“Did they catch Rozaria?” Aerity asked.
“Aer . . . she’s gone. That Rocato woman somehow knocked out Vixie and fled—”
“Knocked her out?” Aerity shouted in fury, grabbing her chest.
“How badly is she hurt?” Tiern asked, jumping to his feet at the mention of Vixie.
“She’s fine,” Wyneth quickly amended. Aerity nearly collapsed into her cousin’s arms. “Vixie’s safe, and they’ll catch that woman. Everything will be all right. In time, it truly will.”
“I should have been here,” came a low voice beside them. Harrison was still staring at Lief.
“Harrison.” Aerity touched his arm. He turned to her, and his eyes cleared.
“You shouldn’t be walking, Aer.” He bent and gently lifted her into his arms, cradling her. Under his breath he asked, “Where is Paxton?”
“He’s gone,” she whispered back.
“I’m sorry.”
Aerity pressed her face into his shoulder.
“Let’s get the princess back to the castle,” ordered a guard.
“We’ll be at the boat in a moment,” Aerity told him. “Wait for us there.” The guard left as the Zandalee jogged over. Zandora’s eyes scanned Tiern from top to bottom.
“Your brother is gone?”
He nodded, looked down. Zandora crouched at his side. “Whose blood covers you, Tiern Seabolt, if you did not slay the beast?”
His mouth opened, then shut as he stared at her. His eyes lifted, searching, as he turned toward Harrison, Aerity, and Wyneth. He shook his head.
“Wade into the water,” Zandora told him. “Wash as much of your blood away as you can before the men notice.”
She knows.Aerity’s heart rate picked up speed. Tiern obeyed, moving out to the water to wash. Zandora turned and bowed her head at Aerity. The other two Zandalee did the same.
“It was an honor to serve your kingdom. Now we must go.”
Aerity nodded, realizing the hunt was truly over. “Thank you,” she said quietly.
“What’s going on?” Harrison asked. He watched Tiern washing in the water. Wyneth met Aerity’s eyes. She could trust them.
“The beast nearly killed Tiern. But Paxton . . . he’s Lashed. He saved Tiern, and Lief took the kill.”
Wyneth’s eyes bulged. Harrison’s arms slackened, andAerity yelped as she felt herself slip. He quickly flexed and lifted her again. “Sorry . . . I just . . . deep seas. I had no idea.” He kissed the top of Aerity’s head, and she pressed her face into his shoulder.
“Oh, my seas,” she heard Wyneth breathe.
A sense of finality lay inside Aerity. It was over. Paxton was gone. She would marry a man who felt more for her cousin than he did for her, a man who cared more for his glory than anything else. And possibly worst of all, a madwoman was on the loose again.
“Take me to the boat,” Aerity whispered. Harrison obliged.
The sounds of celebration—Ascomannian chants and Lochlan praises—were so out of place in Aerity’s sluggish mind. She could not bring herself to cheer for the death of this beast, when it felt as if her troubles were merely beginning. But the kingdom was safe, and that’s what mattered.
A cold wind blew across Aerity’s face as Harrison settled her into a seat, her hair whipping against her skin, and all traces of warmth from earlier that day disappeared.
Chapter
40
