Paxton felt as if he should intervene to make his brother stop, but he was shamefully interested in what else Harrison might reveal. Jealousy prickled his skin.
The naval officer moved toward Tiern, his smile disappearing. “The princess is an honorable girl, and I am an honorable man.”
“Of course,” said Tiern, faltering. “I didn’t mean that. I just meant, are you in love?”
This gave Harrison pause. He stared down at the walnut in his hand for a long while. “Like I said, we care for each other.” At that, he turned away, reaching up to pluck another nut with his free hand.
A sense of mild relief washed through Paxton, and Tiern finally shut up. The fate of the princess was not Paxton’s concern, and he’d do well to put her from his mind altogether.
He crushed the next walnut under the heel of his boot so hard the entire thing went to bits, insides and all.
Chapter
30
Princess Aerity waited none too patiently outside her father’s office with Lady Wyneth. When the door opened, she pushed her way inside, nearly knocking aside a naval commander.
“What news?” Aerity asked, rushing to his desk.
The king stood, his face as tightly drawn as ever. “One hunter was killed by the beast. The others gave chase to the north and have not returned.”
Aerity rocked back on her heels, light-headed as the blood drained from her face.
“Who?” It came out barely a whisper.
“I’m sorry, what?” the king said.
Wyneth stepped forward, paler than ever. “Uncle . . . who was killed?”
“Samuel Gullet. A Lochlan widower from Loch Nech.”
Both the girls closed their eyes. Aerity felt a rush of relief followed closely by remorse.
The door to the king’s office burst open, startling them all. An officer took off his felt hat and moved before the king.
“Your Highness, the seven remaining Zorfinans were found just after daylight at the foot of the ridgelands . . . all dead.”
Aerity gasped in horror, and Wyneth grabbed her hand. The queen closed her eyes.
“How?” King Charles demanded. “Attacked?”
His adviser shook his head, his face pinched. “It was rather strange, your majesty. Each was stabbed through the heart with a dagger. And there was a note.” He handed it to the king, who read aloud.
“We are cowards. We must die or live in shame. Change is coming.” He peered across at his adviser. “An honor killing?”
“Aye. I assume because they did not go into the hills with the other hunters.”
“But what does that mean, about change coming?”
His adviser shook his head. “We don’t know, sir. The whole thing is bizarre.”
The king gripped the note in his hand, his anger surging, and brought his fist down on his desk. The bang echoed through the room.
“And the others? The Lochlans and Ascomannians?” asked Aerity. Wyneth’s hand tightened around hers.
“We assume they’re still on the Torestan border, Your Highness,” answered the adviser. “There is concern for them due to bad weather in the low ridges last night.”
The king rubbed his forehead. “We must find them. Send out a search party. Leave as soon as possible.”
“Should I send word to the Torestan government, Your Majesty? To seek permission to enter their lands, if necessary?”
The king waved this off. “There’s no time to ask permission, but we’ll send news so they can be on the lookout. I’ll deal with King Cliftonia. He knows we’re fighting a creature of severe magnitude. He won’t be happy it’s on his lands, but perhaps it is time the rest of Eurona took a greater interest in what’s happening here. They are not immune to this beast. This will open their eyes. Go. Search.” His adviser nodded and left quickly.
“I want to go,” Aerity said, letting go of Wyneth’s hand to grab her skirts. Her father stepped out from behind the oak desk to face her.
“It’s half a day’s ride to the bottom of the hills, child. We don’t know how far they made it in.”
“I’m not a child, father. You above all should know that.”
At this, he took her by the arm. She was itching to leave, scared to be left behind, but she didn’t dare pull from her father’s grasp.
His face was tight. “My men will find them—”
“I need to go.”
The king cocked his head and leveled a gaze at his daughter. She answered his thoughts before he had time to ask.
“Breckon’s cousin is out there, father. And I’ve also spoken with the other Lochlan lads. I feel I’ve come to know them. I only want to show my support. . . .”
She couldn’t meet his eye, certain he would see through her words to the truth underneath—that she’d developed feelings for one of the hunters, mutual or not.
“I will accompany her, Uncle,” Wyneth promised.
“As will I,” said a voice from the doorway.
They turned to find Vixie in a lavender dress, her mane of red hair pulled back. She marched in and faced their father, making him drop Aerity’s arm. It was the first time Aerity had seen Vixie acknowledge him since the proclamation was made. Aerity turned back to her father with pleading eyes.