Ruined - Amy Tintera Page 0,69

Vallos on foot?”

“Warriors will meet us with horses day after tomorrow,” Iria said. “If all is going well, they should be launching their attack right about now.” She looked up at the sky. “We’ve traveled too far to hear it, unfortunately.”

Em’s stomach dropped into her feet. Was Cas already dead? Would he be able to escape?

She rubbed her fingers across her forehead, the guilt burning so intensely in her chest it took her breath away. This had always been the plan. If the warriors didn’t attack, then she’d have no hope of rescuing Olivia. They’d be completely outnumbered when they arrived at the Vallos Mountains. She’d known this was how her time at the castle would end.

Still, she felt like curling into a ball and screaming.

Aren nudged her arm. “Iria’s right about sleeping, Em. I could use some sleep as well. I covered your tracks as best as I could as I followed you, but I’m sure we’ll still encounter some Lera soldiers soon. We need to be prepared.”

“I’ll keep watch,” Iria said.

Em’s shoulders slumped in defeat as she let Aren tug her down to the ground. He put an arm around her, leaning back against the tree.

“Thanks for finding me,” she said, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Thanks for not getting killed,” he whispered, squeezing her arm. “That would have really put a damper on my day.”

Her lips twitched up as she let her eyes drift closed.

TWENTY-SIX

CAS LURCHED FORWARD as the wagon stopped. A few of the people around him stirred, waking from sleep. Beside him, Daniela arched her back, wincing as she rubbed a wrinkled hand across her eyes. They’d been crammed in the closed wooden wagon all night, and it was incredible that some of them were able to sleep. He wasn’t sure he’d ever sleep again.

It was dim inside the wagon, only wisps of sunlight leaking in through the cracks in the wood. It was almost unbearably hot inside, and Cas’s clothes were stuck to his body.

The door at the back swung open, and Cas squinted in the bright sunshine.

“Men first,” the warrior barked. He jerked his thumb, indicating they should get out.

For a brief moment Cas panicked, thinking the warriors were lining them up for execution.

“Over there in the bushes,” someone said as the men started piling out. Cas sighed as he realized the warriors were just letting the prisoners relieve themselves.

He climbed out of the wagon, ducking his head into his chest. There were six warriors around the wagon, and Cas noticed that many of the saddles were Lera colors as they dismounted their horses. They must have taken them from the castle or the townspeople.

The warriors marched them in a straight line to the bushes, swords pointed at their backs. No one appeared to be thinking about running, as that seemed pointless. A few warriors had spread out in a circle, covering every corner.

“Quickly,” a warrior barked as they approached a thick patch of bushes.

When they headed back, Cas snuck a glance around. They must have been traveling south, because the air was thicker near the jungle. Were they headed for the Southern Mountains?

Would Emelina be there?

Anger bubbled in his chest, so powerfully it almost knocked him over. She must have known the warriors planned to attack. She’d probably had a hand in planning it.

She’d known they were coming specifically to kill him and his family, and she’d let it happen. How strong could her feelings really be for him if she’d so easily sent him to his death? His father was gone because of her. Galo too, most likely.

His throat closed, and he forced the image of his dead father out of his brain.

The women streamed out of the wagon as the men approached, and Cas took a moment to appreciate the fresh air around him. How many days was he going to be in that wagon?

And worse, where was he going to be when they finally let them out?

The man in front of him stepped onto the wagon, and Cas put one foot up, tossing his hair out of his eyes.

“Wait,” the warrior said.

Cas froze as a hand closed over his arm.

“Look at me.”

Cas’s heart stopped. The warrior gasped as their eyes met.

The warrior’s hand found his sword. “You’re—”

Felipe shot in front of Cas so quickly it was nothing but a blur. The boy kicked the warrior in the hand, sending the sword flying. The boy scrambled in the dirt to grab it, and Cas opened his mouth to scream for