Hours later, just as the path took them away from the river and the land began to slant upward, she heard the soldiers raise their voices. Aerity squinted and spotted men walking through the trees up ahead. Her heart hammered as her eyes scanned. There were three!
“It’s them!” Vixie shouted.
Aerity nudged Doll harder, picking up speed to match her pulse. She even passed two of the closest soldiers. As they got closer, Aerity’s sight honed in on the one whose brown waves sheltered the sides of his face. Paxton looked weary and worn, as did the other two. She reared back on Doll and hiked her leg over the horse’s back, sliding down to her feet so quickly she nearly fell.
The soldiers let Aerity run through them to get to the hunters. Harrison was first. He walked with a slight limp and gave a bashful grin. She threw her arms around him before remembering their audience and quickly letting him go. “Thank the seas! Are you hurt?” A smudge of mud ran across his cheekbone.
“Just my ankle.”
Aerity looked toward the medical soldier and called him forward. If there had been time, she would have thought to ask Mrs. Rathbrook to accompany them.
As a soldier trained in healing tended to Harrison, Aerity took the hand of the next lad, Tiern. He gave a tired grin. His hair was still pulled back, as if he’d recently taken care of it. Before she could speak a word she saw Paxton walk straight past, not so much as glancing her way. Her head turned to follow as he stopped at the soldiers.
“Who killed it?” he asked in a low, dry voice. “Which Ascomannian?”
The soldiers exchanged glances and one spoke up. “The beast? Nobody yet . . .”
Aerity watched the back of Paxton’s shoulders relax. He turned slightly and caught Aerity’s eye, holding it for a flash of a moment that made Aerity’s stomach swoop, before facing the soldier again.
“All the Ascomannians and Zorfinans made it back, then?” Paxton asked.
“Oh.” The soldier’s face fell. “I’m sorry, but the Zorfinans are gone.”
“Gone?” Paxton tilted his head as if he’d heard him wrong. “They left?”
“No . . . they’re dead. Honor killing.”
Paxton stared at him incredulously and Tiern spoke up. “Honor killing? But why? Because they were ashamed of not going into the ridgelands in an ice storm? They were the bloody smart ones!”
Paxton fumed and pushed ahead through the soldiers. Wyneth frowned at Aerity.
“The beast still lives,” Tiern whispered. “We were so close.” Aerity’s head snapped back to him, then to Harrison, who gave a saddened shake of his head.
Despite her inner warnings, Aerity’s eyes found Paxton again. He walked on, alone.
“He’ll be all right once he’s had a good meal and a rest,” Tiern told her. Aerity flushed at having been caught staring. She could feel Harrison’s questioning eyes on her, but she focused on the younger brother, fearing Harrison could read her too well.
“Are you all right then, Tiern Seabolt?” she asked.
“Right as rain, Your Highness.” His brown eyes weren’t as bright as usual. Vixie jogged up, practically beaming. She appeared older to Aerity in that moment, with her windblown hair and her eyes taking in Tiern’s weary appearance.
“The medic brought one spare horse. They’d like Harrison to use it,” she said breathlessly.
Harrison nodded. “Thanks.” As he passed Aerity, they made eye contact, and she felt the heavy weight of inquisitive concern in his eyes. She looked away, feeling guilty at the thought that he might have sensed her interest in Paxton.
Vixie pulled her hair over her shoulder. “You can share my horse if you’d like, Tiern. They’ve brought food rations you can eat on the way.”
Tiern looked at Aerity, as if asking permission, and she nodded. The two of them headed for Vixie’s horse, and Aerity could hear the faded voice of Tiern complimenting the mare as they went. She gritted her teeth as she turned and saw the stubborn stance of Paxton Seabolt ahead, walking back on his own. Wyneth gave her a nod in that direction. The soldiers moved to their steeds, feeding them before setting off again.
Aerity rushed forward at a jog, hearing a guard close behind her.
“Mr. Seabolt,” the princess called. His whole body tightened, but he did not turn or stop. Aerity wanted to scream. What had happened last night? Why wouldn’t he take a moment to stop and rest, to eat?
