The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins Page B

greeted royalty—with civility and grace. This was the type of male Aerity was accustomed to meeting . . . minus the kilt and breathtaking Ascomannian beauty.
    Given all of that, the princess was surprised she did not feel the same heat course through her that she’d felt for the rude commoner moments before.
    Lord Alvi stood and his crystal blue eyes went straight to Wyneth. He reached for her hands and her eyes bulged.
    “Princess Aerity,” he crooned in a low voice.
    Whoops.
    Aerity bit the inside of her lip to hide a giggle as her cousin’s cheeks reddened.
    “No, kind sir. I am Lady Wyneth Wavecrest. This is my cousin Princess Aerity herself.” Her eyes were still huge as she turned to gesture toward the princess.
    Was it Aerity’s imagination, or had he appeared momentarily crestfallen as his eyes changed course toward her? He stepped over and gave another bow, taking Aerity’s hand.When his gaze rose to her, full of brazen confidence and an easy smile, she thought she must have imagined his initial disappointment.
    “Forgive me,” he said in a deep rumble of northern accent. “I was told the princess had hair like fire.”
    Aerity smiled. Compared to Wyneth’s vibrant curls, her own hair was a sorry excuse for red. But his eyes were far too kind to take offense.
    “Nothing to forgive, Lord Alvi,” the princess said, giving a small curtsy in return.
    “Please, Princess. Call me Lief. I’m told it’s not too late to join the hunt.”
    “You’re hunting?” Wyneth asked. Her face paled and she placed her fingers at her lips when she realized she’d spoken.
    “With great joy,” Lief told her in all seriousness. “I’ve come to slay the beast.”
    Princess Aerity’s heart tightened while she watched her cousin swallow hard, an ill look passing over her face.
    “Be safe,” Aerity whispered.
    “Aye,” Wyneth said. “Blessings of the seas be with you.”
    The lord nodded his head in thanks, but no fear showed on his face.
    “Princess and lady,” the king’s adviser said, stepping forward. He gestured worriedly toward the darkening skies. “Night beckons. We must get you both inside.”
    A reminder of the dangers hidden in the dark caused the girls to sidle closer.
    Princess Aerity turned to the hoard of brave men at her back and raised a hand to wish them well. They returned her gesture, appearing as a solemn but determined bunch, and a lump of emotion lodged in her throat. Would one of these daring hunters kill the beast? Would one of these men wed her? Take her to his bed? She tried to shake away the thought, but now it was her reality. She had to face it.
    She caught sight of Harrison through the myriad of faces. He stood naturally as if at attention, giving her a small smile and mock-salute that filled her with tenderness.
    Her eyes then scanned the crowd until she found the other man she was looking for—the one who lacked respect, and yet . . . his attraction, at the very least, seemed to match her own. It wasn’t ideal. It definitely wasn’t anything to base a relationship on, but her body sought him out all the same.
    Paxton Seabolt leaned lazily against the stone wall, lean, muscled arms crossed over his chest, his bow jutting out behind him. When their eyes met he didn’t look away or move, causing a strange fire to zing straight into her abdomen. He’d been watching her. She sucked in a ragged breath and turned away.
    Aerity took Wyneth’s hand and headed down the path for the castle, wishing with all her might that the beast would be killed that night once and for all. Preferably by Harrison . . . or perhaps the brazen Paxton Seabolt. If it was wrong to have preferences, then seas forgive her. It wasn’t as if her choices would be taken into account anyhow.
    She felt selfish for having such petty thoughts. Her only consideration should be for their safety.
    She sent an amended wish along the salty breeze that the man she was fated for would kill the beast, and that no