Page 93 of A Thieving Curse

“What are you talking about?” Gareth shoved Tristan away and scrambled to his feet. His gaze fell on Raelyn’s empty bedroll and his stomach flipped.No.“Raelyn’s missing?”

Tristan groaned and raked tense fingers through his hair, practically clawing at his head. “Great. She lied about telling you. I should have known. She’s probably gone to warn the dragon. I should have tied her down for her own safety.”

Indignation prickled Gareth’s skin. “Why were you looking for her, anyway?”

“I wasn’t.” Tristan glanced down his nose at Gareth. “One of my men woke me. Said the princess went into the woods complaining of stomach issues and hadn’t returned in over half an hour. I looked where she’d headed; she’s nowhere to be found.”

“Why didn’t he come to me?” Gareth demanded, throwing his hands up. “She could have been indecent!”

Tristan frowned. “He’s my knight. And she’s my wife.”

“Not. Yet,” Gareth ground out, fighting the urge to punch the insufferable prince. “How long did you look for mysisterbefore you had the decency to wake me?”

“Only about five minutes.” Tristan glanced around. “We need to find her before she gets herself killed.”

Gareth gulped. How could he have lost heragain?Why hadn’t he made her stay at the palace? He looked up toward the night sky and froze as he saw the outline of the next peak. “Klainar,” he muttered. He turned to Tristan. “We head for Klainar.”

Tristan’s attention fixed back on him. “Why?”

“Raelyn tried to convince me to call off the hunt after we decided to search Klainar,” he explained, his mind racing. “She doesn’t want us looking there. That’s where she’ll go.”

“Good.” Tristan sounded begrudging. “But we don’t waste time searching for her, as the dragon likely already has her. We find the dragon, we find Princess Raelyn.”

Gareth didn’t like it, but Tristan had a point.

“I just hope she’s alive,” Tristan muttered as he looked toward Mount Klainar. “My father didn’t want me to lead this hunt, and he warned me not to bring Princess Raelyn. He told me dragons can be cunning and to be wary of a trap.” His shoulders slipped from their proud line. “If she dies because of me…”

“She’s not going to die,” Gareth retorted.Not because of either of us.“We need to leave.”

Tristan turned away, barking orders to his men. Gareth gathered up his and Raelyn’s bedrolls. His hands tightened on hers. He should have noticed her leaving.

I’m sorry, Rae. But I’m coming. This time, I’m not abandoning you. I’ll slay your monster.

I won’t fail you again.

32

RAELYN AWOKE IN her bed in the cave. The door was open. A small fire burned in the fireplace. And sleeping curled on a blanket on the floor was Alexander. She sat up as reality crashed back in. She needed to warn him.

Torchlight spilled through the doorway. “Oh, Alex. There you are, my poor boy.” Meredith’s kind voice warmed Raelyn’s heart. “Whatareyou do—” Meredith stopped in the doorway and gasped. The torch fell from her hand and clattered on the stone. “Raelyn?”

Before she could respond, Alex thrashed and sat up. “What?” He blinked, and his gaze landed on Raelyn. He gave a grin that crinkled his eyes and pulled at his cheeks, making him look like he was about to shout with joy. But when he spoke, his tone was quiet and achingly tender. “Raelyn. You came back.”

“I—”

“Dinner is ready,” Meredith interrupted. “You can come explain what’s going on to everyone.”

“Dinner?” Alexander stood. “We slept through breakfast?”

Meredith nodded. “I know you haven’t been sleeping well, so I hadn’t bothered you. We’re even eating late. But when you still weren’t up, I went to find you.”

“No wonder I’m starved.” Alex held out his hand to Raelyn. “Dinner?”

There was no time, but she needed food, too. And explaining to everyone at once would be best. She took his hand, and he pulled her to his side and brushed a kiss against her hair. Somehow, she concealed her sorrow as they followed Meredith to the dining cavern.

Raelyn was startled to see her chair still at the end of the table, and her steps slowed. “My…chair?”

“I couldn’t bear to remove it,” Alex said.

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