The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)(42)

Paxton’s eyes bored into hers. His words echoed in her mind.

He wanted to kill the beast. And if he did . . . he would become her husband.

Aerity felt a heady rush of bravery. She glanced over her shoulder at the empty hall and then let the door slide closed behind her. She swallowed hard and leaned against it. Oh, lands below, what had she done? She’d just closed herself in a room with him! Her mother would die if she found out. Gossip would fly.

“I didn’t want our conversation to upset anyone,” Aerity explained lamely.

Paxton crossed his arms, examining her, scrutinizing. “If you knew anything about us villager lads, you’d know better than to shut yourself in with one of us.” His eyebrow rose and fell provocatively.

Her mouth dropped open. This had been a bad idea. Very bad, indeed. Paxton might be a brave hunter, but she didn’t know this man at all. And he was right; the kind of flirting banter popular among commoners was seen as inappropriate among royalty, though he made no move to come near her.

“You’re a cheeky one,” Aerity managed to say, trying and failing to cover her embarrassment. Paxton’s mouth pulled to the side in a smirk that made her stomach flip.

“You’ve no idea, Princess.”

She’d only wanted to continue talking in private. Instead, she’d made things horribly awkward. At a loss, the princess blurted, “My cousin saw the beast. She . . . it killed her fiancé.” The words made her light-headed.

Paxton’s face dropped. “Lady Wyneth . . . aye. I’d heard the captain was engaged to a lady, but I never put it together.” He stared past her shoulder, in thought. Then his eyes slid back to hers with newfound intensity. “It will die. Your cousin and all the others will be avenged.”

“Good.” Aerity cleared her throat against the dry croak that had invaded, made worse by Paxton Seabolt’s intrusive searching of her face.

“What is it that you want from me, Aerity?” There was an edge to his voice. “You want me to kill the great beast?”

Her breath caught. Aerity. Not princess. No formal title. Only familiarity, which they hadn’t yet earned. Still it warmed her to her core.

She stammered, “Of course I want the beast to be killed.”

Paxton remained leaning against the cot with his arms crossed. “But do you want me to be the one to kill it? Is that why you’re here? To persuade me?” His words were spoken in a low voice, sending Aerity’s thoughts into a whirlpool of confusion.

“No. I mean . . . I . . .” She tried to sort out any hidden meaning in his words, but he was difficult to read.

If he killed the beast, she would get to touch him. Run her hands over him. He might not like Aerity for whatever reason, but from the heat in his gaze she knew he’d welcome her hands on him. He’d probably welcome any lass’s hands on him. That thought darkened Aerity’s musings.

“Or is it Harrison you want? Do you still think you have a say in who marries you?” he asked. “Even after your father’s proclamation?”

And with that, Aerity felt her wits returning as she returned his steely stare. Did he think she was some girl to be toyed with? How dare he make light of her situation?

“If you’re looking to have your ego stroked, Paxton Seabolt, you’ve asked the wrong lass. I would prefer my future husband to love me, if you must know. This arrangement does not please me, but the safety of the kingdom is more important than what I wish for. So don’t speak lightly of my circumstances.”

And why had he mentioned Harrison? Had there been a twinge of jealousy in his voice?

His eyes roamed her face as if searching for cracks in her words. He appeared unapologetic for any disrespect he might have meant. Aerity could not understand this bold man or how he perceived her.

As they stared, Aerity felt a sudden nudge at her back from the opening door. The princess jumped and saw Mrs. Rathbrook. Paxton uncrossed his arms and stood straight. Aerity’s cheeks heated and she pressed a hand to her chest. This must have looked bad, but the woman smiled at them both with apparent delight.

“My apologies, Mrs. Rathbrook,” Aerity said. “I heard Mr. Seabolt was injured so I came to check on him, but he’s already in perfect condition, thanks to you. I was just leaving.”

Mrs. Rathbrook reached out and took Aerity’s clammy hand, squeezing it as if to calm her. In the woman’s other hand was a man’s tunic. Paxton looked back and forth between the woman and girl, seeming almost confused or surprised about something. The older woman tossed the shirt at his face and he caught it.

“It’s not proper to go around shirtless in front of a royal lass,” she gently admonished, “no matter how beautiful she might be.”

She winked at Aerity, who blushed all over again.

“Please don’t tell my father or mother,” Aerity began, but the woman only chuckled and shook her head.

“There is nothing to tell. Two people talking.”

Aerity, beyond thankful, embraced the woman and kissed her cheek.

She felt Paxton watching her with a keen awareness, but she refused to acknowledge him or say good-bye. She peered around the door and slipped into the empty infirmary hall, gulping breaths of cool air. Her hands shook and she curled her fingers into tight fists to fight the trembling.

She didn’t doubt that Paxton had felt her attraction. It’s surely what gave him the confidence to be as forward as he pleased. But she couldn’t allow another moment like that to happen between them. In his eyes lived something deep, dark, and untold. Something that frightened her.