Page 40 of A Thieving Curse

“Enough!” Father roared. “I want her back as much as you do—”

“Yes.” Gareth sneered. “So you can make your payment to Rethalyon for your port and trading privileges. If you hadn’t signed Raelyn away like some—some breeding mare, she wouldn’t be in danger! She’d be home, flirting with a nice Eynlaean boy, not missing in the mountains, probably being tormented by some beast!”

“You will hold your tongue, Prince Gareth.” Father’s tone turned dark. “I thought you had matured past this.”

“If you don’t let me keep looking, I willneverforgive you!” Tension crackled in every inch of his body.

Father worked his jaw. “Return to camp.”

“Not until you agree to keep looking.”

“She’s dead, Gareth! Don’t you get that? She’s dead!” Father’s voice cracked on a sob. He took a breath and wiped the emotion from his face. Always the king.

Gareth crossed his arms, ignoring the itch from the half-healed manticore scratches. “It’s Raelyn, Father. She’s my sister, myonlysister. I can’t give up. I refuse!”

Father was silent for a long moment. “All right. A compromise. One more day. We look for one more day, and then we go to the Rethali palace, and you let us mourn.”

14

THE CURSED PRINCE was already sitting at the table when Raelyn and Meredith arrived in the big cavern. Well,sittingwasn’t quite accurate. More like lounging. He sat angled, with a leg hooked over one chair arm, his elbow leaning on the other. His chin rested on his fist, and the tip of his tail curled up below his elbow. His sleek wings were folded against the sides of the chair back. He wore a black shirt now, much to Raelyn’s relief. However, all the other chairs were missing, save one placed to the prince’s right.

Raelyn’s steps slowed. Why would he remove the other chairs? Were they to eat…alone?You’re trusting him now, remember?

The prince looked up as they approached and grinned. His fangs still unnerved her, but she also felt a pang of sorrow as all the physical facets of his curse confronted her. How could someone do that to their own flesh and blood?

Peter emerged from a room Raelyn hadn’t noticed before across from the fireplace, pushing the wooden cart from that morning. He lifted a plate with vegetables and what looked like fish and set it in front of the prince, then placed another in front of the empty chair. After adding a couple goblets, he left, passing by Meredith and Raelyn with a nod.

Meredith leaned over and murmured, “I’ll be by the entrance if you need anything.” Raelyn clamped her mouth shut against a plea for the older woman to stay as Meredith withdrew to the entrance.

The prince straightened, his wings rustling as he adjusted them. “Please. Sit.” He motioned toward the empty seat, then began to eat.

“Where are the other chairs?”

The prince shrugged. “Do we need them?”

“…I suppose not.” She tapped her boot against the stone.He’s safe.Gathering her courage, she walked over and sat down. The prince ducked his head, but not before she saw him smile.

“Tell me about yourself, Princess. I might as well learn a bit about you if we’re going to try to be friends.”

“My name isn’t Princess, you know.”

“And mine isn’t monster.” He shoved his food into his mouth a touch aggressively, and his teeth scraped against the tines as he withdrew the fork.

“I’m sorry.” Raelyn centered her plate in front of her. “For everything I said.”

The dragon prince—Alexander,she forced herself to remember—paused over his food. “I said we were starting over. I shouldn’t have brought that up. But I am still curious about you.”

Raelyn started eating, her ears burning. “I don’t know what to tell you.”

He reached for his goblet. “Hm. When did you learn your marriage was arranged? I was six.”

“Twelve.” She poked at the fish, wondering if this was a safe topic of conversation. “I didn’t find out until later that the treaty originally had arranged a marriage to…you.” She grabbed her own goblet and was pleased to discover it was filled with ale rather than water.

“So late.” He sounded disappointed. “Why did they wait so long?”

“My mother didn’t want to put that pressure on me while I was a child. And then…” She slowly set the cup down, avoiding looking at the prince. “They didn’t know if King Henry’s rule would last.”

“So…” He shifted and his wings rubbed against the chair. “You’ve only ever known me as…the monster prince?” The hurt in his voice was clear. “Why did they tell you about me at all?”

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