They tumbled, landing awkwardly. They’d made more noise than they should, but realistically, the rising chaos masked any sounds that could be heard outside the secret passage.
Still, she pushed away, a stab of anger sharpening her words. “Cullen, there’s no time.”
“I’m sorry.” He pulled her in again. Gently, he stroked the back of her head.
She opened her mouth to ask him what for, but then it dawned on her. The man was comforting her over Olivin. Her strength fractured and she buried her face in his neck by his shoulder. Selfishly taking a breath for herself. For every quivering beat of her heart.
“He’s strong, he’ll be all right,” Cullen soothed.
“What if he’s not?” Eira whispered, the words harrowed and thin. “I left him.”
“You trusted him,” Cullen corrected. “To know what he was doing and have the strength to do it.”
Just like she had asked of Olivin.
“What if he… Did I just create another situation like Noelle’s?” she said, admitting to her greatest fear.
“He’ll be all right,” Cullen emphasized. She didn’t entirely believe it. How could she with all those guards charging after him.
“I would’ve thought this would make you happy. Seeing Olivin left behind like this.” Focusing on him, rather than herself, was a far easier task.
“I don’t ‘win’ in a world where you are not happy.” He kissed her temple, then her forehead, then her other temple. Cullen shifted to take both cheeks in his warm, rough hands and drew her face to his, claiming her mouth.
In the darkness, she eased into him. She kissed him like it might be the last kiss she’d ever have. Her hands stretched across his chest, kneaded his muscle, balled into his shirt.
“You’re not wishing for his death?” she broke apart to whisper.
“I might want you all to myself, but I’m not a monster.” The pad of his thumb dragged over her mouth. Without sight, she knew he was focused on her lips, wet with his affections.
“We shouldn’t be wasting time. Come on, we’re not far now.” Even as she went to move, he held her hand fast.
“How are you going to do it?”
“What?”
“Kill Ulvarth.”
“I’ve a dagger meant for him.” Eira patted her thigh, where the one Ulvarth had left for her after she killed Ferro was strapped.
“Do you remember what I told you during the tournament?”
“You told me a lot during the tournament. You’ll have to be more specific.” She felt her words coming a bit faster, they needed to get moving. Olivin was offering a valuable distraction but would be subdued soon. If they wanted to have any chance of getting back to him and assisting, they needed to move.
“You cannot simply kill him.” As soon as he said it, she remembered his cautioning against it. That, if Ulvarth were to die under mysterious causes, it would create a space for another to fill. Or he would be hailed as a martyr. His power would only grow.
“I have a plan,” she assured him.
“Which is?”
“I’m going to use my echoes against him—I’ll show all of Risen exactly the man he is.”
“And if that doesn’t work?” Cullen’s tone sounded like he equally disliked the idea of doubting her. But Eira had begun to take it as a healthy skepticism—as him vetting her plans. And, to his knowledge, this was all new. She hadn’t told any of them of her true plot out of fear that she wouldn’t be able to accomplish her goals.
Eira’s smile dropped, twisting into a grimace. “Then it doesn’t work. I understand your caution, and there was a time where I would’ve agreed with you, Cullen. But even if I cannot undo him, I will still end him; that’s all that matters. Whatever happens after, for good or ill, is Meru’s concern. My fight—my loyalties—aren’t to Meru. They’re to myself. I’m not here as a liberator, I’m here because I have a personal score to settle.”
“As long as you know what you’re doing.” He released her.
“I do.” Eira started up once more, ascending through the last stretch of the Archives and her thoughts. She knew he was right. Ending Ulvarth might only be the beginning of problems for Meru. But those weren’t her problems to try and solve. She would make it clear that any who threatened her, ever, would be met with brutality. Then, once free of this tiresome game, she’d sail off the edge of the map with her ever-expanding pirate family.
