Page 30 of A Thieving Curse

Raelyn lifted her face toward the late afternoon sun, her eyes closed as she breathed in the scent of pine. The chill breeze bit through the sleeves of the dress, but she didn’t care. She held her arms out and laughed as the gust tugged at her skirts, giddy with the relief of being outside and feeling the warmth of the sun on her skin.

“You have a lovely laugh.”

Raelyn jumped at the sound of the dragon-man’s quiet voice, and her eyes flew open. He stood in the shadow of a pine tree, watching her, his tail swaying. Recalling Jasper’s request, she fought the instinct to turn away.

The monster’s eyes widened when she watched him steadily. He strolled toward her, his expression suspicious. She pushed down the urge to run.They say he’s not a monster.She stood her ground, even though her mind screamed at her to back up, to flee, to curl into a ball, anything other than just stand there. He stopped so close she could have reached out and touched him. She bit her tongue as she forced herself to continue looking at him.

The dragon-man tilted his head to the side. “You’re afraid.”

Raelyn’s mouth seemed stuck shut as her pulse picked up speed. But she lifted her chin and didn’t look away. “No.”

He took a half a step closer. She shuddered involuntarily. His face fell, and he took two large steps backward. Some of the tension in her shoulders eased, even though she was supposed to be giving him a chance.

“You look…” His gaze swept over her. “Nice.”

Her earlier fear that he would force her into marriage returned. She flinched and had to look away from his monstrous eyes before she lost all her nerve.

“We’re both going to be miserable if you keep expecting the worst from me.” She hated how soothing his silky tone sounded.

“There’s always the option of helping me get out of the mountains,” she said nervously. “Then you don’t have to be miserable.”

He didn’t respond right away. He stared at the ground, his brows knit and jaw clenched. “You underestimate how miserable helping you marry my cousin would make me.”

“What about how miserable I am? How miserable my family must be?”

He winced with what looked like regret. Maybe Jasper was right. She should try to talk to him. To reason with him.

“Please… Your Highness—”

“Alexander.” The corners of his mouth turned down. “I have no title.” He snorted smoke, undermining her confidence. “I’m sorry you’re miserable, Princess. But—”

“No!” She curled her hands into fists and tried to stand her ground without losing her temper. “Please, I need to find my family, make sure they’re all right, and get to the palace to marry Tristan. I don’t care if he shouldn’t be the crown prince; I only care that the fragile peace continues. If my family was…if the manticore…” She worked her throat.They’re fine.But she still needed to make her point. “If they don’t make it to Rethalyon, King Henry will think we reneged and could break the treaty. The Eynlaean merchants currently in Rethalyon could die. And if my parents arrive without me, a new treaty might have to be agreed upon, and my father will be at a disadvantage.”

The words came easily after years of having the particulars of the treaty and diplomacy drilled into her. But they made her sound like payment, just like Gareth had said.

“You think marrying Tristan will guarantee your people’s safety.” The dragon-man shook his head, his countenance tight and sorrowful. “I’m sorry, Princess, but you have no idea.”

Gooseflesh prickled her skin at his bitter, resigned tone. “I know exactly—”

“No!” He strode closer, and Raelyn stilled. “Henry has never been one to settle when he sees an opportunity for more. I wouldn’t put anything past him. Everyone knows Eynlae has become reliant on imported grain and would starve without it. But Henry can’t demand steeper levies without breaking the treaty—which the Court of Lords would never approve—without a clear advantage. But Henry could threaten you to extort more money from your father or to provoke your father into declaring war so Henry could negotiate a new treaty. He could march on Eynlae with you as leverage or claim that the marriage gives Tristan a right to rule Eynlae. If you don’t suit his purposes, he’ll kill you. And his son can’t be any better.”

She took a step back, trembling. “What are you talking about? You can’t know any of this! You’ve been in a cave for twelve years!”

“I know my uncle.”

Her lower lip quivered. “He’s treated fairly with us. You’re lying—”

“Lying?” He growled. “I don’t lie, Princess. Refuse to believe me if you like. But the kindest thing I can do is keep you far away from Henry. He can’t break a treaty over a dead princess, and he can’t leverage you against your father. Henry can’t hurt you if you’re here.”

“He won’t, he—”

A wisp of smoke escaped his mouth. “I know Henry better than you do! I know exactly what he’s capable of. I know what he’s done; the blood on his hands.”

“The—what? You’re saying Henry killed someone?”

“He murdered my parents!” the dragon-man roared.

Raelyn stumbled backward, nearly tripping on her long dress. For a moment they stared at each other. “That—that’s not possible.”

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