Page 102 of A Thieving Curse

“Why didn’t you leave?” Lucas coughed. “You wouldn’t have killed him. I know you wouldn’t have been able to do it.”

Blood spread down Lucas’s shirt at an alarming rate. Raelyn swiped away tears that wouldn’t stop falling. If only she knew which archer had released the arrow.Why? So I can order him hanged?She forced herself to look away from the arrow.I’m not a killer, either.

“I thought…” Lucas groaned, and Meredith whimpered.

Raelyn’s chest ached as she wept. Peter blinked up at the sky and took a rasping breath before looking back at Lucas’s face.

“I thought,” Lucas said, “I’d help you snap out of it and fly away. I—I’d distract them. So—so you could go.”

Alex leaned over Lucas. “Why do you have to be so brave and impulsive?”

Lucas smiled, then grimaced. “I’m impulsive? I’ve never gotten so mad I turned into a dragon.” He chuckled weakly and coughed. Blood bubbled on his lips. Raelyn bit her knuckle.

“My boy,” Meredith wept. She ran her trembling fingers around his face, pushing his unruly hair back. Peter moaned, the sound strangled and painful as he bent over his son. Sweat beaded on Lucas’s forehead. His chest juddered with shallow breaths.

Alex moved a blood-soaked hand to grip one of Lucas’s. “Lucas,” he said softly, “talk to me. You never stop talking. Don’t—don’t start now.”

“I thought…you wanted me to talk less.” Lucas’s laugh broke into a groan. He twisted on the ground. “It hurts,” he moaned. Meredith wept harder and cradled his head in her hands. Alex choked on a sob and bowed his head.

Raelyn wished she could ease the lad’s pain or distract him; just for a moment—yes.“Lucas,” she forced out, her voice strained. “You were right. About me and Alex. You were right, Lucas. You knew.” She laughed, but it sounded manic. “You knew before I did.”

“Told you so.” Lucas smiled, although his face pinched. “Did you kiss?”

She nodded as salty tears ran into her mouth. “Twice.”

A creak of metal sounded behind Meredith and Jasper. Raelyn lifted her head and tensed. Tristan stalked toward them, his sword back in his hands and his expression lethal. “You kissed my bride, monster?”

No, not now—

Before Raelyn could say anything, Gareth darted between Tristan and Meredith’s back. He held the point of his sword to Tristan’s neck. Raelyn quivered, sucking each breath past her strangled throat.

“Drop it, Carbrey,” Gareth said, his voice low.

Tristan glowered and dropped his sword. “You’ll pay for this, Argent.”

Raelyn wrapped her arms around her stomach and glanced around at Tristan’s men. None of them made any move to help their prince, although several seemed uncomfortable.

Lucas looked paler by the moment. She clenched her teeth, every stifled sob making her head ache. Lucas’s eyes fluttered.

“Hang on, Lucas,” Alex said desperately, clutching Lucas’s hand in both of his. “Who’s going to be my brother if you go?”

Blood leaked from the corner of Lucas’s mouth. Veins stood out on his neck. “Marry Raelyn. She…has three brothers. Just remember.” He broke down coughing, his face turning blue. He gasped, then gave another strained smile. “I’m your best brother.”

“Always and forever,” Alex said.

“It’s not…” Lucas coughed, and Meredith leaned against Peter’s shoulder. “Your fault, Alex. It’s not.” He panted for breath. “I love…you.”

“I love you—” Alex’s voice broke, and his breath shuddered out of him as he cried.

“Mom?” Lucas’s high-pitched voice sounded small. “Dad?” He gasped in another breath as tears rolled down his temples into his hair.

“I’m here.” Meredith kissed her son’s forehead and cheeks through tears. “I love you, you brave, beautiful boy.”

Peter made a strangled noise and rubbed Lucas’s shoulders. “I’m here, son.”

“I’m like…a hero. Right?” Lucas’s chest heaved. “This is…a heroic…death?”

Alex nodded hard. “You’re my hero, Lucas.”

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