Aerity went to her horse and opened the saddle pouch, pulling out a hunk of bread stuffed with cheese and salted ham. She jogged until she got to Paxton’s side, her guard close behind.
“You must be tired, Paxton,” she said.
“I’m fine.”
She looked him over, and he seemed to tense as she absorbed the dried mud covering much of him, even his hands. Tiern and Harrison were not nearly as dirty. Seas, he was tense. She wanted to touch him and soothe him.
“Stop a moment, please,” she begged. When he wouldn’t, she took hold of his firm forearm.
“Your Highness,” warned her guard from behind them, but she ignored him.
Paxton came to a stop and stared down at her. She swallowed hard, scared by the swirl of emotion in his dark brown eyes.
“Please,” she whispered. “Ride with me.”
“Thank you, but no.” He attempted to move, but she kept her hand hooked around his arm.
“At least take this.”
He peered down at her offering of food for a few beats before finally taking it. When she let go of his arm, he set back on his walk alone. What had happened to him?
“Come along, Princess,” the guard said. She turned to the older man and sighed, joining him where he held her horse’s reins.
When the return journey began, Princess Aerity could not bring herself to pass Paxton, like the others did. One of the soldiers offered him his horse, but Paxton politely refused. Aerity had never felt more irritated. Wyneth shook her head at Aerity, as if he were a lost cause.
Tiern and Vixie trotted beside him for a moment.
“You could ride with my cousin or sister, you know,” Vixie told him. “It would be completely acceptable.”
“I’d prefer to walk.”
“Pax,” began Tiern, but Paxton cut him off.
“A bit of time alone would do me wonders at the moment, Brother.”
Tiern merely sighed and shrugged at Vixie, motioning for her to go on as he sat behind her. They trotted ahead, and moments later they were laughing together.
Aerity and Wyneth kept a slow pace behind Paxton with two guards behind them.
This was ridiculous. She looked at her cousin. “Go on, then. I’ll be along soon.”
Wyneth shot a look at Paxton’s back, and then gave her horse a gentle kick forward. Aerity slid down from Doll and kept her reins in her hand, sidling up next to Paxton. He kept up his pace without looking her way but there was a buzz of energy between them.
The princess worked up her nerve and whispered, “Ride with me.”
His response was swift. “I won’t.”
Aerity felt as if she’d been kicked in the gut, but the pain was followed by an exasperated anger that fired her tongue. “Of all the insolent, childish, stubborn things, Paxton Seabolt! You’re obviously weary. I don’t know what happened last night, but there is no good reason for you to refuse help except your own foolish pride!”
She watched the joint of his strong jaw clamp and release.
“I accepted your food, thank you, and now I’m feeling much better to walk.”
Unfortunately for him, his stubbornness was matched by her own. “If you shall walk, then I shall walk.”
The guard gave a low rumble of disapproval behind her.
Paxton lifted his eyes to the sky and spoke in a low whisper for her ears only. “Is it so hard to believe I’d prefer to be alone? I’m certain every eligible man in the kingdom would fall over his boot strings for a chance to ride behind your royal arse, but I am not one of them.”
Aerity sucked in a breath o
f shock. She saw him take in the rise of her chest from the corner of his eye before looking ahead again.
Well, that settled it, the swine. Now Aerity would walk at his side for the simple pleasure of not giving him what he wanted. If he thought he could frighten her away with his words and intimidate her, he was wrong. She’d never wanted to bombard anyone with a series of smacks so badly, but she refused to show him how coarsely he affected her.
Aerity stood taller and looked straight ahead, walking as casually as he. She fought back a smile when, after five minutes passed, he turned his head to stare at her incredulously. When she didn’t acknowledge him in any way, he shook his head and looked forward again.
Her guard had taken to trotting his horse from side to side, making a twenty- to thirty-foot zag behind them.
After half an hour, Paxton finally said, “You’re truly not going to leave me alone?”
“Truly.” She was quite chipper.
“You won’t ride unless I ride with you?”
