THE KITCHEN STAFF thought Cas was insane.
He’d considered many options to avoid getting poisoned again, and he’d finally settled on the one that made the most sense—he’d simply make his own food.
Galo had looked at him like he’d grown a second head and offered again to taste his food first. Cas declined that ridiculous offer. Galo pointed out that Cas didn’t actually know how to cook.
Details.
“It’s slimy,” he said, holding up the meat from the pig Mateo had killed. He stood at the counter of the small kitchen, not far from the open window. It was one of the only rooms in the fortress with a window, and it was quickly becoming his favorite room in the building.
Blanca tried to grab it out of his hand. “Your Majesty, let me—”
He held it out of her grasp. “I’m learning how to cook pig. It’s an essential skill, wouldn’t you say?”
She huffed, placing her hands on her hips. Behind her, Leticia giggled.
“Season it, Your Majesty,” Blanca said with a defeated sigh. She thrust a bottle into his hand.
“How much?” he asked, shaking it over the meat.
“That’s good. Now turn it over and do the other side.”
He did as she instructed, then heated a skillet and plopped the meat inside. “Tomorrow will you show me how to debone fish? Galo was going to take me to the river to catch some.”
“You’re going to catch it yourself too?” Leticia asked skeptically.
“Can’t eat fish unless I catch it.” He pointed to the meat. “How long is it supposed to stay in there?”
“A few more minutes,” Blanca said. “And yes, I’ll teach you to debone fish. Next you’ll be asking Leticia how to wash your own clothes.”
His brow crinkled in confusion. “Do you do more than just stick them in water with soap?”
Leticia giggled again.
“I should probably ask about that,” he said. Blanca threw up her hands, grumbling something he couldn’t understand.
“Were you really poisoned, Your Majesty?” Leticia asked, lowering her voice. Blanca waved a towel at her and put a finger to her lips.
“No, I don’t mind,” Cas said. “I was. Luckily Galo realized it in time.”
“You know we would never poison you,” Blanca said. “I would deliver my food to you personally, from now on.”
“I know,” he said gently. “But I need to learn this anyway. No need for you to go out of your way.”
She gave him another baffled look, but her eyes sparkled with amusement. “Turn your meat, Your Majesty.”
He did as she said. He finished cooking the meat, then cut it and placed it on plates. He’d already cut up some vegetables and distributed them. He put a small chunk of meat on a plate and pushed it toward Blanca.
“That’s for you.”
“I couldn’t take that, Your Majesty.”
“You have to tell me if it’s good!”
She paused, then grabbed a knife and sliced off a piece. She lifted it to her lips and nodded as she chewed.
“Not bad.”
“Thank you.”
“Leticia, take those plates to the dining room for him,” the cook ordered.
Leticia jumped to action, grabbing two plates. He took the other two before she could protest.
“Lead the way,” he said. He watched her carefully as they walked through the kitchen doors.
Violet, Mateo, and Galo sat at the small square table off the kitchen. It was used as the staff dining room, but Cas had asked if he and his friends could dine there tonight.
“Is it edible?” Violet asked. Her cheeks were a bit pink, probably from the glass of wine each had in front of them.
“I hope so.” He put a plate down in front of her. Leticia served Galo and Mateo, then scurried out of the room before Cas could even thank her.
“Where did you find wine?” he asked as he sat down next to Violet.
“General Amaro gave it to me. Everyone is suddenly so interested in being my friend.” She held up the bottle, offering some to him.
“No, thank you.” He needed his head clear, always.
“Hey, this is pretty good!” Galo said, pointing to his plate.
“I’ll pretend that tone isn’t so surprised,” Cas said. Galo grinned at him.
Cas took a bite of the meat, watching as Mateo bumped his shoulder against Galo’s. They exchanged a smile. If Cas had stayed with Em, maybe he would be sitting next to her, saying things to her without words. Maybe he’d be cooking for her.
He pushed the thought out of his head. His brief fantasy of staying with Em was over, and the memory of it only caused him shame. He’d been so eager to give up on his people. On everyone in this fortress who was counting on him. On the Ruined he’d promised to protect. So many people needed him to be a strong king. He wasn’t going to let them down again.
After dinner he retreated to his room and found Jovita standing in front of his door.
“Can we talk, Cas?”
“Depends. Are you going to poison me again?” He reached around her and opened the door. She followed him inside.
“I didn’t poison you. If I was going to kill someone, I’d stab them in the gut. Poison is for cowards.”
“Agreed,” he said, holding her gaze as he sat down on the edge of the bed.
“You don’t believe me?”
“Forgive me if I’m not very trusting after you tried to convince everyone I was insane.”
“Forgive me if I’m still not convinced of your sanity.”
“Shall I do something to prove it?”
“I was thinking—do sane people have to prove it?”
He let out a short laugh. “I suppose they don’t.”
She seemed annoyed he hadn’t taken offense. “What are you doing, Cas? You can’t really expect me to believe your opinion about the Ruined has changed so quickly.”
“No. I still think what my father did was wrong. I think he and my mother would still be alive if he hadn’t declared war on the Ruined. But we can’t change the past. We’re in this war, and we have to finish it.”
“Before, you were talking like you wanted to surrender to the Ruined. Or partner with them. Be honest. You let Emelina go after she attacked the fortress.”
“I let Emelina go,” he said. Jovita’s eyebrows shot up at the admission. “I had feelings for her.”
Jovita sneered. “Your mother told me you never even consummated.”
“We didn’t.”
“How sad.” She didn’t sound the least bit sad about it.
“I went to find her. I thought she …” He set his mouth in a hard line. “I thought she loved me.”
“What gave you that idea? The fact that she killed your actual fiancée? Or was it when she refused to have sex with you?”
Cas ignored the flicker of anger in his chest. “I know I’m an idiot, Jovita. No need to rub it in.”
“Sorry,” she said, and almost sounded sincere.
“She was going to let Olivia kill me. She laughed at me. We barely got out of there alive.”
“I could have told you that was what would happen,” Jovita said. “If you’d talked to me about Emelina I could have explained that the Ruined don’t love humans. Even useless ones.”
Cas knew so much more about the Ruined than her. Her ignorance of them, her absolute certainty that they were nothing but evil, was her biggest weakness. It hadn’t even occurred to her that he was working with Em. The thought wasn’t in the realm of possibility for her.
“I think our days of talking about things is over,” Cas said.
Jovita crossed her arms over her chest. “It would be better for you if we could work together.”
“Better for me?” He laughed.
“Just because you have the title of king doesn’t mean you have any power. I hope you know that. Most of the hunters and soldiers here still take orders from me.”
“Really? Even after you sent a bunch of them to their deaths? How sure are you of their loyalty?”
“Sure enough.”
“Fine. They can all stay with you here after I reclaim the castle. You won’t be welcome there.”
“You’ll die if you try to retake the castle.”
“That will work out just as you’d hoped.”
She stomped to the door. “I didn’t poison you, Cas.”
“Then find out who did. I’m sure the two of you will be the best of friends.”
She threw a furious look over her shoulder and slammed the door shut.