Page 70 of A Thieving Curse

He had sat back and was watching her. His eyes caught hers, and a smile spread over his face. Something about the way he was looking at her made her lungs feel tight. She looked away.

“Raelyn.” Alexander’s voice had a foreign huskiness, and it made her skin tingle. “I’m glad you decided to stay.”

His tone was too low, too personal. Her mind turned unfocused and jittery, and her body warmed despite the dampness of the cave and her cold fingers. “Have you shown Lucas this place? He’d love it.”

“Yes.” There was an unexpected bite to his response. “He did love it.” Alexander stood and turned away. The tip of his tail flicked across the water’s surface, leaving spots of faint blue light. “We should go before the torch burns out.”

He was tense all the way out of the cave. His sudden surly attitude rather tempered her enjoyment of the ethereal cave and magical lake. She wanted to tell him off for being petulant, but she was afraid. Afraid if she pushed him, he’d say something she wouldn’t have a response for. Afraid that the look in his eyes by the underground lake would return, and she wouldn’t know what to do with the strange effect it had on her stomach.

Raelyn wished the cave with the lake was closer to their own cave because she didn’t want Alexander to carry her in his sour mood. But she also didn’t want to tell him that, or to walk back, anyway. So she let him pick her up. She held loosely to his neck and watched his wings beat the air.

She couldn’t help but relax as they flew, and Alexander seemed to ease as well. It was impossible to be upset as they soared over the pines.

When they neared the cave, Alexander asked if they should meet up with the others as they traveled back from the village. Raelyn agreed, and he headed further down the mountains. They landed in a small clearing, and he led the way to a barely distinguishable trail. As they followed it, his tense mood returned. She wished they could talk as easily as they usually did, but she feared if she started talking, she’d ask him something she would regret. Instead, she walked a little closer to him, hoping he would relax. It didn’t seem to work.

Relief rushed through her when she heard voices ahead. Hopefully Alexander’s mood would improve around the others.

23

ALEXANDER AND RAELYN rounded a corner on the trail. Lucas waved when he spotted them, and the others smiled. Jasper and Peter pushed the cart, now filled with sacks and crates of supplies. Alexander moved farther from Raelyn’s side as the group approached. That hurt. She had too few friends for Alexander to distance himself. They fell in with the group, continuing uphill.

“Want to hear the gossip?” Lucas asked with a grin.

Alexander shrugged and glanced out of the corner of his eyes toward Lucas, silent.

Irritated with Alexander’s pettiness, Raelyn focused on Lucas. “What gossip?”

Lucas bounded over to walk right next to her. “Everybody was talking about the butcher’s daughter and the carpenter’s son. They ran off together! We saw them leaving as we arrived. They got married in secret, because her father wouldn’t agree, and then he refused to give them her dowry, so they just left.”

“That’s terrible!” Raelyn clenched her fists. “How could he do that?”

“They looked happy enough to have each other and their cart of belongings when we passed them leaving,” Jasper said thoughtfully. “Strong love doesn’t care about such things.”

“Secret wedding, forbidden love, it’s all very romantic,” Lucas declared, surprising her. “Don’t you think it’s romantic?”

Alexander growled softly. “I suppose you know a lot about romance, Lucas?” Raelyn could have slapped him.

Lucas frowned. “I guess not. But it seems like the kind of thing that a bard would sing about, doesn’t it? Lovers sneaking off at night to get married. Running away without a dowry just to be together. Come on, Alex, surely you think that’s romantic?”

Alexander grunted.

Lucas relayed the rest of the trip, talking at full tilt. He gibbered so much she stopped listening and just nodded along. Alex kept glancing their way, his mouth pinched. His tail twitched harder than usual.

“Did anything happen today, Alex?” Meredith asked. “You seem…on edge.”

“I’m getting that impression as well.” Jasper glanced at Raelyn, his tone almost accusing as he said, “Something’s bothering him.”

Lucas frowned. “Something’s wrong?”

“No.” The snarl in Alexander’s voice betrayed him. Lucas’s lips parted, and Raelyn grimaced. Alexander relaxed. “Bring anything fun back?”

Lucas bounced a little as he walked. “Not this time, but we almost have enough now!”

Raelyn smiled at his exuberance. “Enough for what?”

“A sword!” Lucas grinned. “I’ve been stuck with a wooden sword forever.”

“My, my. Thatisunacceptable,” she teased.

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