Read Online Ruined by Amy Tintera - Free Book Online Page B

there was a tree near the wall ahead that could easily be climbed, though it would be quite a jump to the other side.
    â€œGuards posted on the other side of the wall?” she whispered.
    â€œYes. Not a popular position. Very boring, apparently. And you have to stand the whole time.”
    â€œFind out how many and where.”
    â€œAlready on it.”
    â€œA Ruined could take this wall down, right?” she asked. “At least a piece of it?”
    â€œDamian could take down a large chunk of it at full strength.”
    â€œGood.”
    They continued walking, Em making a note of how long it took to walk the entire perimeter. If a hasty escape was necessary, the wall would pose a significant problem.
    â€œHow was the prince last night? You saw him, didn’t you?” Aren asked.
    â€œFine. It’s just a shoulder injury.” She blew out a breath of air. “He wants to talk to me about the Ruined.”
    â€œWhat? How did that come up?”
    â€œIt’s my fault. I can’t keep my mouth shut. I may have said they were murdering us.”
    â€œMary would have hated the Ruined, Em. They murdered her parents.”
    â€œSo? No one here ever met her. They don’t know that for sure.”
    â€œWas he mad? Was it like, ‘We’ll discuss this later, peasant. Now leave me to my murdering’?” He lowered his voice in an impression of Cas and grinned.
    â€œNo. It was more like he was intrigued. Like he was willing to talk about it,” she said, and Aren gave her a baffled look. “I know! I never considered the possibility that I could actually talk sense into him.”
    â€œIt’s not a possibility,” Aren said. “Even if Cas is willing to listen to you and the king died tomorrow, it wouldn’t change anything. The king’s advisers support the Ruined policies. Besides, he’s what . . . seventeen?”
    â€œYeah.”
    â€œHe’s been able to take the throne for two years. He was in those meetings when they decided. If he had something to say, he would have done it already.”
    â€œTrue. Sympathy doesn’t mean much if you don’t take action.” She shuddered as the image of a shirtless Cas ran through her head. She didn’t like him in her head.
    â€œHave you heard anything about Olivia yet?” Aren asked.
    â€œNo. I’m waiting for a natural way to slide it into conversation. I don’t want them getting suspicious. So far all anyone willtalk to me about is dresses and the wedding. They haven’t even bothered to tell me the Olso warriors are coming. I’ve been practicing my surprised face.” She lifted her eyebrows, parting her lips dramatically. “How is that?”
    â€œTerrible. Don’t do that.”
    â€œMaybe Cas will remember to tell me today, since they’re supposed to arrive very soon. He’d barely spoken to me before yesterday, so I guess there wasn’t much opportunity.” She scrunched up her face. “Now I think he likes me.”
    â€œThat was the point, wasn’t it?”
    â€œI guess.”
    He rubbed his hand across the back of his neck. “We never talked about . . . uh . . . the sex part.”
    â€œAnd we will continue to not talk about it.”
    â€œAre you going to ask him to wait? I don’t think that’s unreasonable. You just met, after all.”
    â€œAren, we’re not talking about it.”
    â€œRight. Sorry.” He slid his hands in his pockets, taking a few steps away from her. “I have to get back. I told them I was just checking in with you, so they’ll expect me back soon.” He grinned. “Plus, we shouldn’t be seen together too often. People will think we’re having sex.”
    Em wrinkled her nose, trying to keep a smile off her face. “Gross.”
    â€œThe feeling is mutual.”

EIGHT
    PEOPLE IN THE castle had started addressing Em as “Your Royal