Page 26 of A Thieving Curse

“Enough talking, son.” Peter gave Lucas a stern look before glancing sidelong at Raelyn, then returned to eating.

Raelyn clutched her fork.He transforms. Into a full dragon.The dragon-man was focused on his plate, but a muscle twitched in his temple.That’s what happened yesterday.When Jasper said he was losing control.She shuddered and leaned back in the chair, her appetite gone.

“Do you have different fare in Eynlae?” the dragon-man asked, his tone casual. “Or am I so off-putting?”

“Leave the girl alone, Alex,” Jasper said, as nonchalantly as if he were commenting on the weather.

“She could at leasttryto act like she doesn’t hate the sight of me.” An edge of a growl cut into his words. “She’s making me angry.”

“No, you’re making yourself angry,” Meredith noted.

Raelyn didn’t understand it. How could they all be so fearless? And kind? Toward this creature that could burn them alive or turn into a dragon and eat them? The same way that manticore had attacked… No, she couldn’t think about that.

“She’s not helping,” the beast said. “Do I repulse you, Princess?”

Unease prickled at the back of her neck. The dragon-man had a short temper, and she didn’t dare tell him the truth. She had lied to plenty of courtiers. This wasn’t that different. She dragged her attention up to his face. A face that would be attractive, with its symmetry, sharp cheekbones, and sculpted jaw—if it wasn’t marred by clusters of tiny scales along the edges and topped with horns.

She breathed out slowly. “No.”

His mouth fell open, giving her an unwanted glimpse of his fangs. “I…” He squinted. “You’re a good liar.”

She shook her head and focused on keeping her voice even. Perhaps if she could flatter his ego, she could convince him to take her to her family. “I’m too afraid to lie to you. You scare me, but you’re not repulsive.” In truth, she was both terrified and repulsed.

He blinked, then abruptly stood, his chair scraping against the stone ground.

“Alex,” Jasper started, but the monster held up his hand for silence as he rounded the table and stalked toward Raelyn.

Meredith reached for the monster’s arm. “Let it go—”

“I want the truth.” The dragon-man stepped next to Raelyn. She tilted back against the arm of the chair as he reached toward her.

She quivered despite her attempt to appear brave. “I told you the truth.”

His hand slipped under her hair and pressed against the side of her neck. She stiffened, his palm hot against her skin.

“Do you find me repulsive?”

She swallowed. “No.”

“Liar.” He snarled and yanked his hand away, his eyes glowing. “I prefer rude honesty to flattering lies, Princess.”

Raelyn blinked, her heart pounding as she recalled the screams of the knight the manticore had mauled.That was a mindless animal. The dragon-man would have killed me already if he was going to, right?

“You’re terrifying her, Alexander.” Meredith patted the monster’s shoulder. The dragon-man worked his jaw, then his shoulders slumped forward.

“Forgive me, Princess.”

Raelyn stared, at a loss for words.

“Please?”

The regret in his eyes reminded her painfully of Frederick before she left Eynlae. Her throat tightened, and she fiddled with a rip in her skirt, wishing he would leave.

“Is that a no to forgiving me?”

She didn’t trust her voice. And what if he thought she was lying if she agreed to forgive him? All she knew was she didn’t want him to touch her again.

“I’m sorry I scared you.” The dragon-man’s tail bumped her chair as he turned and strode away. “I seem to have lost my appetite as well. I’m going for a walk.”

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