Ruined (Ruined, #1)(16)

Cas’s smile faded. “I guess you have. The Ruined are all over Vallos, aren’t they?”

“They were. There are less now.”

“And they attacked often?”

Anger swirled in her gut as his features dropped in sympathy. Sympathy because she had to deal with those awful, evil Ruined.

“They were being hunted down and murdered, so yes, they defended themselves often.” The words tumbled out of her mouth before she could stop them. She didn’t care. She’d say them again, just to watch that stupid baffled expression cross his face.

“Do you—” He sat up straighter, wincing in pain.

“I should let you rest,” she said quickly, before he could finish that sentence. The last thing she wanted to do was talk about the Ruined with the prince. It was unlikely she’d be able to keep her temper in check.

She took a step away from the bed and he reached out, catching her hand in his. He wore a thoughtful expression, his eyes soft and completely unlike his father’s. “I’d like to hear about your experiences with the Ruined sometime. If you don’t mind talking about it.”

“Sure,” she lied, hoping he would forget that request.

He rubbed his thumb across her fingers. She noticed for the first time that red and purple had bloomed across her knuckles, where she’d punched the man.

“Do you need the doctor to look at your hand?” He loosened his grip, as if he was afraid he was hurting her.

“No, it’s fine,” she said. “Just a bruise.”

He slowly released her. She ducked her head as she walked to the door, but she couldn’t resist glancing back at him before she left. Light flickered off his bare chest from the lantern next to his bed, and he tossed a piece of dark hair out of his eyes.

“Good night,” he said.

She grasped the knob, mumbling a good-night as she wrenched the door open and walked out of his room.





SEVEN


CAS QUICKLY TURNED his head at the sound of footsteps approaching his door. He’d been alone most of the morning, and his first thought—or hope—was that it was Mary. He shifted against his pillows, running a hand through his hair.

The door opened to reveal Galo, and Cas tried to convince himself he wasn’t disappointed.

“Your Highness,” Galo said as he stepped into the room.

“Are we being formal this morning?”

“Seems appropriate, considering I let you get stabbed last night.” There was an edge to Galo’s voice, and he wouldn’t quite meet Cas’s eyes.

“Almost every member of the guard was in that room. I’m not sure we can hold you personally responsible,” he said lightly, but Galo didn’t crack a smile. “Did my father yell?”

“And your mother. And Jovita. They fired the guards at the door, the ones who let the man slip in.”

Cas leaned back with a sigh, pain rippling through his shoulder. “Do they know who he was?”

“I haven’t heard. The king is with him now.” Galo rubbed a hand over the scruff on his jaw. “I need to apologize for—”

“No, you don’t,” Cas interrupted. “I don’t want guards hovering at my side all hours of the day. You can’t protect me all the time.”

“That is actually our job. Protecting you all the time. Though it appears Mary is more than willing to pick up the slack.”

“Yes, she is,” Cas murmured, the image of her fist connecting with that man’s face flashing through his brain. Years of battling the Ruined had made her an excellent fighter.

“But I do need to apologize on behalf of your entire guard,” Galo said. “We wouldn’t blame you if you replaced all of us.”

“You know I’m not going to do that,” Cas said.

“It wouldn’t be the worst idea.” Jovita appeared in the doorway. She jerked her head, indicating that Galo should leave, and the guard quickly exited the room.

She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. “How’s the shoulder?”

“Fine. It’s not that bad of an injury, but the doctor insisted I stay in bed today.”

“I’m glad it wasn’t serious.”

Cas snorted. “Sure you are.”

Jovita gave him an annoyed look, but a smile tugged at her mouth as she plopped down in the chair near the window. “I would be very sad if anything happened to you, Cas.”

“I’m sure. You’d be devastated all the way to the throne.”

Jovita sat sideways in the chair, her long, dark braid dangling off the armrest as she tilted her head back. “You’ve caught me. It was me who hired that man to try to kill you at your wedding. I’m horribly jealous of you.”

“I knew it. Though I always thought you’d go with poison.”

“Much more theatrical this way.” She turned her head, grinning at him. “I’ve come with official news, though,” she said, swinging her legs around and sitting straight in the chair. “The man who stabbed you talked. He was a hunter.”

Cas’s eyebrows lifted. “A hunter? Of the Ruined?”

“Yes.”

“What did he want with me?”

“A small group of hunters have organized against the king. They’ve been demanding changes to the hunter policies for a while. Mainly that we make it a voluntary position.”