Page 24 of A Thieving Curse

Raelyn stared at the closed door. How could someone as gentle as Meredith or patient as Jasper be so fiercely attached to that demon? It didn’t make sense, and that added to her fear. All of this was so far beyond her control or comprehension.

Rethali customs and laws? Those she understood. Maybe imperfectly—she had never been a model student. But despite Mother’s worries, she did try. She also knew legends of cruel monsters; Gareth’s obsession had ensured that. But nothing had prepared her for a dragon-man who saved her then kept her trapped, who offered to let her go but warned against leaving because she would die, who claimed her as his bride but insisted he didn’t plan to act on it, who hadfriends.

She laid on the bed and pulled the blanket up to her chin.“My bride.”She shuddered and tossed onto her side, curling into a ball. Not even in her worst nightmares could she have imagined worrying whether her family was alive while she was trapped in a cave with a monster.

Meredith and Jasper say he’s human.The dragon-manhadsaved her from the wolves—like a hero, not a beast. His emotions seemed human enough. But she couldn’t think of a single story where the dragon wasn’t the villain.

Whatever the beast was or wasn’t, his refusal to aid her was keeping her from her destiny and her family. Her family that might not even be alive.The knights are well-trained. Gareth is strong and skilled.But as exhaustion overwhelmed her, all the reassurances lost their conviction.

She cried herself to sleep and dreamt of a half man, half manticore chasing her and breathing fire.

9

DARKNESS PRESSED AROUND Raelyn when she woke. It took a moment for everything to come back. She felt like she should cry, but no tears came, just emptiness as unending as the enveloping shadows. How did anyone live in a cave, with no windows or sunlight? Her stomach gurgled, but she had no idea what time it was or how long ago the fire had gone out.

Light flickered under the door, and someone knocked.

Please be Meredith or Jasper.Raelyn forced herself upright and placed her feet on the floor, wincing as the movement jolted her injured ankle. “Come in.”

The door opened and a lad of about fourteen or fifteen bounded in, holding a torch. Raelyn squinted against the bright light as Meredith entered after him, her lips twisted down in what Raelyn instantly recognized as disappointment. The boy’s dark brown hair stuck out at odd angles, and his shirt fit loosely on his thin body. He wasn’t tall, but he had a few inches on Meredith.

“Good morning! I’m Lucas.” He frowned as he looked her over. “You don’tlooklike a princess.”

“Lucas!” Meredith’s eyes widened.

“Well, I thought she’d be…I don’t know.” Lucas shrugged. “Cleaner, at least. With less messy hair. Maybe wearing a lot of jewels.”

Raelyn’s cheeks heated. “Princesses don’t have a magical ability to stay clean after being attacked by manticores and wolves and when we’re—” She clamped her mouth shut before she could saybeing held captive.“In a cave. And you don’t wear jewels while traveling.”

“Oh, I guess. Sorry.” He still sounded disappointed. “I’d hoped to see your crown. Or do princesses wear tiaras? Or a diadem? What’s a diadem? Is it the same as a crown? I’ve never seen a real crown. Alex doesn’t have a crown, even though he’s a prince. Acrownprince. Doesn’t that seem ironic, a crown prince without—”

“Enough, Lucas,” Meredith said, sounding like a long-suffering nursemaid. Lucas ducked his head with a guilty smile.

Raelyn blinked. This was too much talking and too many questions so soon after waking up.

“Well, even with the dirt and blood and no crown, you’re still really pretty.” Dimples punctuated his tanned cheeks.

Meredith rubbed her temple. “Are you hungry, Raelyn?”

Raelyn’s stomach rumbled in answer.

“Oh, right!” Lucas nodded. “We’re supposed to be inviting you to breakfast with us. And Dad and Jasper and Alex, of course. Are you coming? Please?”

Alex.The monster. She gulped, wondering how to ask to eat separately without alienating Meredith.

“The food is ready. It’s now or never.” Meredith watched her as if she knew what Raelyn was thinking.

Raelyn’s stomach panged, and she relented. The point of staying in the cave was so she wouldn’t starve to death. “All right.” She pulled on her boots, biting her tongue to hide her pain, and stood. “Lead the way, Lucas.”

Lucas pelted her with questions the whole way to the big cavern with the dining table, but she didn’t have to answer most of them—he didn’t give her enough time before he thought of another one. His friendly chatter was at once overwhelming and comforting in its normalcy.

When they arrived, Raelyn was relieved and surprised to see the monster wasn’t there. Jasper and a man with brown hair who looked like an older, more muscular version of Lucas were busy transferring food, utensils, and goblets of water from a wheeled cart to the table. The chair Raelyn had moved the night before remained at the table’s foot. Another without arms had been set in its former place.

“This is your spot now,” Lucas said as he pulled out the chair on the end.

Meredith assisted the men as Raelyn sat down. Lucas plopped onto the armless seat, jabbering about building a new chair. The rustle of wings sent her heart racing as the monster emerged from the shadows at the far end of the cavern. A lump formed in her chest, and she fiddled with her fork, feeling foolish for hoping he wouldn’t come.

He yawned and dropped into his chair at the head of the table. “Morning, Lucas.”

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