Page 99 of A Thieving Curse

Tristan lowered his blade. The point touched the ground, and Raelyn took a few tentative steps forward, trying not to get her hopes too high until Alex was safe. Gareth looked at Tristan in confusion.

“You’ll let him go?” she confirmed.

Tristan worked his jaw. “Come explain to me why. What do you mean, he helped you?” He held out his gloved hand, palm up, inviting her to take it.

Raelyn kept walking. “Alex saved my life.” Tristan watched her steadily, his hand still outstretched. “Once from wolves, and again from a minotaur. And when I needed to save Gareth, he took me to the palace.” She hesitated for a moment before placing her hand in Tristan’s.Please believe me.“He’s been nothing but kind, my lord.”

Tristan grasped her hand and pulled her against his side, slipping an arm around her waist. “You’re telling me you trust him?”

Hope swelled, and she nodded furiously. “Yes. Completely. But I’m not enchanted,” she hurried to add.

“Of course not, my lady.” Tristan gave her a sad smile, then looked past her. His fingers tightened against her side. “Finish it.”

“What?”

The men holding nets drew their arms back and tossed the snares. Raelyn screamed. The hunters with ropes hurried forward, swinging the brass balls. Alex’s wings sprang open, and a net covered his right wing. Then another fell over his head.

“Stop!” Raelyn struggled against Tristan’s hold. “Leave him alone!”

Alex snarled as his wings fought against the netting, getting more tangled. One of the men swung a rope, and it wrapped around Alex’s legs. The man tugged, and Alex toppled sideways.

“No!” She shoved Tristan’s arm, but he just pulled her closer, jamming her shoulder against his breastplate. Alex roared as his claws slashed at the netting. Tears burned her eyes. Why hadn’t he fled like she asked him to? Tristan raised his left arm, holding the sword between her and Alex.

“She’s not yours, beast.” Tristan’s arm squeezed her middle.

Alex bared his teeth and growled as his eyes shone like fire. Another net fell over him. Raelyn’s heart hammered. Alex glared up at Tristan through the nets. “She shouldn’t be yours, either, usurper.”

Tristan’s fingers dug into her waist. Raelyn drew her shoulders up toward her ears, tensing as he held her against his hard armor.

“He doesn’t mean that!” She just needed Alex to cut through the netting and fly away, not antagonize Tristan into putting an arrow through his heart.

“She’s only marrying you because she has to.” Smoke billowed around Alexander’s chest and face. He tore through the netting.He’s losing control,she realized with dread.And angering Tristan.Another net tangled over his wings, and he roared again.

The man who’d thrown the net looked at Tristan. “That’s the last net, Your Highness.”

“Should we kill it, Your Highness?” an archer standing near Gareth asked.

“No!” Raelyn tugged at Tristan’s gauntlet.

“No,” Tristan ordered. She froze. “Williams. Come here.”

The archer on Tristan’s left stepped closer. Tristan held out his sword. “Hold this.”

“Yes, Your Highness.” The archer took the sword, looking as confused as Raelyn felt.

Alex broke through the netting and freed his wings, then slashed the rope off his legs. He clambered to his feet, his chest heaving. His tail whipped back and forth. A few men with ropes and swords stepped toward him.

“Wait,” Tristan called. The men stopped.

Alex tilted his head. His wings juddered, and his tail pounded the ground. “What are you doing?”

“You were right.” Tristan’s arm loosened around Raelyn’s waist. “She is marrying me.” His left hand cupped her cheek and turned her face up toward him. He leaned down and kissed her. She pulled away on reflex, but his other hand pressed on her back.He’s right.Might as well get used to it.

Her stomach twisted and her legs shook, but she forced herself to kiss him back. She moved her hands over his breastplate to the back of his neck, letting him explore her mouth even though she wanted to push him away.This is your chance, Alex. Fly away.She kissed Tristan harder, trying to give Alex as much time to escape as possible.

Tristan stopped kissing her and exhaled, his eyes still closed. “Flames,” he breathed. “I should have kissed you days ago.” He opened his eyes and carefully brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Do you still think you’re in love with the dragon? Did it work?”

Oh. She didn’t know how to answer, so she looked back, hoping to see that Alex had fled, even though she hadn’t heard his wings. Her heart plummeted when she saw him. His still-closed wings vibrated, and his tail curled up tightly. Scales glittered on his neck that hadn’t been there before. She tried to catch his gaze.Calm down!But his smoldering eyes were set on his cousin.

---