The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology, #1)(78)

“Pry it open and see!” Aerity yelled. Vixie plopped down on the sand with the gray clam in her lap. That should keep her little sister busy. She glanced at Wyneth, who wore a sad expression. They sat quietly a moment. Aerity was tired of all the unspoken things between them. She chose her next words with care.

“Is there anything you’d like to talk about, Wyn?”

Her cousin’s eyes were blurred as she continued to stare out, shaking her head slowly.

“Not even a certain handsome man from the coldlands?”

Wyneth peered at her, face tight. “Definitely not.”

“All right, then.” Aerity sighed and took Wyneth’s hand. “Maybe if we don’t acknowledge any of this, the breath of the sea will blow over the lands and right all of the wrongs that’ve come about.”

Wyneth shut her eyes. Princess Aerity’s heart constricted as a line of tears rushed down her cousin’s pink cheeks.

Wyneth whispered, choking out, “I’m sorry, dearest Aerity. I didn’t mean to . . . I’ve tried . . .”

“No.” The princess squeezed her cousin’s hand. “You’ve done nothing wrong. It’s as if fate is an evil sorceress playing cruel tricks on the lot of us.”

Wyneth brushed away another drip of tears and sniffed, then leaned her head against Aerity’s shoulder. They sat like that together, their hearts heavy with burden.

From down the way, Vixie groaned. “Ugh, no pearl. What a rotter!” Aerity heard the heavy plunk of Vixie chucking the clam into the ocean. She and Wyneth both giggled.

Vixie jogged over and sat herself down cross-legged next to them. “What’s wrong with you two?”

Aerity’s first instinct was to put on a smile and protect her sister from unpleasant knowledge, but perhaps it was time she stopped.

“Vix, lots of things are going on in the kingdom.”

“I know. Oh . . .” She looked back and forth between them, her face falling. “Were you talking about Breckon? I’m sorry.”

Wyneth blinked at the sand.

“No,” Aerity said. “I mean, Breckon, he’s always there in our thoughts. Since the start of it all.” She looked at Wyneth, who slowly nodded. “And I don’t want to upset you, Vix, but I need you to be careful where Tiern is concerned.”

Vixie shrugged, looking down at the sand. “He’s my friend.”

“I know. He’s great fun, and he’s been a nice distraction from all this mess, but just be cautious. Of your heart, I mean. Sometimes friendship can lead to deeper feelings.”

Vixie nudged a half shell with her toe. “Well, he is handsome, I suppose.”

Aerity closed her eyes. “See, that’s what I mean, Vix. But you must know, if he kills the beast, I will marry him. He will be mine, perhaps not his heart, but he’ll be the father of my children, the father of this land’s future rulers.”

“I see.” Vixie dug her toes hard into the sand, her face unreadable, then she stood. “I’ll keep my distance. And from all the other hunters, as well, seeing as they’re all yours.”

Wyneth jumped to her feet, speaking sharply. “Obviously your sister does not want all these lads for herself, and she doesn’t want to hold you back from fancying anyone, Vixie. It’s time to grow up. This is about the kingdom, not you. Don’t make this any harder on Aer than it has to be.”

Vixie slumped. “I’m not trying to. Honestly, I wasn’t thinking of him as her future husband. He’s just the first lad I’ve ever been around who makes me feel like a normal girl.”

Aerity stood now, too. “I understand, and I’ve enjoyed seeing you happy. I don’t want you to end up heartbroken. That’s all.” She pushed unruly, salty red curls over Vixie’s shoulder, thinking of all the festivals the younger princess would attend in the next year. If her sister could keep her heart from settling on Tiern for a bit longer, Aerity was certain she would be just fine.

Vixie crossed her arms and her disappointed eyes went to the expanse between islands, where the lads still rested. Her jaw set in frustration and she kicked the sand, splattering the water. “I wish I could kill this stupid beast myself.”

“And then I’d have to marry you.” The moment Aerity said it, all three girls began laughing. Aerity adored the beautiful smiles on their faces.

From behind them, a distant scrape and bang sounded, followed by a pained grunt, cutting their laughter short. All three lasses turned their heads. They could see nothing but the building with overgrown weeds and vines.

“What was that?” Vixie asked.

Aerity listened hard. “The guard must have tripped on a faulty board or something.”

“Do you think he’s okay?” Wyneth asked.

Aerity continued to listen. “I’m sure he’s fine . . .” An uneasy feeling of dread spread through her stomach.

“I’ll call him.” Vixie sucked in a breath to yell, but a strange sense of foreboding filled Aerity and she covered her sister’s mouth.

“No, keep quiet. We’ll have a look.”

She led the way over small dunes with dense, tall patches of beach grass sprouting upward. “Watch out for the stickers.” Aerity pointed to the thorny tangle of brush growing close to the ground.