Page 33 of A Thieving Curse

Her foot caught on her dress, and she fell. She scrambled to her feet, every nerve buzzing with energy. The minotaur grabbed her braid and yanked her back. The stinging pain brought tears to her eyes, and she screamed. Birds scattered, taking flight with screeches. She grabbed the beast’s wrist, and her fingers tangled in the coarse, greasy hair on its arms. Repulsed, she let go and tried to pull her braid free.

The minotaur sniffed, steam wafting from its bull nose. “Pretty girl smells funny. Smells like…smoke. Means should cook over fire?”

A sob tore out of her throat, and she yanked harder on her braid. The minotaur released her. With the sudden lack of resistance, she fell back. She scurried backward, her palms digging into dirt and sharp pine needles as the monster reached down. Its massive, hairy hands grabbed her waist, and her muscles clenched.

Raelyn shrieked as the minotaur tossed her over its shoulder. It reeked of sweat and old blood. She kicked at its chest. “Let me go!” She futilely pounded her icy fists against its back, but her thrashing and screaming had no effect as the creature turned toward the woods.

Her boot slammed into its ribs and the monster grunted. “Maybe eat pretty girl raw instead of carrying back home.” A fresh wave of crushing terror pulsed through her. The minotaur lifted her off its shoulder. She writhed and punched toward its slimy snout. She hadn’t run from a dragon to be eaten by a minotaur. It threw her down, and she gasped as she hit the ground. Her vision spotted.

The fiend looked around. “No good rocks.” It shrugged and reached toward her. “Break neck.”

“No!” She kicked toward its hand, her heart pounding so hard she thought it would burst. Her heel cracked against its knuckles, and it roared in rage. She couldn’t seem to suck in air fast enough as her breathing became rapid and shallow.

“Bad tasty girl!”

As it reached for her again, Raelyn aimed another kick, but she was trembling so badly, she missed. The minotaur caught her wounded ankle and squeezed. A shrill scream that hurt her own ears burned up her throat. The monster pulled her toward him, licking its lips. Her mouth went dry. She clutched the grass and kicked with her other foot.I can’t die here; I can’t.

A deafening roar rattled her teeth.

The sound of massive flapping wings filled the air as the dragon landed near the shore. Rushing wind pushed the stench of the minotaur into her face. The minotaur looked up, grabbed her arm, and pulled her to her feet. Raelyn wept, overwhelmed with pain and fear as she found herself trapped between two monsters who wanted to eat her.

“Give the girl here.” The dragon’s words rumbled like thunder as smoke swirled around its head.

Raelyn’s skin crawled. She tried to break free, but the minotaur grabbed both her arms and tugged her back against its sweaty, hair-covered chest.

“My dinner!” the minotaur bellowed, its voice reverberating into her. “I caught the pretty girl!”

The dragon bared its teeth. “I. Don’t. Care. She’s mine!”

Raelyn trembled from head to foot.I was wrong. Jasper and Meredith were wrong.That dragon had no heart. The minotaur’s grip tightened on her arms, and she cried out. The dragon snarled.

“Let her go, or I will roast and eat you both!” Orange glowed in the back of the dragon’s mouth. Raelyn tried to escape, but the minotaur held her too firmly, and the movement pulled at her shoulders.

“You burn me anyway!” The minotaur backed toward the forest, dragging her along. Cold sweat tickled her neck and ran down her back.

The dragon roared and shot flames into the sky. She felt the heat, even from several paces away. Her captor shook as it took another step back.

“Give her to me or die.” The dragon’s tongue flicked between its sharp teeth. It stretched its long neck forward. Raelyn’s legs wobbled as her vision swam. Minotaur or dragon, what did it matter?Just kill me and be done with it.

The minotaur paused, its grip so tight on her arms she feared it would snap her bones. Then the minotaur flung her toward the dragon and ran into the trees. Her hip slammed down hard as she sprawled across the ground. She curled into a ball. Would it be worse if the dragon burned her to death or bit her in half? Tears soaked into her sleeve, and she gasped for breath as she squeezed her eyes shut.Where are you, Gareth? I tried to get back, Mother and Father. I love you. I tried.

“Princess? It’s over. You can get up.”

The monster’s voice. Against her better judgement, she looked up.

He was back in his dragon-man form, crouching over her. His wings were tucked around in front of him, covering him from the abdomen down, leaving his lean, muscular chest exposed.He’s naked. That made her more uncomfortable than his red eyes, which had lost their glow.

“Are you all right?” he asked, his voice gentle and irritatingly human.

Raelyn tried to answer, but a sob came out instead. His face pinched, and he glanced away. She wrapped her arms over her stomach.

“Are you hurt?”

Her arms ached and likely would bruise. She suspected another bruise forming on her hip. Her ankle felt like it was on fire. Her throat hurt from screaming. But otherwise, she was fine. “Not badly.”

The dragon-man gingerly touched her shoulder, and she flinched. He pulled his clawed hand away with a grimace. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Raelyn nodded, but her lower lip trembled. He hadn’t eaten her. He’d had the chance, and instead he had saved her and turned back into his human form.I’m…safe?I’m not going to die?She cried until she couldn’t breathe. Tears ran into her open mouth as she curled up as small as she could make herself.

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