“Right, you’d have someone else do it for you.” Anger made her hands shake as she struggled to buckle the bridle in place.
“Maybe I’ll hire one of Hargreaves’ so-called knights.” He leaned back against the stall on the other side of Zephyr. “They kill for money, don’t they? I wonder if they’d off their master for the right price.”
Adelaide stilled. “We agreed. I’ll only do this if he’s not harmed.”
“Mm, fine. But honestly, I’d be doing the world a favor.”
“You’re a fiend.” Her face burned as she double-checked the cinching on the saddle.
“No, I’m your betrothed.” He leaned across Zephyr’s saddle, his face inches from hers as she straightened. “So how about a kiss?”
“Get your face out of mine or I’ll cut it.”
Nolan slapped her, and she blinked, stumbling back from Zephyr’s side. She covered her stinging cheek with her hand. He moved around Zephyr, gaze fixed on her. “You’re awfully rude for someone who has lives depending on her good behavior. Including your own. I know your secret, remember?”
“And I told you I don’t care who knows, remember?” Her cheek still stung, but she set her jaw and lowered her hand. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her pain. “I’ll marry you to keep you from having Regulus or anyone else killed. But I won’t fawn over you.”
“What I’m hearing is you’re only agreeing to marry me so long as you can’t think of another way to keep me from having the mercenary’s head chopped off.”
Danger echoed in Nolan’s words, so Adelaide didn’t answer. But the look on her face must have confirmed his suspicion, because his lips curled into a scowl. He stalked toward her and she backed into the wall, her palms flush against the rough wood. He darted forward and grabbed her face. His body pressed into hers, and the frantic beat of her heart reverberated into his chest.
Nolan leaned forward, his mouth by her ear. Adelaide shook as his fingernails dug into her cheek. “I don’t know what you see in that scarred mongrel that you don’t see in me. But you’re pushing your luck, sweetheart.” He released her face and leaned back. His gaze fixed on her lips. “Why fight me? I’ve been told I’m an excellent kisser.”
Fury and revulsion drove back her fear. She put her hands on his chest. A blast of blue light pulsed from her palms and sent him flying backward. Zephyr whinnied as Nolan shot behind the horse, hit the opposite wall of the stable, and fell to the ground. He sat in the straw and dirt and glared up at her. She could kill him now. Throw a magical spear through his heart. And probably hang for his murder.
“I’m going for a ride, sweetheart.” She drew herself up to her full height and raised her chin. “I’ll be back when I’m back. Please, follow me. If you do, I’ll put a knife through your throat and claim you surprised me, and I thought you were a bandit. I’ll shed many tears.”
Nolan bared his teeth in a silent snarl. “You’ll be back in an hour or I’ll take Gaius and my men and come looking for you. You won’t kill me in front of witnesses.”
“Fine.” Adelaide led Zephyr out of the stables. She didn’t know where she was going. She didn’t care. But as the events of last night ran over and over again through her mind, she found herself on the road leading to Arrano. Let Nolan go looking for her. She urged Zephyr into a trot. She had some explaining to do.
Chapter 40
REGULUS SAT IN THE hall long after a servant cleared away his breakfast. The silence in the room pressed around him. Sunlight from the windows set high in the hall walls streamed across the table. He scratched Magnus’ head and stared at nothing. He had tossed and turned most of the night, trying to think of a way to protect both Adelaide and his men. Every idea had holes. Dresden was right. Obeying was the best option.
The question was how to get her. The simplest way would be to take her unseen, but he didn’t have time to stalk the Drummonds’ estate until she wandered away on her own. He could go as the Black Knight and demand her. There would be a fight, people would get hurt. Or he could hope Carrick wasn’t around, ask her to walk with him—
The door to the foyer groaned open and his steward walked in. “My lord.” He bowed. “Lady Belanger is here to see you.”
“What?” Regulus stood, knocking his knees on the table. “Just Lady Belanger?”
Adelaide walked in, wearing a long-sleeved gray riding dress with an asymmetrical skirt that ended above her knees in the front, revealing black fitted trousers and boots.
“Just me.” She smiled, but it was weak and forced. The steward left, closing the door behind him. Magnus bounded over to Adelaide, and she rubbed his head.
“Adelaide.” Regulus rushed to her, reached for her—but stopped shy of grabbing her shoulders. The momentary joy of seeing her fled behind his confusion over last night and his heartache at what he had to do. His hands fell to his sides. “Why are you here?”
