Ruined (Ruined, #1)(85)

“I don’t know,” Galo replied. “Maybe one of the smaller keys?”

She sorted through the keys, trying two small ones before one clicked in the lock. She tore the cuffs off, taking Olivia’s hands and pulling her to her feet.

“Can you walk?” she asked. She put her hands on her sister’s cheeks. “Say something. You’re scaring me.”

Olivia scrunched up her face, glancing over her shoulder at Cas and Galo’s cell. She turned back to Em, lowering her voice to a whisper.

“Did you really marry him?”

Em laughed, but the sound died as screams sounded from upstairs. Footsteps pounded the floor above them. Olivia lifted her chin, her head cocking in interest at the noise.

“Em, if the warriors corner us down here . . .” Cas looked at her pleadingly. “It’s the red key.”

She rushed to Cas’s cell and unlocked it. Cas stepped out, his fingers wrapping around hers. “I’m so sorry they did this to her,” he said quietly.

Em shook her head. “It’s not your fault.”

“It’s absolutely his fault,” Olivia said from behind her.

Em turned away from Cas and faced Olivia. “I’ll explain later. The Olso warriors are attacking, and we need to get out of here.”

Olivia’s eyes lit up. “They are?”

Em jumped over the dead guard, running up the stairs with Cas and Galo close behind. Olivia took in a deep breath as they stepped into the parlor.

“That is so much better,” she said with a sigh. “Did you smell the Weakling flower down there? They lined the cells with it. I’ve barely been able to breathe for a year.”

The sounds of yelling and swords crashing together echoed through the fort, and Cas began running toward the front door. “Galo, can you help them get out safely?” he called over his shoulder. He disappeared around the corner.

“Unnecessary.” Olivia held out her hand, and Galo’s feet left the ground. He hit the wall with a loud thud and crumpled to the floor with a grunt.

Em quickly grabbed Olivia’s hand, pulling it down. “Don’t. He’s a friend.”

“And that’s why I didn’t pull his spine out through his throat.” Olivia made a waving motion with her hand as Galo got to his feet with a wince. “Run, human. Before I change my mind.”

Em cast an apologetic look at Galo. “Go, Galo. We’ll be fine.”

Fear crossed his face, and he took off after Cas without a word.

“Are there really warriors outside?” Olivia asked, darting across the parlor.

Em caught her arm, pulling her back before she ducked through the archway. “Wait.” She pressed her back to the wall, peering around the corner. A guard walked past the front door, his sword drawn.

“Who let him out?” Jovita’s voice rumbled through the fortress, accompanied by the pounding of footsteps. She ran down the stairs, jabbing a finger at the guard. “Who let Prince Casimir out? Why did I just see him run into battle?”

Em put her arm out, telling Olivia to stay put for a moment.

“I don’t know,” the guard said. “He ran by me before I could stop him.”

Jovita turned her back to them, and Em gestured for Olivia to follow her. Em carefully snuck around the corner, taking a quick glance at the mess she’d left a few minutes earlier. The only guards in the room were dead, lying beneath piles of rubble.

Olivia yelped suddenly, and Em whirled around to see her pulling a rock off the bottom of her bare foot.

“Hey!” Jovita yelled, running around the corner. “Who’s—” Her eyes widened as they landed on Em, and she whipped her sword out. Olivia focused on the guard behind Jovita, sending him flying across the room.

Em raised her sword. “Remember how this ended for you last time.”

Jovita’s lip curled as she took a step forward.

“Move, Em,” Olivia said, nudging her arm. “Let me—”

“The Ruined are attacking!” The yell came from outside, and Jovita’s head whipped around.

Em lunged, her sword grazing Jovita’s cheek. Jovita gasped, stumbling back as she pressed a hand to her cheek. Blood seeped through Jovita’s fingers, and Em lowered her sword. She wouldn’t kill a member of Cas’s family.

Em grabbed Olivia’s hand, but her sister stayed put, pointing at Jovita.

“No, I want to see her spine come out of her—”

“Olivia, no,” Em said sharply, tugging her sister away. They broke into a sprint, leaping over the rubble. As soon as they ran outside, Aren was in front of them.

“Aren!” Olivia rushed forward, throwing her arms around his neck.

Aren’s face broke into a grin as he embraced her briefly. Two Lera guards were headed their way, and Em took off first, pulling Olivia with her. Her sister wasn’t wearing any shoes, but she ran fast, keeping pace with Aren and Em.

The Lera guards weren’t chasing them. Em frowned, turning to look at the fortress in confusion. Why weren’t they chasing them?

“Let’s get out of here,” Aren said. “The Ruined are going to take the fort down at any minute.”

“The guards aren’t chasing us,” Em said quietly. She swallowed uneasily.

“Once the fort is down, we can kill so many,” Olivia said, ignoring Em’s comment. She grinned at Aren. “I can’t wait to show you what I’ve learned. Our powers are so much stronger than we realize. We can—”