The Great Hunt by Higgins Wendy

Author:Higgins, Wendy [Higgins, Wendy]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2016-02-03T08:00:00+00:00

Chapter

23

Aerity couldn’t sleep. The wind seemed to grab hold of her windows and shake them with fury. Lightning flashed eerily through her chamber, followed closely by the rumbling boom of thunder. She didn’t mind storms, actually found them soothing. It wasn’t the gale that kept her awake with anxious excitement but the knowledge that the hunters were inside the castle at that very moment.

She slipped from bed and wrapped a dressing robe over her nightgown, sliding her feet into soft shoes. A peek out her door found quiet, empty halls, flames flickering from massive wall sconces. The princess walked the halls in silence, her arms crossed over her chest. It was a testament to her father’s trust of the hunters that the halls weren’t crawling with guards. She did see one when she rounded the corner to High Hall—a lad not much older than she was. He was leaning against a tapestry and straightened when he saw her.

“Princess,” he said with a nod. “Everything all right?”

She nodded in return. “I can’t sleep.”

“Aye, the storm,” he said. His eyes flicked up and down the wide hallway to be sure Aerity was safe before he seemed to relax.

“I think I’ll visit the library.” She walked on before he could respond. One of the doors to High Hall was ajar. As she neared the darkened room, she glanced back at the guard, who watched dutifully. Aerity walked slowly, and just as she came close to the doorway a flash of lightning lit up the vast room within. Men were laid out on cots and floor bundles, snores resounding upward in mock harmony. But one man was sitting against the wall, his arms draped over bent knees, face shrouded in waves of brown hair. Their eyes met just as the lightning flashed, and their gazes remained connected afterward in the dim streak of sconce flame. Aerity sucked in a breath as the thunder hit, shaking the castle. She could still feel Paxton’s eyes as she continued forward, out of his sight. By the tides, how could a simple look make her tremble so?

She glanced back at the guard, who was still watching, forcing her not to linger.

Beyond the entrance to the Great Hall were steps down to the lower wing—the library to the right and a training facility with Aerity’s silks and an indoor archery range to the left. She was still shaking a bit as she stepped lightly down and rounded the corner to the library. Then she heard the murmur of male voices behind her at High Hall and retreated back to the corner to listen.

“Aye, it’s a nasty one.” The young guard’s voice reverberated down the stone hallway. “The archery range is down the steps to the left if you’re looking to pass time until the storm ends.”

“Very well, but my bow is in my tent.” It was Paxton’s voice.

Aerity’s heart skipped with glee—had he followed her? The men were discussing the availability of practice bows when she peeked around the corner.

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