“I...” She looked defeated. “I wanted to explain. No, I need to explain. I don’t want you to think...”
“I knew it.” He tensed as his pulse pounded. “Carrick threatened you.”
“He threatened you. And your knights. And Gaius and Minerva.” Adelaide placed her hand on his chest. “I couldn’t let you or anyone else die. The whole arrest—he was trying to get you killed! He told the sheriff he was mistaken after—”
“After you promised to marry him,” he finished. He’d suspected as much. It didn’t make him any less angry.
“He’s a coward without honor.” Her hand balled into a fist against his chest. “You can’t challenge him. He’ll have you killed or arrested before he would fight you. You can’t tell anyone. I’m only telling you because you deserve to know. I can’t stand by while he hurts or kills people I love.” She looked into his eyes, and he saw her anguish. “Please. I can’t let him—”
“Shhh.” Regulus grabbed her shoulders and pulled her to his chest. As he held her, a thousand emotions battled within him. Relief that Adelaide didn’t want to marry Carrick. Anger that Carrick was forcing her into a marriage she didn’t want. Fury that she didn’t want him to fight for her, even if he understood the reasoning. Resentment that she was right. Carrick would never duel him. Happiness that she cared enough that she didn’t want him to die. Sympathy, because he understood doing things you hated to protect the people you loved.
But mostly panic and sorrow. Because she was here. Alone. Already the mark burned as he ignored his opportunity.
“Adelaide...” He stepped away, his guilt drowning him. “I need to tell you something. We should sit.” Regulus returned to his seat and Magnus loped after him. After a moment, Adelaide sat in the seat to his left. He hesitated. He had never told anyone this story. Before Adelaide, anyone who mattered already knew. They had been there.
“Regulus?”
“This isn’t how I wanted to tell you. This isn’t the circumstances I wanted. But you deserve the truth.” He looked at her, shame heavy on his soul. “You’ve been honest with me, and I’ve lied in return. Pretended I’m not what I am.”
“I don’t understand.” He winced at the undertone of alarm in her voice.
He traced a knot in the tabletop with his finger. “A little over two years ago, I was leading a small company of fifteen mercenaries. We were near the Tumen Forest for a contract dealing with a couple territorial gryphons. We came across this boy.” He took a breath to steady himself, the memory still fresh. “He begged us for help. Said his village was being attacked by goblins. He was destitute. Not even shoes on his feet. There would be no money in helping. But I couldn’t turn my back on him. So we followed.”
She watched him, clearly trying to understand why he was telling her this now.
“He didn’t lead us to a village; it was just a forester’s hut. He ran in, and I followed. His parents were bound and gagged inside. The boy went to help them, and I turned around as this...flash of green light nearly blinded me.”
“Green light...” Adelaide looked down at h
er hands and her eyes widened. “A sorcerer?”
“Yes.” He swallowed. “I couldn’t tell at first. There was a man in dark robes throwing fire and sharp projectiles that glowed green. My men were falling. Dying. I rushed him with my sword, but...” He looked at his palm, remembering. “The hilt burned in my hand and I dropped it. The sorcerer held enchanted ropes, binding my men who were still standing. They couldn’t fight or get free. The ropes curled around their throats. I went for the man with my bare hands.”
His hand trembled. Adelaide covered it with hers. Steadied him. He took a deep breath and continued.
“A blast of light knocked me back. I looked up to see my men choking to death. Dresden. Perceval.” Regulus dug his fingernails into the wood. “Estevan. Jerrick. Caleb. Even Harold, a baggage boy who barely knew how to hold a sword. So many were already dead—” His voice broke, and it took him a moment to continue. “The sorcerer gave me a choice. Watch the rest of my men die and the forester and his wife and son burn alive—or swear to serve him.”
Her mouth hung open, but she didn’t speak.
“I didn’t think, I just agreed.” His breath escaped in a shaky exhale. “He made me take an oath. I would serve him until I had repaid the life-debt for every person he didn’t kill that day. I’ve done his will ever since. He has me retrieve things. Magical plants. Ancient relics. I’ve stolen for him... Killed for him.”
Her hand slipped off his. Silence pressed against him. His chest burned. He couldn’t bring himself to look at her, to see the horror and disgust. He hid his face in his hands. I knew she wouldn’t want me if she knew the truth.
