“Livvy!” Rian calls again, and Olive scowls.
“Go,” I say to her, and I hate that my voice is breathy. “Be safe.”
“Yoube safe,” she says.
I swallow and nod briskly.
She still doesn’t leave. Instead, she smacks Erik on the arm. “Andyoukeep her safe. I haven’t had a friend inages, so you’d better not let anything happen to her. Do you hear me, you big—”
He takes hold of her waist and kisses her.
It’s not a little kiss either. I gasp out loud. I think my cheeks are turning pink.
Hersdefinitely are. A small sound escapes her throat.
Erik lets her go. “Trust me.”
She’s staring up at him. “I do.”
His eyes flick at the doorway. “Go, before he comes in here to get you, and I have to shoot him in the face.”
Her flush deepens, but she nods quickly, and then, without another word, she’s gone.
Erik turns back to me. “Don’t you say a word.”
“Can I say I appreciate the distraction?”
That makes him smile. He drops to one knee again, and I don’t miss the slight sound of pain on his exhale.
“You’re still hurting,” I say.
“Eh. Not like before.” He shrugs it off and draws his dagger. “I’m going to slip this under your thigh,” he says, and his voice is very low, like he’s worried he’ll be overheard. “If someone getsclose to you, if anyonetouchesyou, I want you to use it. Point down, just like I showed you.”
I think about the times I’ve practiced in the barn, which just now feels completely inadequate. “I won’t be able to see—”
“I don’t care. Anyone on our side won’t be sneaking up on you. Move your leg. I’m sure Rian is going to look in soon, and I don’t want him to see.”
I inhale sharply and obey. He slips the dagger under my thigh, the hilt pressing against the skin behind my knee. I can feel the danger of it, like a promise. His brown eyes look into mine.
“It’s all right to fight for what you believe in,” he says.
I frown. “Am I fighting for whatIbelieve in, or am I fighting for what Rian believes in?”
Erik goes still for a moment, considering that. “I’ve heard enough about Oren Crane to know he shouldn’t be ruling a country.”
“Should Rian?” I say, thinking of the steps Rian has taken to get to this point. But my words are lost, because another shout comes from outside.
“Douse that lantern! The ship is drawing closer.”
Erik disappears from my side. The room goes dark.
Then he’s back in a heartbeat, and the cloth of the hood brushes against my hair. I remember another night in the dark just like this, when my hands were bound, and I was left in the dark to wait for my fate.
“I’ll be out of sight, Miss Tessa. But I’ll be here.” Erik ties the hood, and then he’s gone.
I shiver at his sudden absence. I have to close my eyes and pretend the darkness is intentional. The dagger under my leg presses into my thigh. I’m remembering a carriage ride. Blue eyes daringmine. Corrick offering me his dagger, when I was terrified of everything I’d learned. Offering meescape.
Oh, Corrick. My love.
