felt safe since I set foot in this castle. Nice isn’t high on my list of priorities.”
The king turned so red he was almost purple, but he seemed incapable of getting words out. He sputtered, jabbed a finger at Cas for no apparent reason, and stomped back into the ballroom.
A sound like a laugh came from Cas. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen my father rendered speechless before.”
“I should yell at him more often, then,” she muttered. “He could stand to be speechless occasionally.”
Cas laughed, clearing his throat like he was trying to hide it. He painted a more serious expression on his face. “I’m sorry my father asked you to kill the Ruined king to marry me. I objected, if that makes any difference to you.”
“It does. But I don’t agree with what your father did in Ruina. You’ll never convince me that he was right about that.”
“I don’t disagree,” he said, startling her. He stared at the floor, rubbing at something with the tip of his shoe. “He got me out of bed last night, to see the Ruined when they brought him in. I’d never seen a Ruined before.”
“And?” she prompted, expecting a fresh wave of anger. But the way his shoulders had curled in and his face had rearranged itself into a frown made her hesitate, made her want to hear what he had to say.
“And . . . it was impressive. And scary.” He glanced at her. “When you killed a Ruined, would you provoke them to use their powers first? To weaken them? Is that how you killed the Ruined king? What was his power?”
“He ruined the soul. Could make you see visions and believe things that weren’t true.” She swallowed, the image of her dead father flashing across her vision. “And no, I didn’t. I just snuck up on him. Attacked before he could react.”
“Did you see his other daughter? Emelina? Is she still alive?”
“I didn’t see Emelina.” Her own name sounded strange, said out loud to Cas.
“My father wanted her dead too.” Cas swallowed. “But she disappeared after her family was killed. And why would you care about a useless Ruined? If she doesn’t have any powers, she’s not dangerous.” He seemed to be talking more to himself than Em.
“True,” she said with a hint of bitterness.
“I’ve always thought it was kind of harsh, to call them ‘useless.’”
“It’s the most apt description,” she said.
“They can resist a Ruined’s power, if they want, right? That seems like something. I wouldn’t mind having that ability.”
“The Ruined don’t attack each other,” she said. “So that ability is just as they describe it—useless.”
He looked at the ground again, his face drawn. It didn’t seem like Cas was bothered by long silences, or even noticed they were happening. She waited a few moments, until he started talking again.
“He isn’t much older than me,” he said quietly. “I’ve been thinking about how I would feel if the tables were turned. If it were me, captured by the Ruined, waiting to die. I think I would be terrified. And really angry.”
“Angry,” she repeated.
“Because what did he do?” His voice was almost a whisper. “If I’m being totally honest, that’s why I got mad at you when you said that about my father. I think you’re right. We’re executing all these people for a crime we think they might commit. We think they might be evil. They brought Damian in because he was trying to cross into Olso, which technically has nothing to do with us. What else has he done? Why does he deserve what they did to him last night?” He gestured at her. “If he was one of the Ruined who killed your parents, shouldn’t you decide how he’s punished?”
“Yes.” Most of her anger had evaporated, leaving a heavy feeling in her chest and a sudden desire to wrap her arms around Cas. “And if it were up to me, I wouldn’t do anything like your father.”
He nodded, a sad expression on his face. It must have been painful, to realize your father was a monster.
She cleared her throat. “Are you going to tell your father any of what you said to me, or am I the only one brave enough to speak my mind to your father?”
He cocked his head to the side as he studied her. He took several quick steps forward, until he was right in front of her, and put both his hands on her cheeks. Her entire body collapsed in a heap