Page 34 of A Thieving Curse

“Oh, Princess. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.” Her muscles seized as he placed his hand on her head. But he only gently stroked her hair. A gesture of comfort. “You’re safe.”

Gradually, from her neck down to her feet, her tense body relaxed. Her tears abated as her terror faded to exhaustion. After several steadying breaths, she sniffled and wiped her face on her sleeve, then lifted her head.

The dragon-man knelt next to her, his expression pinched with concern and full of sorrow. Raelyn took a deep breath, then another. He moved his hand and rubbed her upper back. She closed her eyes and let calm ease back into her.

He stood, his wings still crossed awkwardly in front of his legs. “Do you want to come with me back to the cave?”

She looked up. “You…” She sniffled. “Why?”

The dragon-man frowned. “So you don’t get eaten?”

“Why do you care?” She took a shaky breath. “Why would you help me after what I said?” Ashamed, she dropped her gaze. “Why did you save me? You said you wouldn’t.”

“Would you have preferred I let you get eaten?” His tail swished over the flattened grass. “You needed help.”

“But after everything I said?” Raelyn sat up and curled against her legs. “I was—”

“I told you I prefer rude honesty to flattering lies. I suppose I was asking for it.”

“No.” She let out a long, trembling breath.Breathe. Relax. You’re safe.“I was unnecessarily cruel.”

Night gathered around them. The dragon-man’s wings rustled as he sat across from her, one wing folded over his lap. “What now, then? You were cruel. So I should let you die? Or eat you myself?”

She tensed.

“I’m not going to, by the way.” He tapped his fingers on the ground. “Twelve years I’ve been like this. I haven’t eaten anyone yet; I don’t intend to start now.” He chuckled, the sound deep and rich. “Besides, if I started with royalty, I imagine no one else would taste as good.”

She scowled. A teasing smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. “That’s not funny.”

“All right, maybe it was in poor…taste.” His lips twitched as he clearly tried not to laugh.

“Hmph.” She looked away, although she was too relieved to be alive to have the energy to stay angry. “You made it sound like you were going to eat me.”

He grunted. “I don’t think the minotaur would have understood, ‘this girl is not for eating.’ They’re not particularly bright. I am sorry, though. I also shouldn’t have lost my temper or threatened you. And I’m sorry that because of that you thought I was scaring off the minotaur so I could eat you myself. I can’t help if you’re afraid of how I look. But you shouldn’t have to fear how I act.”

She stared up at the stars appearing in the expanse of sky above the lake. “I don’t understand.”

“The concept of an apology?” he asked with amusement in his voice.

“I don’t understand why you’re being nice.” She could barely make out his face in the darkness. “You were angry, and you had a right to be. And after what I said…don’t you hate me?”

The dragon prince tilted his head to the side. “I don’t particularly like you right now. But I’m not sure that’s entirely your fault. I’ve been…harsh toward you. Because you remind me of everything that’s been taken from me.” He growled, then cleared his throat. “I know it can’t be easy to believe everything I’ve told you because I haven’t earned your trust. I’m not trying to be monstrous by keeping you, but I don’t know how to convince you I’m telling the truth. And then…” He hung his head, and dim moonlight glinted on his horns. “I kind of proved your accusations correct. I was…monstrous.”

She looked back at the stars and shivered as the cold deepened.Come on. You’re better than this. Apologize.

“No. I’m sorry.” Raelyn pressed her eyes closed and lowered her forehead to her knees. “The things I said…I was frightened and angry, and… I don’t know if I believe you. But I shouldn’t have been so cruel.” She opened her eyes and sighed.

The dragon-man didn’t say anything for a long time. At last, he raked his claws through his hair. “I’m sorry I scared you into running.”

“It only pushed me to what I’d been considering doing, anyway.” She picked a pine needle out of her skirt. “I hoped I could find my family. I know that was foolish, but it seemed like I might die if I stayed or left, so I ran before I lost my chance. No one would help me.” She glared at his shadowed outline. “I understand why you’re angry—”

“I don’t think you do. Consider this. Do you have a female cousin?”

She pursed her lips. “Yes.”

“Say your parents died, and you suspected your aunt or uncle played a part in their deaths. Say your aunt…hurt you. Now, say that your aunt chased you into exile, became queen, and declared your cousin the princess. Then they sent her to Rethalyon to marry the crown prince. How would you feel?”

She frowned, irritated at the point he was making. “Furious. Frightened.”

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