Page 54 of A Thieving Curse

Someone had swept out the ashes and already stacked logs in the fireplace. His breath enveloped the logs in flames. He stepped away, and she gave him back the torch.

“Goodnight, Raelyn,” Alexander said in that voice like a gentle summer rain. A bashful grin crept over her face, even though she couldn’t really say why.

“Goodnight, Alexander.”

His face softened…and he definitely purred. She snorted in her failed attempt not to laugh. He frowned. “What?”

“Nothing.” She shook her head, trying to be serious. “I just… I can’t believe how terrified I was of a glorified, scaly cat.”

“I didn’t purr!” His eyes glowed as he turned toward the door. “You’re being rude.”

“What’s so much worse about purring than growling?”

He glared over his shoulder. “Purring is not princely or manly. Or even dragon-ly.”

“I think it’s adorable.”

“Ador…” He exhaled sharply, his nose wrinkling as the barest hint of smoke curled out of his nostrils. That was decidedlynotadorable. “Isn’t there a happy medium somewhere between horrifying and adorable?”

“Like what?”Normal is not really an option. Sorry.

He mussed the hair between his horns. “I don’t know. Charming? Handsome? Nice?”

She arched an eyebrow.H-handsome?“Nice?” Her thoughts flitted back to his grip on her shoulders.

“I don’t know. I’m tired.” He stepped out and started to pull the door closed, but she caught it. He looked at her, head cocked to the side.

“Back at the camp…” She rubbed her forearm. “What would you have done if I broke my promise?”

Alexander stiffened, then deflated. “I’m not sure. Covered your mouth and held you back, I guess. I’m unsure what else I could’ve done. Because I wouldn’t hurt you or your brother. Honestly, I was terrified he was going to spot us.”

She leaned back to meet his eyes. “You…were terrified?”

He averted his gaze. “If he had seen us, I would have had to choose whether to take you away, knowing he would hunt me, or let you go and hope he wouldn’t come after me or tell anyone. I’ve been hiding for twelve years, and not just from my uncle. People like to kill things that scare them. Things they don’t understand.” He gave her a weak smile. “Sometimes they wield steak knives.”

“Oh. I…I’m sorry.”Meredith and Lucas were right. I was cruel.Raelyn looked down at his clawed hand resting on the door handle. After a moment’s hesitation, she placed her hand on top of his. “I’m sorry. About all of it.”

Alexander looked at their hands, then back at her eyes. He opened his mouth, closed it, then swallowed hard. “Goodnight.” He pulled his hand away and strode into the cave like he couldn’t get away fast enough.

Raelyn frowned and closed the door, leaning against it with a heavy sigh. Alone once again, all her sorrow came back, leaving her with overwhelming exhaustion. She forced herself to the bed where she sat down and removed her boots, grimacing at the dull pain in her ankle. The punctures had scabbed, but they were red and tender.

She laid down, but sleeping was made difficult by the aching bruises on her arms. She couldn’t roll onto her side without her eyes watering from the pain. As she watched the firelight flicker on the ceiling, the heartbreak in Gareth’s voice haunted her. If she ever returned to Eynlae, would he forgive her?

He’s my brother. He’ll understand.

If anyone would, it would be Gareth. He always understood her. It was why Raelyn went to Gareth with her problems or for comfort before anyone else. She hoped Father wasn’t being too hard on him. If her heart hurt this much when she knew Gareth was fine, she couldn’t imagine his agony.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t come back, Gareth,” she whispered to the empty room. “Someday, when it’s safe—when I don’t have to worry about Henry hurting me or Alexander—I’ll come home. And I’ll tell you everything. I promise.”

20

AT BREAKFAST THE following morning, Jasper’s gaze fixed on her the moment she sat down. “Did I see Alex flying with you last night?”

Meredith’s mouth fell open. Peter blinked. Raelyn looked to Alexander, suddenly uncomfortable as the others observed her like she’d done something wrong. But Alexander just kept eating.

Lucas frowned. “He took you flying? He never takes me flying anymore.”

“You weigh more than she does,” Alexander said. “And you talk my ears off.”

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