“My loyalties lie with myself.” Her palms pressed down and heated at his response. Suddenly, he could not take in air or exhale.Depths of the seas, she’s controlling my lungs!His chest and throat began to sting with the need to breathe, his heart beating too hard. And all the while she stared calmly up intohis eyes. He could feel his face darkening as he dug his heels into the ground.
Rozaria’s hands cooled and eased up. Air poured into Paxton’s lungs and he gasped, slumping forward in the men’s grasp. After a few cleansing breaths his energy returned and he stood taller, facing down the woman and straining against the arms that held him. He could not afford to show fear.
“Will you make an enemy of me, Rozaria? When I am here to join you?”
Her eyes widened, seemingly thrilled by his anger.
“My loyalties haveneverbeen with the royals of Lochlanach.” He allowed his old fury against the king to rise within him, though he couldn’t seem to reach the level of rage he’d once felt, even given his circumstances. He blamed Aerity for that. He’d have to fake it. His voice rose to a shout. “What have they ever done for me? Because of them my grandmother died an untimely death, never allowed to be the person she was created to be! I refuse to let that happen to me.”
Her hands lowered. “Tell me why you have come here, Paxton Seabolt.”
“Because only you can help me achieve my goal of freedom. I want to return home someday. But I can no longer live without magic. Not since I’ve tasted it for myself. I refuse to forgo my health and die young because of a fool’s old laws.”
She grinned, a stunning upward curve of her reddened lips. “Lovely words, indeed. But I shall be keeping a close eye on you, hunter.”
“I expected nothing less. But I will prove myself to you.”
She searched Paxton’s face. Seeming satisfied, she nodded to her men and they released him. Paxton shook out his arms, a scowl on his face. It was imperative he earn her trust if he was to infiltrate her ranks, but he didn’t know what it would take to prove himself to the madwoman. One thing was for certain though—he’d do damn near anything to keep Aerity safe.
Chapter
9
Aerity had been so determined not to be a spoiled, pampered ninny, but the cold was truly more than she’d bargained for. The first night she’d kept warm from sheer excitement, and it had only been several hours until daybreak when the sun would warm her again. The second night when the sun dropped and the chill hit, the excitement wore down, now as thin as her commoner clothing. Still, she refused to complain.
They’d ridden thirteen hours, passing through the shallowest part of Eurona River, which still soaked their legs. Each time they’d passed travelers on the path, Aerity had been terrified, but nobody had taken much notice of them. They’d stopped to change out of their wet clothing and eat, but a chill had set over Aerity.
Harrison, seas love him, took one look at her crouched over on the horse, hugging one arm across her middle, and stopped in his tracks. He leaned over and felt her cloak.
“Is this the warmest thing you’ve got?”
“Aye. A thicker cloak would have drawn attention.”
He pulled a bound blanket from his horse’s pack and handed it to her. “Wrap this around yourself. And take these.” He tossed her a pair of fingerless gloves. Regular gloves were frowned upon due to fears of people hiding lash marks.
“Won’t you need them?” He’d changed into commoner clothing the night before.
“Nay.” He pulled a stocking cap over his head, covering his ears. “This’ll do the trick for me.” He gave a carefree grin that made Aerity’s heart ache with a moment of reminiscence. How many times had he given her that comfortable grin over the years?
“Thank you, Harrison. Thank you for doing this. I know you have a lot to lose if you’re found out—”
“Nay, dearCallie.” He squeezed her hand and let go, facing forward again. “I fear these days I have nothing at all to lose.” He trotted forward, leaving her to ponder his words of melancholy as she pulled the gloves on and tapped her horse’s side to catch up.
They rode on in silence down the dark path until both of them and their horses were too tired to go farther. They traveled into the southeastern Lochlan woods off the path until Harrison found three trees with thin trunks close enoughtogether to support a tent with rope and linen. He lay a blanket on the ground.
“Fit for a maiden.”
She collapsed onto it without hesitation, her whole body exhausted and sore. Harrison sat down beside her, staring up at the moon and stars.
“Aren’t you tired?” Aerity’s words came out slightly slurred.
He didn’t answer. Instead he looked down at her and chuckled. “You appear to be in a tangle.” Indeed, she’d lain down with the blanket still around her. She wiggled and broke into a fit of giggles to find she was quite stuck. Harrison grasped the edge of the blanket and yanked, sending Aerity rolling to the side in a rush of laughter.
“Someone is punchy.” He laughed when she reached out and punched his arm.
Aerity sat up beside him now, replacing the blanket over herself. “Is there another blanket?”
He shook his head. “It’s all right.”