“Exactly.”
He let out a growling huff and mumbled, “This will be the longest day of my life if I have to continue like this.” He stopped and jutted his chin up at Doll. “Get on the damned horse.”
Aerity bristled and gave a tight smile. “Well, since you asked so charmingly.”
She hooked a foot in the stirrup and pulled herself up, positioning her skirts higher around her thighs so her legs could hang down comfortably. Then she scooted up and looked at Paxton’s handsome, albeit dirty, face near her knee. He glowered up at her and she patted the spot behind her.
Aerity could not have prepared herself for the feel of Paxton’s solid, male body as he easily settled his weight behind her. She was momentarily stunned into inaction, the air halting in her lungs as her body reacted. Her skin had never felt more sensitive—her torso, bottom, and thighs heating to nearly unbearable temperatures. Even the folds of fabric around her hips seemed to caress her in a sensuous way. Aerity had ridden horseback many times with others, but this could not be compared. Their bodies were forced together, him being heavier, naturally pushing her up so she was practically in his lap.
When she made no move, Paxton’s rugged arms came around her waist and took the reins. Her lungs came alive again, sputtering in shallow bursts.
What in Eurona’s name was wrong with her? My lands above . . . Aerity hoped her sister wasn’t experiencing this same sensation.
Paxton’s stubbed cheek scratched up against her softer one as he whispered in her ear. “I assume you want to return to royal lands sometime today. Allow me.”
His voice jolted her back into reality as his hands tightened on the reins. She cleared her throat. Paxton hitched his heels into Doll’s sides and they took off with the guard behind them. Aerity urged the horse faster to make good on her promise to get home before dark. The princess felt the solid mass of Paxton behind her, pressing against her back as he leaned them both forward to gain speed. For once, she felt no fear about the galloping animal beneath her, welcoming the wind on her face.
At one point she felt his nose against her neck, and when she pulled to the side to peer at him, his head jerked up, and he stared straight ahead.
“You . . . smell nice,” he said with seeming reluctance. The princess faced ahead again so he wouldn’t see her smile.
Despite the breeze that cooled as the day wore on, Aerity found herself warm the entire ride back. When they finally arrived at the commons, Paxton slid deftly off Doll’s back. He strode away from her without a word, leaving her abruptly cold in the dusk air. Aerity frowned at his retreating form, wondering why he hated her, and why she couldn’t bring herself to hate him back.
Chapter
31
Paxton’s mind was in a dark place as he returned to the commons. Last night changed everything. He could no longer pretend to be normal. He could no longer ignore reality. He could no longer blend in.
When he got to his tent he began shoving his belongings into his bag. His mind reeled as he packed, images of the beast and Lash marks morphing into the supple body of the princess pressed against him on horseback. So, it was a bit jarring when the tent flap opened and he saw his mother’s face.
“Pax!” She rushed in and threw her arms around his middle, squeezing him tightly. His eyes closed for two beats as he held her, and then pulled back to see her comforting eyes, her brown hair pulled into a bun. His father ambled in and shook his hand. A mixture of surprise and worry filled Paxton.
“What are you doing here?” he asked. “Is everything all right?”
“We heard from villagers who’d visited the royal market that the hunt was moving northwest, so we brought your cold weather gear,” his father said.
Paxton nodded his thanks, noticing the pile of items and coats, and feeling a pang of regret. He may very well need them wherever he ventured next. He felt an urge to laugh at the irony that his parents would show today of all days. He hadn’t decided on whether he would tell them, or if it would be safer to leave without a good-bye visit. Seeing them now filled him with guilt. If he disappeared without a word, it would kill his parents. But it was better than them finding out the truth.
All through his childhood, rumors had flown about his grandmother being Lashed. His father had always vehemently denied it, even in their own home. “She’s eccentric, introverted.” People saw what they wanted to see, ignored what they refused to believe, loved ones or not.
Paxton rubbed his brow. “Have you seen Tiern? He should have returned before me.”
“We’re told he’s still at the stables,” his mother replied. Her eyes searched him as if gaining sustenance from the sight of his well-being. Paxton let out a small sigh.
