Page 73 of A Thieving Curse

She thought of Alex holding her on the peak, his comforting warmth against her back. It had felt…nice. Right. She smiled, but then wavered.

“Lucas.” Her voice sounded embarrassingly unsteady. She exhaled slowly. “Did you talk to Alex about this?”

“Oh, no!” He shook his head. “Alex would probably dump me in a lake or something if he knew.”

At least Alex won’t be expecting me to know or act differently.She didn’t like the idea of things becoming awkward between them.

“But, it’s just…” Lucas shrugged. “I think he’s too scared to tell you, and I think you can’t admit even to yourself that you like him, probably even love him.”

Her cheeks heated again.

He drew one leg up and rested his forearms on his knee. “I hope you love him, anyway. I want Jasper to be right.”

“Right about what?” she asked, suspicious.

His eyes went wide like one of the animals’ in Alex’s traps. “N-nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“That—that you love Alex.” He suddenly became very interested in loading the basket. He was a terrible liar.

Anything that Lucas thought he needed to lie about made Raelyn nervous. Especially if it affected her. “What aren’t you telling me?”

Lucas shrank down, his shoulders scrunching as he ducked his head. He looked a lot like Alexander in that moment.They really are like brothers.

“Jasper thinks… I’m not supposed to tell you.”

She crossed her arms. “Lucas, if you don’t tell me, I’ll toss you in a lake myself. Or ask Alexander to do it for me.”

Lucas fidgeted with the hem of his trousers, then the laces on his boots. “Jasper hopes that true love could break Alex’s curse and make him human again.”

Shock rooted her in place.

“Do you have those stories in Eynlae, about people saved by true love’s kiss?” He bunched and un-bunched his shirt. “Like the princess who was cursed to sleep until her true love kissed her, or the prince who got turned into a frog and turned back when a princess kissed him? Jasper thinks maybe that’s how curses are broken. With true love’s kiss.”

Her hands shook. “Does Alex know about this theory?”

“Well, Jasper has told him—”

“Oh, no. No, no, no!” Raelyn stood and clenched her fists to try to stop their shaking. “That’s what all this is about? My family thinks I’m dead because Alexander is hoping to trick me into breaking his curse?” She stormed away from Lucas.

“No, wait,” he called after her. “Raelyn, no, that’s not—”

“Thank you for telling me the truth, Lucas.” She strode through the trees as quickly as she could. Angry tears stung her eyes.He doesn’t even love me. He loves the hope of breaking his curse.

All his kindness and flirting. Saving her life. Flying her around so she would have to cling to his neck. Taking her to beautiful spots. All to trick her into loving him so he could use her.Used to fulfill a treaty; used to break a curse.She suddenly wished Lucas did like her. At least then someone besides Gareth would want her as just Raelyn—because they liked her as a person. Not because she was useful.

“Raelyn, wait!” Lucas ran up next to her, fumbling with the basket as the blanket spilled out of it. “Where are you going?”

“To find Alexander and tell him to leave me alone.”

Lucas appeared stricken. “No, please, I’m sorry; please don’t be angry. At least don’t be angry with Alex, it’s not his fault—and please don’t tell him. I shouldn’t have said anything, so you should be angry with me. I don’t want you to be mad at me, but if you’re going to be mad—”

“Lucas, be quiet.” She regretted her harsh tone as soon as the words were out of her mouth, especially when hurt flashed across his face. “I’m sorry. I’m not in the mood to talk.”

Lucas crushed the basket against his chest. “Raelyn, don’t—”

She broke into a run, holding her skirts up and panting as she leapt over rocks and tree roots in her path. She was thankful she’d paid attention to the way they’d come from the cave.

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