“Pax?” Tiern whispered. Vixie’s eyes shot to his and she saw Tiern staring, wide-eyed. And then he yelled, “That’s my brother!” He leaped down from his horse and ran, pushing through the people. Vixie’s heart went into her throat and she pressed a hand to it. This couldn’t be Pax . . . they’d called this man Lashed.
When Tiern reached the man, he threw his arms around him and the two of them embraced, holding tightly. The brothers pulled apart and she could see Paxton’s face.
“It’s really him,” Vixie breathed.
He’s Lashed.
She rode slowly forward, forcing the guards and soldiers to part further. Her eyes were set on Paxton. Surely they had been mistaken. Or perhaps they spoke of someone else. Her eyes roamed the crowd but there were no others. Tiern and Paxton both turned to her.
“Princess Vixie,” Paxton said, “I need to see your sisterat once.”
Her eyes went to his fingernails and she felt as if she’d been blasted by the coldest of winds. She fought to breathe. She looked to Tiern and his eyes were pleading. Absolute confusion and fear became a hurricane between her ears. Lashed . . . Kalorian clothing . . . her parents’ kidnappers.
With a shout, Vixie forced her horse to rear, causing all the men to back away, and then she turned and charged toward the castle.
She could hear herself whimpering. What was going on? Paxton was Lashed? Could he be trusted? He’d been in Kalor all this time and now here he was. Vixie rode to the front of the castle and dismounted, smacking Ruspin on the rump and then sprinting to the stone steps.
“Princess!” the guards called when they saw her. She ran past them, shouting when she got into the hall.
“Aerity! Where is she?”
“What’s wrong?” the guards asked. She ignored them and ran to the king’s office. More guards were outside it, a sure sign Aerity was within.
Vixie burst in, making Aerity jump to her feet, the blood draining from her face.
“Paxton is here!”
Harrison, Lief, Wyneth, and all the officers present jumped to their feet.
Aerity’s mouth hung open. “Are they here? The Kalorians?”
“Nay.” Vixie’s voice shook. “It’s just him. But he’s—” She stopped and stared around at the faces watching her. “He’s . . .” Should she tell them all? What if they hurt him?
Aerity’s face smoothed. “I know what he is. Where is he, Vix?”
“Youknow?” Vixie stared at her sister, who seemed inexplicably calm. “But, Aer, he looks like one of them!”
Aerity faced the officers, speaking quickly. “The hunter Paxton Seabolt is Lashed. He is one of us but was able to infiltrate Rozaria’s army. He must have been able to escape. He’ll have information. Have him brought to me at once.”
The men rushed from the room, including Harrison and Lief.
Vixie stared at her sister. Aerity’s face paled.
“I’m sorry.” She tried to step forward and touch Vixie’s arms, but the younger princess yanked them away. “Seas, I don’t even know what day it is half the time anymore, Vix. I can’t remember who knows what—”
“You don’t tell meanything!” Vixie shouted. Anger rose in her like a demon of the deep sea, and she let it loose. All thetimes she’d been kept in the dark and left out, all the unfair treatment and secrets. Vixie screamed in frustration, squeezing her hands into fists. She was throwing a veritable tantrum and she could not stop herself.
“Vix!” Wyneth said in shock, but Vixie ignored her, staring down Aerity.
“Stop treating me like a child! Stop trying to protect me, and keeping me ignorant about every last thing! I’m sick of it!”
“All right,” Aerity said. And truly, she did appear remorseful. “I’m so sorry. I should have told you everything—you’re right.”
Vixie’s chin trembled as the fire went out of her, and her shoulders hunched. Aerity came around the desk and wrapped her arms around her.
“Please forgive me,” she murmured into her hair. “No more secrets, I promise.”
Vixie sniffed hard against her sister’s shoulder. “Aerity?”
