“A plan that includes killing everyone,” Aren said.
“A plan to doesn’t include working with someone who murdered all of our families,” Gisela shot back.
Em swallowed a wave of panic. At least half the Ruined in the room were nodding in agreement with Gisela.
“What would convince you?” she asked quickly. “If you could have anything you want from King Casimir, what would you ask for?”
“Some people mentioned that the king should pay us reparations,” Ivanna said. “And I have to agree. They took everything from us.”
“Good,” Em said. “That’s reasonable.”
“I’d like my parents back,” Gisela said. “Ask him if he can give me that.”
“We can’t change the past—” Em began.
“I don’t want money, I want my parents—” Gisela interrupted.
“You’re being completely unreasonable,” Aren cut in. “She’s just trying—”
“One at a time!” Ivanna yelled over their voices. Gisela leaned back against the wall, a scowl on her face. Silence fell over the room.
“What if he gives up the throne?” Mariana finally asked.
Em looked at her quickly. “What?”
“It’s his family that did this to us. Maybe someone else should lead Lera.” She looked at Gisela. “Would that convince you?”
Gisela shrugged. “Maybe.”
“I don’t think I can ask for that,” Em said. “I’m not even sure that’s a good idea. He’s sympathetic to us. We may not get so lucky with a new leader.”
“If he’s the only person in all of Lera sympathetic to us, this won’t work anyway,” Ivanna said.
Em swallowed. She had a point.
“It’s not . . . entirely unreasonable,” Aren said reluctantly. “There should be consequences for what his family did to us. But maybe he doesn’t need to give up his throne entirely.”
Gisela made an annoyed sound.
“We could ask that they strip some power from the monarchy,” Aren said. “So that he has less authority as king.” He looked at Gisela. “That’s a good compromise, wouldn’t you say?” She just shrugged.
“Would he even agree to that?” Mariana asked.
“I don’t know,” Em said.
“Is there any way we can communicate with him?” Ivanna asked.
“Em could go to the castle,” Aren said, and Em looked at him in surprise. “What? There are plenty of horses in the barns around town, and it would only take half a day to ride there.”
“What will I tell Olivia?” Em asked.
Aren rubbed the back of his neck in thought. “Maybe go for more food? Or feed for the horses? We are actually running a little low on feed, I think.” He glanced at Mariana for confirmation. She nodded in agreement. “If Cas could give you a wagonful, you could come back and say you stole it.”
“Olivia will still be suspicious,” Gisela said.
“She’s already suspicious,” Em said.
“We have to set up a way to communicate with them. You can go have an initial talk with Cas, then set up a way to talk in the future,” Ivanna said. “None of this matters if they aren’t willing to negotiate with us.”
Dread settled into Em’s chest. She’d been the one who convinced Cas to go back to Lera when he wanted to give up his throne. Now she was going to tell him they wanted to strip him of his power?
She glanced at Gisela. Olivia has a long-term plan. If Em didn’t act, she might lose the few Ruined she had on her side.
She nodded grimly. “I’ll go talk to Cas.”
EIGHT
EVERYONE WAS LYING to Olivia.
Everyone who mattered, anyway.
Olivia stared at her sister. Em stood in the kitchen, stirring a pot of soup on the stove. Her stance was casual, like she’d just remembered something and wanted to mention it to Olivia.
“I’m riding out to find more feed for the horses,” Em said, holding her sister’s gaze. Em always had been a good liar. “First thing in the morning.”
“By yourself.” Olivia didn’t say it as a question.
“I’ll be wearing a cloak; no one will be able to tell who I am. And I don’t need help.”
“A bit risky just for feed, wouldn’t you say?”
“We need the horses, Liv. I’m not going to let them starve.”
Olivia blew out a frustrated breath. “Fine. Go.” Part of her wanted to believe Em. Maybe they really did need feed for the horses.
Or maybe—probably—she was going to see Casimir.
“I shouldn’t be gone long. A day, maybe.”
“No problem,” Olivia said with a flippancy she didn’t feel. “Why don’t you take Aren with you?” The words came out as a challenge. She couldn’t take Aren with her, and Olivia knew it. Who would keep Olivia in check?
Em had the decency to look ashamed. She lowered her gaze to the soup. “I’ll be fine on my own.”
Olivia could send a Ruined to follow Em. If she told Jacobo right now, he’d stay up all night just to make sure he caught Em as soon as she left.
But Em wasn’t stupid. She would be checking to see if she was followed, because she didn’t trust Olivia anymore.
The feeling was mutual.
Besides, Olivia didn’t need to confirm what she already knew. Her sister was a traitor. Olivia hadn’t figured out how deep Em’s betrayal went, but it would reveal itself in time. And Olivia wasn’t worried about her useless sister.
Aren, on the other hand . . .
Olivia pushed back a swell of anger at the thought of Aren. He’d dared to use his powers on her, but that wasn’t what really enraged her.
He could pull power from humans. He could use them to make himself stronger. Stronger than her.
And she couldn’t do it. She’d captured a few humans to practice on, but so far, nothing but failure. It was infuriating.
She marched out the door, shoulders squared. No. She hadn’t failed. If she simply kept trying, she would figure it out eventually.
“This is almost done, if you want dinner,” Em called as Olivia stomped away.
“I’m not hungry.” She let the door slam shut behind her.
She squinted in the late-afternoon sun as she walked the two blocks to the Westhaven courthouse. It was a tiny building, nestled beneath tall trees in the middle of Oak Street.
Inside, it was quiet, nearly deserted. Jacobo sat at the desk in the middle of the room, his feet propped up in front of him. He sprang up when Olivia walked inside.
“Olivia.”
She liked how he said her name. His voice had a hint of reverence in it. Everyone should say her name the way Jacobo did.
“Hello, Jacobo.” He was several years older than her, with dark hair and eyes like daggers. He was good-looking, in an angry sort of way. She hadn’t known him well before she was taken. She hadn’t paid much attention to him after coming back either, thanks to her preoccupation with the traitor, Aren.
But Jacobo was proving to be almost as powerful as Aren. He could rip trees from the ground and command wind so powerful a small home couldn’t withstand it. It was a useful power, occasionally.
“How are the prisoners?” she asked.
“Fine. I fed them about an hour ago. Ester is in with them now.”
“You don’t need to stay, you know. They’re not going anywhere.” Olivia had the only keys, after all.
“I know,” he said, then met her gaze. He’d been waiting to see her.
She smiled, pleased. “You can go now. I’ll see you at dinner.” She knew that he was disappointed. She’d seen the expression on his face several times lately, as he’d worked to prove himself to her.
It wasn’t that she didn’t like him, it was just that she didn’t trust him—or anyone—anymore. The two people she’d trusted most in the world, Em and Aren, had betrayed her. She couldn’t rely on anyone but herself.
That was just fine with her. There was no need to rely on someone else. She was the most powerful Ruined alive.