The hunter looked down at his abdomen and then back up at the princess. He rubbed a hand down his stomach. “I’m not sure where my tunic’s gone . . . it was bloodied.”
Aerity waved off his comment with a shaking hand and said, “It’s all right.” As if she were used to being in the presence of half-naked, attractive men.
Do not look at his chest . . . or his stomach . . .
“Only a few Kalorians remain to hunt,” Paxton said. “They were extraordinary last night. They attacked it and gave chase.”
He was being awfully chatty. Perhaps a near-death experience would do that to a person.
“Tiern said you did the very same thing, attacked it without fear.”
Paxton shook his head and paused as he looked down at his hands. “It wasn’t enough. I was like a rag doll against its power.”
Ah, so Paxton Seabolt had been humbled. His hair was a mess, and she wanted to brush it from his face.
“But it won’t be so next time,” he said, his voice lowering. “I know the beast’s weakness now, and I will kill it.”
Paxton’s eyes bored into hers. His words echoed in her mind.
He wanted to kill the beast. And if he did . . . he would become her husband.
Aerity felt a heady rush of bravery. She glanced over her shoulder at the empty hall and then let the door slide closed behind her. She swallowed hard and leaned against it. Oh, lands below, what had she done? She’d just closed herself in a room with him! Her mother would die if she found out. Gossip would fly.
“I didn’t want our conversation to upset anyone,” Aerity explained lamely.
Paxton crossed his arms, examining her, scrutinizing. “If you knew anything about us villager lads, you’d know better than to shut yourself in with one of us.” His eyebrow rose and fell provocatively.
Her mouth dropped open. This had been a bad idea. Very bad, indeed. Paxton might be a brave hunter, but she didn’t know this man at all. And he was right; the kind of flirting banter popular among commoners was seen as inappropriate among royalty, though he made no move to come near her.
“You’re a cheeky one,” Aerity managed to say, trying and failing to cover her embarrassment. Paxton’s mouth pulled to the side in a smirk that made her stomach flip.
“You’ve no idea, Princess.”
She’d only wanted to continue talking in private. Instead, she’d made things horribly awkward. At a loss, the princess blurted, “My cousin saw the beast. She . . . it killed her fiancé.” The words made her light-headed.
Paxton’s face dropped. “Lady Wyneth . . . aye. I’d heard the captain was engaged to a lady, but I never put it together.” He stared past her shoulder, in thought. Then his eyes slid back to hers with newfound intensity. “It will die. Your cousin and all the others will be avenged.”
“Good.” Aerity cleared her throat against the dry croak that had invaded, made worse by Paxton Seabolt’s intrusive searching of her face.
“What is it that you want from me, Aerity?” There was an edge to his voice. “You want me to kill the great beast?”
Her breath caught. Aerity. Not princess. No formal title. Only familiarity, which they hadn’t yet earned. Still it warmed her to her core.
She stammered, “Of course I want the beast to be killed.”
Paxton remained leaning against the cot with his arms crossed. “But do you want me to be the one to kill it? Is that why you’re here? To persuade me?” His words were spoken in a low voice, sending Aerity’s thoughts into a whirlpool of confusion.
“No. I mean . . . I . . .” She tried to sort out any hidden meaning in his words, but he was difficult to read.
If he killed the beast, she would get to touch him. Run her hands over him. He might not like Aerity for whatever reason, but from the heat in his gaze she knew he’d welcome her hands on him. He’d probably welcome any lass’s hands on him. That thought darkened Aerity’s musings.
“Or is it Harrison you want? Do you still think you have a say in who marries you?” he asked. “Even after your father’s proclamation?”
And with that, Aerity felt her wits returning as she returned his steely stare. Did he think she was some girl to be toyed with? How dare he make light of her situation?
“If you’re looking to have your ego stroked, Paxton Seabolt, you’ve asked the wrong lass. I would prefer my future husband to love me, if you must know. This arrangement does not please me, but the safety of the kingdom is more important than what I wish for. So don’t speak lightly of my circumstances.”
And why had he mentioned Harrison? Had there been a twinge of jealousy in his voice?
His eyes roamed her face as if searching for cracks in her words. He appeared unapologetic for any disrespect he might have meant. Aerity could not understand this bold man or how he perceived her.