Before Eira could reply, Lavette stormed away. Probably for the best. It was taking all of Eira’s control not to lay into her. Varren’s attention darted between them. He sighed and shook his head.
“I’ll speak to her.” Varren stood. “She’s just frustrated by feeling helpless for days on end. Not having any control over her destiny is hard for her.” He left, following after Lavette.
“Never a dull moment with you, is there?” Ducot had a smile as Varren left.
Eira sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. “Just for once, I wish there was.”
11
“You’re notreallygoing to help Adela though, are you?” Alyss asked. The entire time Eira and Lavette had been at odds, her nose had been in her notebook. This was all, no doubt, giving her excellent ideas for drama in her “romance novel to end all romance novels.”
“I’m going to do whatever I must, Alyss.” Eira wished she could tell her friends all she was planning and thinking. She was well past keeping things from them. But, with how things had unfolded, she didn’t dare risk it in the short term. Even if she could prevent the pirates—even Ducot—from hearing that she was planning to escape at the first possible opportunity, regardless of what she told Adela… Alyss might mention it to Noelle, who might mention it to Ducot, who’d be compelled to tell Adela. And, even if Noelle didn’t, they might be overheard discussing it. Ironically, the only person she was somewhat confident could hold the information was Cullen.
Which, she needed to speak with him anyway…
“Cullen, may we have a word?” Eira gave him a pointed look.
“That’s probably for the best.” At least he realized it.
“Well, would you look at that,” Ducot said awkwardly. “I think there’s something important that needs my attentionwaaaaaayover there. For however long this is going to take.” He stood.
“Wow, me too.” Noelle stood as well. Alyss didn’t move. Noelle nudged her with the toe of her boot. “Alyss?”
“Oh no, I’m fine.” Alyss perched her journal in her lap.
“No you don’t.” Noelle lifted Alyss up by her arm. “They need their space and you onlythinkyou want to be around. When the awkwardness sets in, you’ll wish you were with us.”
Alyss looked to Eira with hopeful eyes. Eira arched her brows and silently conveyed,Noelle is right and you know it.
“All right,” Alyss groaned. “But, really, Iamthe resident expert on love and literally no one is taking my advice or welcoming my input on the subject. Which is a terrible loss for all of you.” She sighed dramatically. “Still, I’ll be here whenever you come around to realizing just how helpful I can be.”
“Noted.” Eira reached up to squeeze her friend’s hand lightly. Alyss gave her a small but encouraging smile. “Thank you.”
“I’m too good to you, but you’re welcome.” Alyss grinned.
“You really are,” Eira agreed.
“What an unlikely bunch we are.” Cullen had a gentle fondness to his words, directed at the three that were departing.
“That thought has occurred to me before.” Though, not in some time. Eira had begun to see their team as an expectation, a given. But Lavette’s outburst and Ducot’s revelation called the perfect picture of their group into question. What would break the ties between them?
“Where would you like to start?” Cullen asked, picking at the scuffs on his boots. He wasn’t looking her in the eyes, and rather than frustrating her…it merely made Eira sad.
“How are you feeling?” Eira asked, her words as heavy as the smoke in the coliseum that day. “Your father was there, too.”
“I don’t really know where my father was.” Cullen shrugged and looked back in the direction of Warich. “Though, you’re right, knowing him…he was probably in the thick of it. He could never seem to manage to get close enough to royals. Look at where that endless persistence got him, in the end. The cost of greatness…” He shook his head. “But I’m fine, really.”
“It’s all right if you’re not.” There was something strange about his tone. Something Eira couldn’t quite put her finger on.
“I think that’s what surprises me. I really am okay. I almost feel…relieved.” The wind played in his hair as he wore a tired, but genuine smile. His eyes were sad, but his mouth was happy. He was slouched slightly, but for the first time he didn’t look as though his shoulders were trying to eat his ears from tension. Or as though he were being crushed by the weight of the world. “My peace with whatever happened to my family and the citizens of Solaris that were there is part of what led to a recent quarrel between Lavette and I. She called me callous.”
“Thatis why you’re at odds? Not what I said before Adela took me?”
“Nothing ever really came to pass between Lavette and me. So other than her rightfully having affirmation that I am an ass—and admittedly being a bit shocked as to the scale of my poor decision-making—the revelation impacted her little.”
And, yet, Eira was still wounded by his actions. He was right, it did show how little Lavette cared…and how much Eira had. Maybe still did.
“Not everything is about you, Eira.” Cullen nudged her shoulder lightly with his. The gesture was friendly. And, though small, it somehow eased some of the tension she felt. “Though my heart sometimes tries to tell me differently,” he added under his breath.
