Free Ruined by Amy Tintera Page A

the air as they approached the double doors. A staff member opened them, and Cas and Em stepped inside.
    Several long rows of tables ran down the center of the room, most of them already full. Large bowls of bread and fruit sat in the middle of every table, and staff members scurried about, refilling wineglasses.
    There were at least a hundred people, maybe more. Most of the wedding guests were staying in the castle for weeks, exactly as the warriors had said they would. To properly take down Lera, she needed to destroy many of their leaders, and a good number of them sat in this room. The governors of the six provinces reported directly to the king, and five of them were present. There were also a few captains, the Lerans responsible for managing safety and soldiers in their area. The queen had informed Em that judges, the lowest rank in Lera, had mostly stayed behind to manage their provinces in the absence of the governor or captain. They weren’t terribly important anyway.
    â€œPrince Casimir and Princess Mary,” a voice announced.
    Everyone in the room quickly stood, and Em scanned the crowd, looking for the warriors.
    â€œPlease be seated,” Cas said. Everyone obeyed and took their seats again.
    Three people in white-and-red uniforms stayed standing fora beat longer than everyone else. The warriors. Two men and one woman. In fact, Em knew the girl. She had spent several days in the Ruina castle three years ago with her mother and father, a powerful Olso family.
    Iria. That was her name.
    A smirk crossed Iria’s face, and Em resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Iria had spent most of her time in the Ruina castle challenging Em to “duels” (“To the death!” she’d always yell, and then giggle), and the rest of the time antagonizing Em and Olivia at every turn.
    Of course King Lucio had sent Iria. She had probably requested to come, because she knew it would annoy Em.
    She took a deep breath and glanced at Cas. He was staring at her.
    â€œAre you all right?” he asked, his eyebrows furrowing.
    â€œI’m fine.” She cleared her throat. “Should we sit?”
    Cas steered her toward the table at the front of the room, where Jovita and some of the governors were already seated. Em noticed the warriors were not seated with the royal family, which seemed like an intentional slight.
    She and Cas sat as a member of the staff brought the warriors to meet them. Em leaned forward in her chair, plastering a smile on her face.
    â€œKoldo Herrerro,” the staff member said, and the young bright-eyed warrior smiled at them.
    â€œBenito Lodo.” The man with a dark beard nodded.
    â€œIria Ubino.”
    Iria stepped forward. Her long, wavy dark hair was tied back in a braid that fell over her shoulder as she bowed her head in the traditional Lera greeting. Her dark eyes were trained only on Em as she straightened, and Cas looked between them.
    â€œHave you met before?” he asked, loud enough for the warriors to hear.
    One side of Iria’s mouth turned up, and Em hoped the warrior knew she was imagining strangling her. “I don’t think so.”
    Iria waited a long time before speaking. Em wished Iria would hide her delight at torturing her a bit better.
    â€œApologies,” Iria finally said. “You look very much like someone I used to know, Your Highness.”
    Em hoped her face was currently in some kind of pleasant expression and didn’t give away the fact that she was barely restraining herself from kicking Iria in the gut.
    Cas lightly touched her hand, his fingers curling around hers, and Em jumped in surprise. Iria’s amusement intensified as she watched them.
    â€œPlease have a seat,” Cas said.
    The warriors walked back to their seats, Iria throwing another glance at Em over her shoulder. Cas leaned closer to Em, moving his hand away from hers.
    â€œShe was trying to throw you off balance,” he said rather