,” he said, walking down the halls and shouting it several more times. Ruined streamed out of their rooms, shrugging on jackets and lacing up boots. A guard stumbled out of a room with Gisela, blinking in surprise as he buttoned up his shirt.