Page 129 of A Thieving Curse

“Among other things,” he murmured, his voice low and husky.

She smiled sheepishly and met his eyes. “All right.” Her voice came out breathy and hoarse.Is it getting warmer in here?

Footsteps sounded in the stairwell, and Raelyn spun around. Meredith, Peter, and Jasper walked in. Meredith cried with relief and ran over to Alex, kissing his face.

“My boy,” Meredith whispered. She ran her fingertips over the circlet. “You did it.”

Alex pulled Meredith into a tight embrace while Peter wiped away tears. Jasper watched with sorrow and pride mingled on his face.

Meredith turned from Alex. “Raelyn! Are you all right?”

“What?” Raelyn’s voice squeaked. “Fine—I’m fine. You? How are you?” She glared at Alex, who just winked.Scoundrel.

“Fine?” Peter frowned. “You’re bleeding.”

“Oh!” She touched the scab on her neck. “Long story, but I’m all right.”

“What did you think I was talking about?” Meredith asked with bewilderment.

“N-nothing.” Raelyn glanced at Alex, feeling her face heat again.

Peter elbowed Jasper. “I think we walked in on them flirting.”

Meredith planted her hands on her hips. “Alexander, I raised you to be a gentleman. You’d best be behaving like one.”

Alex motioned to himself, feigning offense. “Of course I am!” He stood with a pained grunt. “I can’t help it that my soon-to-be wife is easily tongue-tied.”

“Soon…” Jasper tilted his head. “How soon?”

“At once. I was rather hoping…” Alex took Raelyn’s arm and smiled at Jasper. “Sir Walters, will you perform our wedding ceremony?”

Jasper’s lips parted as his eyes glistened. He cleared his throat and blinked rapidly before stooping into a bow. “It would be my honor, my king.”

43

ALEX LED RAELYN out of the guardroom into the courtyard, followed by the others. He paused in the bright sunlight and looked around. “So…where should we—”

“I recommend the great hall, Your Excellency,” Jasper interjected. He peered at Alexander’s feet. “Shall we find boots—”

“Good gracious, no.” Alex looked horrified. “The thought of forcing my feet into shoes at this moment sounds like torture.” He rolled over his shoulders, then reached over them, grasping at nothing. He sighed and dropped his hand. “Wings would be useful right now.”

Jasper led them back to the great hall. Alex moved slowly on his hurt feet, so they fell a little behind the others. Raelyn squeezed his arm.

“I’m sorry about your wings.”

Alex shrugged. “I go to move them, and there’s nothing to move. Same with my tail. I rarely noticed it, but now that it’s gone… I notice its absence.” He reddened. “I didn’t realize how much I used it. Or how much the weight of my wings and tail affected my sense of balance.”

There was an awkward moment of silence as Raelyn tried to decide how to respond. She was about to try for something encouraging about adapting when he spoke quietly.

“I hated falling in front of Tristan. In front of you.”

“I know.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. “You’re doing well, now, though. Feet aside.”

His shoulders twitched. “I just tried to adjust my wings again,” he muttered bitterly. “What’s wrong with me? It feels like they’re out of place, like I need to refold them. But when I try, all I feel is pinching from my muscles pulling at the cuts on my back.”

She wanted to say he’d get used to it. But she had no idea if that were true.

“However, I am relieved to be free of the claws and fangs and horns. Especially the horns. You know how often I knocked them on things?” He chuckled. “And I once bumped an entire catch of fish into the river with my tail and lost it. It’s also nice to have the wick of dragon anger gone, no longer waiting to ignite. But…” He hung his head, looking guilty. “I should be happy, but I’ll miss flying. I’ll especially miss flying with you.”

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