The Great Hunt (22 page)

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 finally 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 majesty,” 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 of 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.

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 scream. 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.”

And you never will, Papa.

“It’s been a bit more than I expected.” Paxton said. He couldn’t even look at his father. “I need time to myself.”

His father let out a huff of exasperated breath. “You can’t just run when you’re faced with difficult challenges, Son. I thought I’d taught you better than that.”

“Leave him alone.” His mother faced his father, bolder than he’d ever seen her. “Only the seas know what he’s been through these weeks! Don’t shame him for leaving this forsaken hunt.”

His father gritted his teeth. “The people will call him a coward, Maryn.”

“I don’t care what they say!”

Tiern took his mother’s hand and she looked down, covering her mouth as tears filled her eyes. “Where will you go?” Tiern asked him.

“I don’t know. I’ll travel.”

“Will you come back?” His mother stepped forward. “Our home will always be your home, Son. You know that.” In a quieter voice, she said, “Papa will move past this.”

He nodded, though he had no plans to return. He would never endanger his family. “Perhaps someday, Mum.”

She hugged him tightly. Over her shoulder he saw his father’s chin quaver, though his eyes were still set in disappointment. When his mother released him, he faced his father, his throat tight. “I’m sorry, Papa. I know it’s not what you want, but I swear this is what’s best right now.”

His father swallowed, shaking his head.

Paxton pushed through the tent flap. He could hear his mother’s muffled cries and knew if he looked back he would see Tiern watching him in stunned dismay. He would not turn back.

It didn’t take long before Tiern jogged up beside him. Paxton kept on. “Let me be, Tiern.”

“This is my fault. If I hadn’t been so weak in the mountains. If I’d been as strong as you, you wouldn’t have needed to—”

“No.” Paxton stopped and grasped the side of Tiern’s neck. “You are strong in every way that counts. This is not your fault.” He turned away from the hurt in Tiern’s eyes, walking on.

“You can still hunt. Nobody has to know.”

He didn’t have time for this. He had to get far away from royal lands before it was too dark. Paxton stopped again and spoke in low tones. “Don’t be a bloody fool, Tiern. I have lines on my nails. I can’t keep them dirtied forever! They’ll see them and kill me.”

“Not if you kill the beast!”

Paxton inched closer, annoyed by his brother’s naïveté. While Paxton had hung on to every word of Lashed news over the years, each of those stories had gone over Tiern’s head. He had no idea what it was like. “They would never let me marry into the royal line, even if I brought them the beast’s head on a platter.”

“That’s not fair.”

“Nothing is fair for us, Brother, and you need to come to terms with it. This is in your blood, too. Your children could be one of us. You must prepare yourself to be on the lookout once your child turns seven, to teach them to hide it.”

“I’ve no clue how to teach someone that!” Tiern appeared petrified.

“If you—” Paxton swallowed down a dry lump with great effort. “If you kill the beast and marry the princess, you can take your child to Mrs. Rathbrook, the royal Lashed woman. She will help you.”

Tiern followed closely as Paxton began walking again. “But . . . that line will go away and you can come back. I feel like there’s more to this—What are you running from?”

Paxton turned on him, his heart pounding with the grave truth of his brother’s question. “I run from nothing,” he gritted out. But it felt like the largest lie he’d ever told. He’d long ago mentally prepared himself for the possibility of leaving his family someday, and he’d kept his heart hardened against the girls in his town. But Aerity . . . he’d never planned for
her. She’d made her way under his skin, winding her delicate, strong hands around his heart, and he had to stop it. He had to run from her for both their sakes. He’d been a fool to think he could kill the beast and marry a princess, hiding his true self forever.

“Please, Pax.”

“Don’t,” Paxton warned. “You will do well, with or without me.”

“What will I tell everyone?”

Though Paxton owed the other hunters nothing, it felt wrong to leave without saying good-bye. Paxton shrugged, not stopping. “Tell them I left without a word, or that I’m ill with what the Zandalee had. Tell them I’ve grown tired of the hunt. Whatever you’d like.”

Tiern let out a ragged breath of frustration. “They’ll never believe you’ve quit.”

“Stop making a scene,” Paxton warned him. “Go back to the tent with Mum and Papa, and don’t utter a word of this.”

“But—”

Laughing voices bounded out from the tents up ahead. Three Ascomannians stumbled out, carrying brown bottles. Volgan took one look at Paxton with all his belongings and smirked.

Of all the bloody rotten luck
, Paxton thought. He walked past the men without a word.

“I must admit, I’m surprised,” Volgan said loudly. “I thought it’d be the scrawny one who went home first. Unless
he’s got his big brother carrying his belongings for him.” The men sent up raucous laughs.

Paxton gritted his teeth, stopped, dropped his belongings, and turned. He would make time to take care of one last thing before he left.

Volgan’s icy eyes went wide just before Paxton’s fist connected with his nose. There was a loud, wet crunch. The sting of his knuckles and the sudden sounds of shouts disappeared as the two men locked eyes, a battle rage building between them. Paxton braced as the brawny Ascomannian threw himself forward.

Paxton never stopped moving, throwing punches, releasing all the anger he’d held. He barely felt the pain of the blows, his blood so filled with fire. Both grunted and shouted, beating each other senseless. He felt himself yanked down by the tunic when Volgan stumbled to the ground. They rolled, and Paxton caught the flash of something glint from the corner of his eye.

“Knife!” Tiern shouted.

Paxton brought the crown of his head down against Volgan’s already-smashed nose. As the Ascomannian howled, Paxton reached for the man’s wrist, which held a curved blade. But before he could get a good grip, Volgan lurched to the side and pulled his arm in, slicing through Paxton’s palm. He yelled as a violent sting wrenched through him, and he clasped his hand closed around the injury.

Paxton hovered above the man, raising his fist, and before
he could swing, his arms were grabbed and pulled from behind. He kicked out and caught Volgan’s hip with his boot as he was yanked backward. Volgan rolled away, wincing with pain. It took four guards to pull Paxton off and hold him. Once he calmed, they lifted him to his feet. Lord Lief Alvi stood beside them with his arms crossed over his wide, bare chest.

“Finally had it out? Good. Took you both long enough.” He gave Paxton a wink and turned, his men following as he walked away. Volgan sat up, glowering at Paxton through his purpled eyes, spitting blood onto the grass.

Paxton looked down the narrow path, thankful his parents weren’t in sight. Paxton pulled himself from the grip of the guards. As his breathing settled, he became aware of the bruises and cuts across his flesh.

“You’re bleeding,” Tiern said to Paxton as one of the guards led Volgan away, toward the castle.

“I’ll take you to the infirmary,” a guard told him.

Paxton’s hand was clenched around the cut, but blood seeped through. This was no small wound. He wished he had the power to heal himself, but the magic didn’t work that way.

“I’ll tend to it myself.” He reached down for his bag with his good hand, but Tiern batted his arm back, making Paxton hiss.

“Don’t be so damned stubborn!” Tiern lowered his voice and moved close. “You’re bleeding everywhere. Just do this one last thing to ease my mind, and I swear I won’t ask you to
stay again. I can’t let you leave here like this. You’ll get a fever or something worse—”

“Fine.” At this one word, Tiern seemed to relax.