CAS HEARD THE door open, but he didn’t bother turning to look. He knew it was the soldier who delivered meals twice daily. Five days had passed since Jovita locked him in his room, and no one but that soldier had entered since.
The door shut, the click of the lock echoing in the silence. He rolled over in bed and pulled the blankets up to his chin. The breakfast tray sat on the floor near the door. He stared at it for a few moments, debating whether it was too much effort to get up.
The first day, he’d pounded on the door. Yelled for someone to let him out. Tried desperately to remove the doorknob. Nothing worked.
The second day he asked to talk to Jovita. She never came.
The third day, he gave up.
He sat up with a sigh, his stomach clenching in protest. On top of everything else, it seemed he was sick. Perhaps it was a fatal illness. That would make things much easier for Jovita.
He laughed weakly to himself as he shuffled across the room. There was a piece of meat and bread, and a small bowl of soup. He slid down onto the floor and grabbed the soup. It was sweet and thick, and his favorite part of every meal.
The soup warmed his belly, and he didn’t feel much like eating the meat and bread when he finished. He climbed back into bed. He fixed his thoughts on Em, hoping that would bring dreams of her. Sometimes he imagined he’d run away with her, and left this horrible country that used to be home behind. Maybe he’d be in Ruina. Waking up beside her. Helping her prepare breakfast. Crawling back in bed with her and ignoring the world for as long as possible. His eyes drifted closed.
“Cas.”
The sound of his name jerked Cas awake. He rolled over to see Galo standing at the door, the dinner tray in his hand. He thought he’d drifted off only seconds ago, but hours must have passed if dinner had arrived. He forced himself to a sitting position. Relief coursed through his body as he looked at his friend.
“I was worried you were dead. Or sent away,” Cas said.
Galo studied him. “You look terrible.” He pointed to the breakfast tray, where the meat and bread sat next to the empty soup bowl. “Why aren’t you eating?”
“I ate some. I haven’t been feeling well.”
Galo put the dinner tray on the dresser and strode to Cas. He pressed his hand to Cas’s forehead. “You don’t have a fever.”
“Perhaps it’s just my misery, then.” He laughed. Galo didn’t.
“I’m sorry,” Galo said. “I would have come earlier, but Jovita wouldn’t let anyone near your room. She’s gone now and—”
“Gone where?” he interrupted.
“Ruina,” Galo said quietly.
“No.” The word escaped from his mouth a bit strangled.
“Word has it the Ruined have set up camp near the mines. Jovita’s taken an army to attack them.”
“Are the warriors with the Ruined?”
“We don’t know.”
“Have the Ruined attacked since leaving here?”
“Not once.”
“She’ll give them a reason to.”
A voice drifted in from the hallway, and Galo cast a look back at the door. “I shouldn’t stay long. Mateo is on watch so I managed to sneak in. I wanted to let you know that I’m working on a plan to get you out of here.”
Cas flopped down on his back. “Don’t bother.”
“Cas—”
“Where would I go?” He let out a hollow laugh. “North, to my home? The warriors have taken it and want to kill me. South, to Vallos? Where I assume those who are loyal to Jovita have fled?” A quick glance at Galo confirmed he was correct. “West, to Ruina? I’m sure the Ruined would love to have me, considering my father tried to murder them.”
“We can find a place,” Galo said. “Not everyone is loyal to Jovita. We just need to unite them and form a plan.”
“There’s no point. There’s no kingdom left for me to rule, anyway.”
“Of course there is! Almost the entire guard and the staff are ready to revolt. The only people who think you’re not fit to lead are the idiots marching to Ruina right now. I’ve been talking to Violet, and she says the south would stand with you.”
Cas shrugged. Stand with him to do what?
Maybe Lera deserved to go down in flames. It’s all built on the backs of the people you murdered, Em had said to him once. She wasn’t wrong. Perhaps Lera was a bloody, sinking ship, and it was time for him to abandon it.
“Let’s look on the bright side,” Cas said. “At least Jovita didn’t murder me.”
“How is that a bright side?”
“I thought it was a plus.”
Galo started pacing, almost running into the desk chair. “We have enough people to overthrow them. We can—”
“No we can’t,” Cas interrupted. “Jovita has all the hunters and a good number of the soldiers on her side.”
Galo gave him a pained look, because he knew it was true.
“If we fight, she’ll win, and probably put you all to death for treason.”
“Then what are we going to do?” Galo threw his hands up. “You’re going to let her take the throne?”
“Maybe she wants it more.”
“You’re going to let Jovita take your kingdom away from you. Let her murder the Ruined and keep you locked up like an animal.”
“Looks like it.”
Galo grunted and grabbed the dinner tray from the dresser. He tossed it on the bedside table. A few beans bounced out of a bowl.
“At least eat something. You look like death. And you won’t be able to fight without your strength.”
“Good. Fighting’s exhausting.”
“I’ll try to come back tomorrow. If you haven’t eaten I’ll force-feed you.” Galo slammed the door behind him.