The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)(70)

“Please don’t leave tonight,” Aerity whispered. “Talk to Mrs. Rathbrook.”

She could only hope the woman would have some sort of idea or advice for Paxton.

His expression was one of disappointed strain. “I can make no promises to you, Aerity.”

She swallowed and nodded. This was about life and death for him. It was wrong that he should have to live this way, that he should have to give up his freedom. Aerity needed to speak to her father. Something had to be done in the kingdom. It was one thing to read about Lashed. To see this pain, to feel it up close, was wholly different. She felt ashamed at her past inaction. She could no longer be silent.

A quiet knock sounded on the door as it opened. Mrs. Rathbrook’s gaze passed between Aerity and Paxton before she let out a knowing sigh.

“Go,” Paxton whispered to Aerity.

The princess gave a nod and shared a meaningful look with Mrs. Rathbrook before she exited the room, leaving her to heal, and hopefully mentor, the magical man who had so ensnared her heart.











Chapter


33


Lady Wyneth held her skirts tightly in her hands as she walked over the cobblestones.. This morning she had started to choose a pale yellow dress, a favorite of hers. But even touching the fabric made her feel traitorous to her love’s memory. She chose gray again, though she knew Breckon would want her to be happy. He wouldn’t want her to continue mourning, but her heart was not ready to let go of what they’d had. A part of her would always long for that sweet love. Wind whipped past and she grasped the shawl at her chest.

A great divide had taken up residence within her—the half that ached to see Lord Lief Alvi each day and the half that dreaded it, knowing it was wrong to feed this interest for so many reasons. She hated herself for having these torn feelings for one man, as she wore the bereavement color for another.

Her heart became a rapid drum as she approached the entrance gates. Thankfully, Harrison and Tiern were standing close by with their bows strung across their backs, talking in low tones.

“Oy, lads,” she called to them. They raised their chins and smiled as she entered. From the corner of her eye she saw a group of men emerge from the tents, geared up. The tallest, broadest, blondest of their ranks stared in her direction.

Feeling his eyes on her, she was momentarily too distracted to speak.

“All right then?” asked Harrison.

“Oh, yes.” She cleared her throat. “I came to see what happened this afternoon.”

“Pax finally kicked that coldlandman’s arse,” Tiern said, grinning. “Been asking for it since day one.”

Wyneth raised her eyebrows. “But they’re both all right?”

Harrison shrugged, like people beating each other was commonplace, and perhaps it was. “They’ll survive. Probably even be back for the hunt tonight.”

“Well, all right then.” Wyneth could see Lief moving in their direction now, and her stomach rattled with nerves. “Good. I’ll just be going, I suppose.” She gave them nervous smiles as she turned to leave.

“Are you all right, Wyn?” Harrison called, his voice tinged with worry.

“Aye, fine,” she responded over her shoulder.

When she was nearly at the gates, his smooth, deep voice called out to her. “My lady.”

Wyneth slowed, her stomach giving a massive stir of satisfaction, which quickly filled her with shame. Her hand clung to the gate, but she didn’t turn. The guards watched, and when Wyneth looked at them they turned their faces away.

“Are you well?” Lief’s concerned voice asked her.

Wyneth shut her eyes. “I’m ready for this cursed beast to be killed, and this hunt to be over.” Come what may, she meant that with all her heart. She was ready for this sense of doom to lift from the kingdom so they could all seek a normal life again, though “normal” would likely have a completely different meaning once the hunt finished.

“Walk with me?” He held out a bare arm, and Wyneth looked toward the guards. The self-preserving part of herself hoped the guards would suggest against it, as they would with Aerity, but they only moved aside. Wyneth’s heart flipped and then fell in a single swoop. Past Lord Alvi, she could see Harrison still watching her, a terse frown on his face. Guilt churned within her.

“My lady?” Lord Alvi was holding out his arm.

Wyneth tore her gaze from Harrison and hesitantly took the coldlandman’s arm, her fingers curling over a small portion of the muscle there, and he led her away from the castle. He felt so nice, so masculine and safe. But her brief feeling of comfort quickly morphed into one of misgiving. He wasn’t hers and he wasn’t safe. Nobody was.

“Lord Alvi,” she said as they turned the corner toward paths into the forest. “I should return to the castle. This—it’s not proper.”

“It’s merely a walk. I’ll have you back soon.”

She pulled his arm to stop him and dropped her hands, a sense of resolve settling over her. “This has to stop. Please. I don’t want to think about you anymore—”

“Have you been thinking of me?” His light blue eyes trapped her, and his white smile dazzled her senseless.

“I . . .” She cleared her throat. “I mean it, Lord Alvi. I can’t see you alone anymore.”