Every ounce of her fear for the creature was wiped away with those words. It was just a baby. She hesitantly held outher hand and it came forward. It sniffed her, then licked her palm. When it lifted its paw to playfully swat, she yanked her hand back. Those claws were no joking matter. After pawing at her a bit more, the creature abruptly seemed to tire, and it curled up beside them.
Aerity’s fascination turned from the creature to Paxton. Their legs were touching where they sat. She looked up at him, and he peered down at her. He was really here. She couldn’t believe she’d ever doubted him. He laid his hand gently over the top of hers and Aerity felt her entire body warm and soften to his touch.
They moved at the same time, his hand going to her hair as her palm cupped his face. He grabbed her wrist with his other hand. His face was inches from hers but filled with tension.
“We need to get you and Harrison out of here, right now.”
“What about you?” she asked.
“I have to stay.” His voice was firm.
“Why?” Panic rose. “Do you stay forher?”
He tilted his head at her. “Do you think the worst of me, Aerity? You believed I was one of them. I saw it in your eyes.”
Her heart ached and her eyes burned. “Not until I thought you were hurting Harrison. You can’t be mad at me for that—you were both damned convincing!”
“Tell me why you’re here,” he said softly.
How could he even ask? In a gentle but confident voice, she told him. “For you, of course.”
There was a pause in which neither moved. And then Paxton’s hand tightened in her hair, the other sliding down to her waist, and he pulled her to him until their mouths met in a sweetness of yearning. Her arms circled his neck, holding him tight. Oh, how she’d craved this from him. She came up on her knees before him, needing to be closer. Their mouths moved together as if they could make up for every moment they’d spent apart.
Paxton pulled Aerity down to his lap, eliciting a moan from her, and that was when they heard the clearing of a throat against the wall. Their lips went still.
“Before you get too carried away, we should probably hear Paxton’s plan of escape,” Harrison said.
Aerity practically leaped from Paxton’s lap. “How long have you been awake?” she sputtered.
“Long enough to cry happy tears for the both of you,” Harrison teased. Embarrassment swept over her as Harrison chuckled. “We came all this way. I wasn’t about to ruin the moment too soon.” He got to his feet and so did Paxton. The two of them met with a clasp of hands and a hard pat to the shoulders.
Paxton moved to the window and looked out. He whispered, “I’ve got your horses ready below this window. We’ll have to shred these old beds and perhaps some of your clothing to make a rope.”
“Can’t we take the stairs?” Aerity asked.
“Nay. One of the Kalorian tents is near the front doors,and there is always someone on watch in the lower levels with the creatures. Right now it happens to be me, and I can’t raise any suspicions against myself. Chun added a sleeping herb to the evening tea, so hopefully the camp is sleeping soundly. Let’s get going.”
He took out his knife and set to slicing pieces of the bedcovers, while Harrison pulled off his tunic. Aerity pulled straw out of the beds to give Paxton better access to the fabric. As they finished cutting strips, Aerity began knotting them together with shaking hands. She prayed to the seas that this would work. They were quite high up, and though she wasn’t afraid, if these rags gave out, they could face broken bones, being knocked out upon impact, or even death.
She gave each knot an extra hard tug.
“That’s it,” Paxton said. “And by the way”—he looked back and forth between them—“Rozaria’s plan was for Chun and his brother to kill the two of you in the morning to prove their loyalty to the cause. So Chun, his wife and daughter, his brother and his two nephews, will all be riding with you. They’re waiting below.”
Aerity’s eyes bulged, and she rushed to the window. Sure enough, five horses were hidden in the nearby trees with people atop. She had to squint in the dark to see them—a young girl was riding with a woman, but the rest were males.
“If you believe they can be trusted,” Harrison said, “that is good enough for me.”
“Thank you.” Paxton sounded relieved. “It was Chun’sidea. When I came to him after leaving you tonight and told him Rozaria’s plan, he confided in me. Said he wanted to make it look like he’d helped you escape.”
“Do our companions know who I am?” Aerity asked.
“Nay. The fewer who know, the better.” Paxton quietly wrenched the old window open. Aerity’s nerves were on edge, waiting for any noise that might ruin their chance of escape. She went to the ledge and slowly let the rope down. It was hard to see, but she was certain it didn’t reach the ground.
“Curses,” she whispered. “It’s too short.”
Paxton moved past her and leaned out, then pulled back in. “You’ll have about a seven-foot drop. I think you’re both graceful enough to make it.”
Oh seas, oh seas, oh seas . . .
