Page 78 of A Thieving Curse

“Lucas!” Raelyn planted her hands on her hips and scowled to hide her embarrassment. “I might ask Alex to dump you in a lake after all.”

“Aw, fine. But I’m still right.” He tossed the last bit of grain into the goat pen. “Know how I know?” He flashed her a cheeky grin. “You’ve started calling him just Alex.”

She rolled her eyes, even as heat crept up the back of her neck. “You call him Alex. Lucas!” She gasped melodramatically. “Areyouin love with Alex?”

“Ha-ha.” He stuck his tongue out. She stuck her tongue out back, just like she used to do to Gareth when no one was looking. Lucas blinked. “I really feel like Alex’s books lied to me about what princesses are like.”

“Princesses aren’t supposed to act like me. It’s more like…” Raelyn grasped at the distraction from the emotional turmoil of the last hour. “Like this.” She straightened, squared her shoulders, and held her hands primly folded in front of her while maintaining a regal posture somewhere between pleasant and haughty. “Perhaps we have not been properly introduced,” she said, keeping her voice warm as she curtsied. “I am Princess Raelyn Argent of Eynlae, my lord.”

Lucas laughed. “I’m not sure I like that.”

She grinned, thankful to have Lucas’ friendship back. “Me neither.”

Gareth

FOOTSTEPS ECHOED DOWN the dungeon corridor. Gareth didn’t lift his head. They’d already brought his slop, stale bread, and water for the day, and they wouldn’t come to change the mess bucket for several hours. Whoever it was, they weren’t there for him.

But the footsteps stopped at his cell, anyway. Someone cleared their throat. Gareth looked up. Tristan stood in front of the cell door, his hands clasped behind his back.

“Come to gloat?” Gareth crossed his arms and settled back against the wall. “Took you long enough. Been over two weeks.”

The Rethali prince shifted. “My purpose is twofold.” He glanced back the way he’d come, then spoke quietly. “I apologize. I was insensitive and crass.”

Gareth harrumphed. “I’ll consider accepting your apology when you look for my sister.”

“Your sister is—” Tristan took a deep breath and rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry. I can’t expend resources on a mission with no chance of success. I wish it were otherwise. I’m sure you don’t believe me, but I am truly sorry. For your loss, for your sister, and that I couldn’t go after her.”

“You could have.”

“You’re naïve.”

“What’s the other thing?” Gareth wanted Tristan to leave. Or he wanted to punch him again, but there were bars between them.

Tristan drummed his fingers against his leg. “We received word from your parents. They had difficulty getting back to Eynlae. A rockslide, apparently. But they’re headed back now—”

“Ah.” Gareth laughed bitterly and leaned his head back against the stone. “So this visit is carefully considered diplomacy before I’m released.”

“…with Lady Elena,” Tristan muttered. “I wondered if you could tell me what she’s like.”

“Why do you care? You didn’t know what Raelyn was like.”

“I did, actually. Sort of.” Tristan glanced down the hall again. “Our ambassadors and messengers brought back word of her. What she looked like, what people said about her. She was beloved.” He frowned. “But there were rumors she was rambunctious. Difficult to control.”

“You don’t control people,” Gareth snapped. “Is that what you mean? You want to know if you can control Lady Elena?” He huffed. “Probably. She’s sweet and easy to send into a fit of giggles.” He dug his fingers into his thigh to try to distract from the growing anger coursing through him. “She’s practically a child. She wasn’t taught Rethali government and history and customs like Raelyn was. It’s cruel to take her from a home she never expected to leave. Not thatyoucare. I’m surprised my uncle agreed, but my father probably didn’t give him a choice. He’s good at that,” he added under his breath.

“Hm.” Tristan pursed his lips. “I see.” He turned away.

“What if you don’t like her?”

Tristan stopped, his back stiff and shoulders square. “Doesn’t matter. But for your sake—for everyone’s sake—I hope my father finds her an acceptable future queen.”

26

THE NEXT FEW meals after Alex’s kiss were awkward. Alex didn’t talk as much. Lucas didn’t, either, and his silence made Raelyn far sadder. But within a few days, life returned to normal. Raelyn started accompanying Alex to check the traps again. He didn’t mention love or kisses, to her great relief. And he didn’t stop teasing her for struggling to keep up with his legs. They chatted about things they saw in the woods or how the goats were doing or random thoughts and memories. But a few times, as he checked over the traps, she caught herself looking at his lips.

A little over a week after the picnic, Raelyn sat down for dinner, exhausted from helping Meredith wash everyone’s bedding all morning. She frowned at Lucas’s and Alex’s empty spots.

“Peter, where are—”

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