She grinned at the prince, who continued to stare at Paxton.
“Why does your heart beat so hard?” the man asked. Paxton blinked in surprise, and the prince said, “I can feel it in your energy.”
He could feel Paxton’s pulse? The kind of power that mustbe in this man’s blood was unreal.
“I suppose I’m . . . excited, Your Majesty.” Paxton rubbed his sweating palms on the knees of his breeches. “This is the moment I’ve been waiting for.”
Prince Vito linked his long fingers together on his lap and Paxton couldn’t help but stare at those purpled nails as the prince responded.
“Freedom from the oppression of Unlashed rulers is upon us. Things will finally be as they should. First Lochlanach, then Toresta, Zorfina, and lastly Ascomanni. Though we may simply have to kill that entire kingdom of tyrants.”
Paxton gave a humorous snort at his irony. If ever there’d been a tyrant, it was the prince himself. But he said, “Aye. There is not much hope for the coldlands. I nearly broke my hand on one of their noses during the hunt.”
The prince let out his chilling laugh again. “Shame you couldn’t have just killed them all while nobody was looking. All their supposedwarriors. Those people are nothing but muscle and hate.”
“Soon enough,” Rozaria crooned.
“Yes, Cousin.”Cousin?Prince Vito patted her hand. “Soon enough. And the princess is just the tool I need to gain the trust of the Lochlan people. When I make her my queen, we will join lands, and nobody can question the validity of my rule.”
Paxton tried to swallow the bile that had risen in him, but it stuck. He had to kill them. Right now. He stared attheir hands, wondering how quick their reflexes were. He had never killed a person before. It would take him a long moment to find their hearts and stop them. But these two . . . they could kill him in less time than it would take him to blink.
Paxton sat back and met the prince’s sinister eyes. He gave the man a nod. He could not kill them now. He would get to the castle first and get Aerity to safety. He would never let this man near her.
Never.
Chapter
32
Wyneth had been up since before the sun, patiently awaiting the moment when Aerity would be awake so she might speak with her. She hurried down the hall with Furball lumbering along behind her on his giant paws—she no longer bothered with the pretense of the rope leash—and hordes of guards in front of Aerity’s wing made a path for them. Wyneth got to Aerity’s chambers just as her maid was coming out with the laundry.
“My lady,” Caitrin said with a curtsy.
Wyneth inclined her head. “Good morning, Caitrin.”
“Wyn!” Aerity’s eyes brightened as she came out of her chambers. And then her eyes bulged at the sight of Furball. “Great raging seas!”
Wyneth rushed in and closed the door behind her. “I know. Try having him sleep in your bed.”
“He doesn’t!”
“He does,” Wyneth admitted. “Let’s just say there’s no need for a fire with this one curled up against your back.”
Aerity did not look like she enjoyed the idea of the beast cub in her bed, but Wyneth didn’t mind. She knew it sounded mad, but he gave her such comfort. She watched him fondly as he nosed his way through her cousin’s room, sniffing everything, his claws clicking and scraping against the wood floor.
“Listen, Aer, I know you’ve got your morning meetings, but I need to speak to you for a moment.” Wyneth paused, wondering if she should bother her cousin with such trivial matters when there were legitimate important issues to be dealt with. “You know what . . . never mind. It can wait.”
“What?” Aerity grabbed her arm. “Don’t you dare pique my curiosity and then say never mind!”
Wyneth loved the glow of interest in Aerity’s eyes, and she wondered if maybe a tiny distraction from the kingdom’s woes might not be such a bad thing. She glanced down the hall. The guard was out of hearing range.
“All right, then, but I’ll make it quick. Yesterday . . .” Wyneth’s mind went into a blur of warmth and confusion and guilt, the swirl of emotions that had kept her tossing and turning all night.
“Well, go on.” Aerity grasped both of Wyn’s hands now.
“Harrison kissed me!” she said in a rush.
Aerity’s face froze, and she rocked back on her heels. Then she gasped, let go of Wyneth’s hands, and slapped her palms over her mouth. Wyneth pressed her lips together, waiting for it.
