Next to Vixie, Wyneth had covered her mouth, her eyeswet. Harrison placed a hand on her back, his face grave.
Paxton hurried on. He gave approximate numbers of horses, carriages, and men, both Lashed and Unlashed, on land and sea.
“And by far the most dangerous are Prince Vito and Rozaria Rocato. Both are Lashed and ruthless. And cousins.”
“The prince is Lashed?” Lord Alvi exclaimed at the same time Aerity said, “Cousins?”
Fear whipped through Aerity when Paxton nodded. She shouldn’t be surprised by anything at this point.
“What are his weaknesses?” Lief asked.
“Beauty. Vanity.” Paxton’s jaw clenched. “His plan is to unite Lochlanach and Kalor by marrying you, Princess.”
Aerity felt a spasm of disgust.
Lord Alvi laughed without an ounce of humor. “Seems you’re a hot commodity to neighboring kingdoms, Aerity. He’ll need to queue up.”
“Lucky me,” she gritted.
“How did you escape them?” Harrison asked Paxton.
“I didn’t. They sent me ahead to make a way into the castle for them. I’m to kill the guards at the east entrance so the prince and his elite can enter the castle through the gardens in the morning hours.”
Aerity looked to Harrison. “Can we spare soldiers to stop the Kalorians at Bay Bridge?”
He grimaced. “Not enough to make it an even match while still protecting the castle. They’d be better used here on royal lands.”
“This will be a war of defense, not offense,” Lief muttered. From his voice it was clear he preferred to be on the offensive.
They stared around the room in disquiet, all minds calculating possible courses of action.
“Of course we’ll keep them locked out, right?” Vixie asked.
“There are the underground tunnels,” Wyneth pointed out. “If they manage to get in, we can have soldiers waiting below until Prince Vito and his men believe they have overtaken the castle. Then when they get good and comfy, we come out to attack.”
Lief rubbed his jaw. “I like that.”
“I do as well,” Harrison said.
“The royal lasses should be taken to safety away from the castle,” Paxton said, looking from Aerity to Vixie to Wyneth.
Oh, no. Aerity pressed her lips together. A definite sense of conviction kept her rooted to the castle.
“I don’t want to leave,” Vixie said.
“You’re next in line for the throne after Aerity,” Paxton explained. “It’s important to keep you safe.” Vixie dropped her eyes.
“I will stay,” Aerity said. All eyes went to her, and she wondered if she was being foolish and impulsive again. She couldn’t explain the sense of wrongness that filled her at the thought of leaving, as if the seas were against it.
Paxton shut his eyes. “What do you think you can do here? The kingdom needs you to be safe. You are thequeennow, Aerity.”
Her heart jumped and Vixie squeezed her hand. Aerity looked around the room at the fierce but neutral faces. She knew they would support her to their deaths, but none of them would decide this for her.
“Your Majesty,” Harrison said, “if your father were here, we would advise him to leave as well. Royals are usually taken to safety and not meant to be at the front line.”
“I need a moment to myself,” she said.
One by one, people filtered from the room. Vixie’s soft hand disappeared from her grasp. Aerity leaned back against the desk, her hands covering her face. What would she do? The idea of leaving the castle and that madman getting in . . . it was the worst feeling of violation. Even if she left temporarily, she felt as if being gone meant giving up, handing it over to the enemy. Shehadto be there.
