Page 76 of A Thieving Curse

Her heart clenched. “It’s… I can’t…”

“It’s all right.” Alexander turned and stared dejectedly toward the trees. “I understand. I’m not…normal.”

“No, it’s…” She paced in a circle. “I’m…I’m not ready…for this.”

“For what, exactly? Not ready for a monster?”

“You’re not a monster, Alex.” Despite his monstrous characteristics, she meant it.

“Maybe not. But I suppose the tail and everything are a bit much. Not topping any lists of most attractive features.” A snarl crept into his words.

She shifted uncomfortably.No, not really.The thought of sleeping next to someone with wings and a tail arose unbidden in her mind. A bewildering mixture of emotions coursed through her. A bit of amusement as she wondered what he did with his wings. Some disgust at the idea of a scaly tail rubbing against her leg in the middle of the night. And a discomfiting fluttering in her stomach at the image of sharing a bed with him.Don’t think about it, don’t think about it.

“It’s not that,” she said.Well, not just that.“It’s…too much change. Too fast.”

“It’s all right, Rae. You can be honest. I don’t blame you.” He gave a dry chuckle. “How bad was the kiss?”

She could still feel the heat of his mouth on hers. She looked away so he wouldn’t see her blush.

“Ouch.”

No, it was…good. Nice.She shook her head. “No, it’s just… I don’t know about this.”

“Is it the tail or the wings? Or the claws?”

She eyed him.All of the above?“Alex…”

“Like I said, I understand.” He sought out her gaze. “It doesn’t change that I love you. That doesn’t mean you have to love me back.” The sadness and loneliness in his eyes nearly cracked her heart open. “Can we still be friends? Maybe…forget this happened?”

Raelyn licked her lips, fumbling for words as she struggled to calm the storm of emotions raging in her mind. “Of course we’re still friends.” Although she thought she wouldn’t soon forget her first kiss. She tried for a light-hearted grin and a joke. “This mountain isn’t big enough to avoid you, so being enemies is out of the question.” He didn’t laugh, and her heart sank.

“I guess I made things pretty awkward.”

A little.She lifted a shoulder. “I brought it up. Well, Lucas did.”

Alex finally laughed. “Lucas told you their theory?”

“Yes.”

He snorted, then smiled. “That boy is in so much trouble.”

“Considering I already yelled at him, maybe he can get a pass.” Raelyn pushed her braid behind her shoulder. “I’m sorry I yelled at you. I was wrong and unkind. Forgive me?”

“Only if you forgive me for…you know.” He cleared his throat as his wings rustled against his back.

“Don’t mention it.”Please. Don’t.

Alex nodded and picked up his knife and block of wood. Part of her wanted to ask what he was carving. Instead, she headed back into the cave, trying desperately not to think about the feel of his lips on hers.

25

NEEDING SOME TIME to think, Raelyn sequestered herself in her room. She lit the candle on the table and had barely settled on the bed when a knock startled her.

The door creaked open before she could respond, and Meredith peered in, her face illuminated by a candle in her hand. Raelyn slumped on the edge of her bed.

“May I come in?” Meredith asked.

Raelyn shrugged. Meredith sat next to her and set her candle on the floor. The little flame made the furniture throw strange shadows against the walls.

---