Page 98 of A Thieving Curse

The archer looked to Tristan. The prince shrugged. “I don’t care.”

“Good to see you, too,” Alex muttered.

“If you want to kill your own family,” Raelyn said, grasping for anything to give Alex time to escape, “do it yourself!”

Tristan blinked. Gareth lowered his sword. The archer eased the tension on his bow, waiting for an order.

“Go find the others,” Raelyn whispered to Alex. “There’s truly no other way out of the cave?”

“No. Not any safe routes.” Alex growled. “I guess this is why you wouldn’t tell me if he’s handsome.”

Seriously?

“Princess Raelyn, come here now.” Tristan pointed in front of him, like a hunter ordering his hound back to his side.

“She’s not your slave,” Alex rumbled. Something brushed against her skirt, and she spied his tail curling in front of her legs.

“I will be her husband and one day her king,” Tristan said evenly. “She will obey me, as a loyal wife and subject should. Now,come.”

Her stomach writhed. Alex snarled.

“Excuse you?” Gareth turned toward Tristan, his face red.

Tristan ignored him. “Princess Raelyn. Now.”

“Only if you promise not to kill him.” She reached back and grabbed Alex’s hand. The hunters and soldiers fanned out toward them from the trees, bearing weapons, nets, and ropes with brass balls on the ends. Fear shuddered down her spine. “He hasn’t hurt anyone. Your Highness—my lord—this isn’t necessary.”

The corner of Tristan’s mouth turned down. “This abomination doesn’t deserve to live.”

He paled and took the tiniest step back. Raelyn didn’t need to see Alexander’s face to know his irises had to be bright as torches. Smoke drifted around her head.

“Raelyn…” The glint in Tristan’s eyes was murderous. “Run.”

“No.” Dread that Alex wouldn’t flee spiked through her. “He’s not dangerous!”

“He’s a beast!” Tristan strode forward, raising his sword. “Why are you protecting him? Step aside!”

Alex wrapped an arm around her, and his tail tightened over her skirt. “Don’t yell at her.”

Tristan paused. He looked at Alex’s arm across her shoulders, up at Alex, then at her face. “You let this demon touch you?”

“Don’t call him that.” Even as she said it, she remembered doing the same thing, and she hated herself for it.

“He has you under a spell. Once he’s dead, you’ll be free.” Tristan stepped closer, Gareth following.

“Ihave never cast a spell in my life,” Alex bit out. His voice had deepened.Please stay in control.

Raelyn looked up at Alex. “Alex, fly. Now. Please.”

“You think you’re inlovewith this monster?” Disgust laced Tristan’s voice.

“N-no.”Be diplomatic. Distract him. Give Alex time to fly away. Hopefully they won’t care about the others.She moved Alex’s arm aside and stepped around his tail. His wings rustled, but only like he was adjusting them.Fly, you idiot.She approached Tristan.

Gareth’s furious gaze fixed on Alexander. “What did you do to my sister?”

“Nothing,” Alex growled.

“He didn’t do anything!” Raelyn held her hands up, seeking to placate her brother and betrothed. “The only thing Alexander did was help me. Don’t hurt him.”

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