Page 68 of A Thieving Curse

Peter and Lucas passed, pushing a large cart filled with wood, goat cheese, and pelts. Meredith and Jasper fell in behind them. Jasper and Peter wore swords at their hips, and a knife hung from Lucas’s belt. One of Alexander’s shirts hung from the side of the cart.

Raelyn pointed. “What’s—”

“Dragon,” Alexander grunted as the little party disappeared into the trees. “Keeps most monsters and predators from going near them. Sometimes I accompany them partway, to be extra cautious.”

“But not today?”

He smiled. “No. Today, I wanted to do something else. Ready to go?”

“Sure; where are we going?”

“Up.” His eyes glinted in warning right before he scooped her into his arms. His wings unfurled, and he took to the air.

She grinned and grabbed the top of his shoulders. “What are you doing? Kidnapping me?”

“Kidnapping? I think this would be princess-napping.” He soared higher with a mighty flap of his wings. “I think it’s finally warm enough for this trip.”

The air grew colder the higher they flew, and Raelyn saw snow on the tree-less ground beneath them. Where exactly were they going? She pressed more into his chest, clinging to his warmth as her curiosity and confusion grew. He landed on the summit of Mount Klainar on top of an icy layer of packed snow. Wind buffeted them.

“Careful,” he said as he set her down. “It’s slick.”

Once Raelyn was certain of her footing, she turned slowly, taking in the blue-tinted sprawl of mountains surrounding their glistening, icy pinnacle. “I…can see forever. Which way is Eynlae?”

He pointed. “East.”

She followed the direction of his finger, toward snow-capped peaks disappearing into blue. She squinted, trying to imagine she could see the green fields leading to Father’s palace.Home.A shiver raced down her body. Alexander pulled her against him and wrapped his arms around her. His dragon heat radiated into her back.

“Maybe not quite warm enough yet,” he chuckled.

“It’s still beautiful, though.” She let her head rest against his shoulder, trying to absorb as much of his heat as possible. The frosty air still bit at her ears and face and seeped in under her dress, and she shivered again.

He bowed his head next to her and exhaled. A gust of hot air brushed over her, enveloping her in cozy warmth. A few short weeks ago, that would have terrified Raelyn. Now, it was just Alexander being himself.

Nevertheless, her mouth went dry as her nerves wound tight. Not because she feared Alexander. Because she feared the weird staccato of her heart as he held her against his chest.

“After this,” he said, his breath tickling her ear, “I want to take you to this cave lake. I think you’ll be impressed. Still trying to prove I’m not boring.”

She gazed out across the mountains. “You’re hardly that,” she said, searching for a topic to distract her from the flustered heat in her cheeks. “Oh, did Lucas tell you he asked me to have a picnic dinner with him tomorrow?”

“What? No.” Alexander laughed, but it sounded tight. “What did you tell him?”

“I’m a little nervous he’s developed a crush on me, but I didn’t have the heart to tell him no.” She shook her head. “You should have seen his face when I agreed. I thought his cheeks were going to split he was smiling so wide.”

“Hm.” His chest rumbled. She shifted to look up at him. The corners of his mouth had turned down, and his eyes narrowed as he glared out at the beautiful view like he was looking at a hopelessly ruined trap. His throat bobbed as he swallowed.

“Is something wrong?”

“Do you…like Lucas?” He continued to stare out across the mountains. “As more than a friend?”

“It’s just a picnic.” Raelyn hesitated. “I mean, I don’tlikehim like that. He feels like a brother, but…I guess that could change. I didn’t have a reason to say no.”

His brows drew together, shadowing his face.

She pulled away from his chest a little. “I don’t know how long I’ll need to stay here, or what I’ll do when I can leave,” she said defensively. “I’ve never really had the option of falling in love before. And Lucas is sweet.”

Alexander’s arms dropped, and he looked to the side, but not before she saw the smoldering red glow in his irises.

“Alexander?”

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