“I need to speak with you both,” he said quietly.
“It’s Tiern, isn’t it?” His mother asked. “He’s not faring well in the hunt?”
“It’s nothing to do with him.” Paxton ushered them both to sit, his stomach tightening. They took a seat on Tiern’s neatly made cot and Paxton slumped onto his messy one. He ran his fingers through his hair and saw his mother frown at the sight of his hands. He lifted them in haste to see if the lines were visible, but they weren’t. They were just filthy. His mother leaned forward and rested a hand on his knee.
“I can’t imagine what you’ve been through, Pax. The things we’ve been hearing . . . we wake every morning and run into town for news. If it’s this frightening for us, I can’t imagine . . .”
She looked to her husband, who patted her knee.
“We’re proud of you both,” Paxton’s father said. “You’ve made it this far when so many others haven’t. One of you is bound to win.”
Paxton looked straight into his father’s eyes. “It’ll have to be Tiern.”
His father’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “And why is that?”
He broke eye contact, staring down at his hands with their dried, crusted appearance. “I’m leaving the hunt.”
“What?”
“Oh, thank the seas.” His mother leaned her head back. “Yes, come home, Paxton.”
“I’m not coming home, Mum. I’m leaving to be on my own for a while.”
They both stared at him as if he’d gone mad.
The clomp of feet running on damp grass sounded outside the tent, and then Tiern burst in. “Pax, bloody hell, that Vixie is—” He stopped and his eyes bulged. “Mum! Papa, what are you doing here?”
Their parents stood and embraced Tiern.
“We brought your cold weather gear,” their father said in a thick voice.
Their mother patted Tiern’s cheek. Paxton could see she was holding back tears, putting on a strong face. “That wouldn’t be young Princess Vixie you were referring to, now would it?”
“Er . . .” Tiern’s eyes shot to Pax. “Aye. She’s got quite nice riding skills.”
“Don’t go falling for the younger sister of the one you might have to marry.” She gave a fake smile and Paxton wanted to punch something.
He was tired of all the pretending.
“No. Course not,” said Tiern. “Princess Aerity, she’s like a dream. Princess Vixie, she’s just mad fun.”
Paxton would have rolled his eyes if his stomach weren’t churning at the thought of Tiern and Aerity married. A deep growl surged up in his chest, and he coughed to cover it.
“Ah, for the love of Eurona, Pax,” Tiern said. “You couldn’t even wash up for Mum? Look at you!” He made a grab for Paxton’s hand and Pax pulled away on instinct. “What’s your problem, Brother?”
Paxton was tired of lying. Tired of feeling afraid and ashamed. He turned back to his bags, pushing in the last of his belongings. “I’m leaving, Tiern.” He stood, pulling the pack over his shoulder. “The hunt is yours.”
Tiern blinked. “You’re joking.”
“Do I ever joke?”
Again, Tiern stared, unmoving. “This is about last night, isn’t it? The fire—”
In the blink of an eye Paxton had dropped his bag and pinned Tiern against the pole in the center of the tent. The entire structure shook. Their mother screamed.
“Shut your mouth,” Paxton warned. The brothers locked eyes, Paxton’s fierce and Tiern’s stubborn.
“I knew it!” Tiern started.
Paxton bashed him against the pole again. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
“Boys!” Their father wrenched them apart with his strong hands, nearly toppling over on his bad knees.
A clear warning lived in Paxton’s eyes as he stared at Tiern: do not tell them.
“Fine,” Tiern grumbled, straightening his tunic.
“What in Eurona is going on here?” their father asked. “What happened last night?”
Paxton’s fists were ready to shut his brother’s mouth if he opened it. His voice was like stone. “We nearly froze to death until I managed to build a fire.”
“I knew we should have brought your gear sooner,” their mother said.
“We survived.” Paxton bent and picked up his pack. “You should stay in our tent tonight. Don’t travel back in the dark.”
His father let out a breath, at a loss. “I don’t understand why you’re leaving.”