To his surprise, her fingers clasped his hands. She pulled them away from his face.
“You did what you had to in order to save the people you love.” He met her eyes and saw kindness, understanding, and sorrow. “That sounds familiar.”
If it wasn’t for what he had to say next, her understanding and acceptance would have soothed him. Comforted him. Healed him. Instead, it destroyed him.
“There’s more.” Regulus freed his hands from Adelaide’s grasp. “The sorcerer wants something different this time.” He closed his eyes. “A mage.” He wouldn’t take the coward’s path. He looked at Adelaide. Her kind, beautiful deep brown eyes narrowed. “He wants you.”
Chapter 41
“WHAT?” IT SOUNDED MORE like a gasp than an actual word. Adelaide’s pulse quickened, and she pulled her hands back as the betrayal seared straight through her. Her magic awakened in response, warming her palms. “You told a sorcerer about me? I trusted—”
“No!” Regulus held up his hands, his face pale as he shook his head. “I swear I didn’t tell him, not a word. He did something to find mages, and he found you. He needs a mage to open some kind of door.”
At least he had kept his promise to guard her secret. And it didn’t even matter. But now...would he hand her over to this sorcerer? “You’re not...you won’t...you can’t want to—”
“I don’t want to,” Regulus said, agony in his words. “But I have to.”
“You can refuse!” Fear and anger gave an edge to her voice. She tried to rein it in, but her hysteria rose. “You don’t have to—”
“No.” She jumped at Dresden’s voice and looked toward the dark stairway in the corner. Dresden emerged from the shadows and strode over, his eyes furious. “You didn’t tell her everything. Show her.”
Regulus’ gaze dropped.
“Show her!” Dresden grabbed Regulus’ right arm and pushed up his sleeve. “Tell her the full truth!”
Rough scars marred the underside of Regulus’ forearm. Against the scars, a black mark stood in sharp contrast—two hollow diamonds laid end-to-end with another half diamond open towards his wrist.
She eyed the tattoo, confused. “What is it?”
“It appeared when I took the oath,” Regulus said quietly as Dresden dropped his arm. “It’s a link, from the sorcerer to me. So he can control me.”
Her mind struggled to keep up. “How?”
“Like this.” Dresden reached across the table and grabbed her hand. He yanked it over to Regulus’ arm and forced her palm against the mark. She yelped as heat burned her skin. She tried to pull away, but Dresden held her hand in place a moment longer before releasing her. Her hand still burned.
“He tortures Regulus,” Dresden said, venom in his voice. “Because he’s not obeying. He knows what his orders are, and he’s not fulfilling them. Somehow, the sorcerer knows, and uses the mark to punish him into compliance.”
“You’re in pain?” Guilt and pity replaced the betrayal, even as fear put a vise around her chest.
“It’s not bad right now.” Regulus pulled his sleeve down, hiding the mark.
“The sorcerer can manipulate it, make the pain spread.” Dresden sat in the chair to Regulus’ right. “Cause him to writhe on the floor, screaming in pain. But maybe there’s something you can do.”
“You think I...” Adelaide gulped.
“Maybe you can remove it,” Regulus whispered, but his voice rose with intensity. “Corrupted magic put it there, maybe pure magic can remove it.”
“I...” She hesitated, full of self-doubt. Could trying make things any worse? And if she succeeded, Regulus wouldn’t be in pain. And he wouldn’t have to bring her to this sorcerer. Yesterday, she would have said he would never betray her. But today, faced with sorcery she didn’t understand and knowing he would be tortured if he didn’t... She couldn’t rely on his strength of will to resist a force like that. “I can try.”
Regulus rolled his sleeve back and held his arm forward. Nervous, she reached out, summoning her power. Her palm warmed and glowed with soft blue light as she stretched her hand out over the mark. The light grew in intensity, bathing his skin. Some of the scars around and under the mark faded, but the mark seemed just as dark and defined. She summoned more power, trying to will the mark off his arm.
Regulus screamed. Adelaide yanked her hand back, terror stealing her breath. He pulled away from her, clutching his arm to his chest and knocking over his chair with a clatter as his screams pierced her ears. Magnus jumped to his feet with a growl. The dog barked at her then whined at Regulus. Regulus continued to scream and fell to his knees, his eyes rolling up into his head. Her light died as she clenched her fist, her heart pounding. What did I do? What do I do?
She pushed away her chair as she stood, trembling. “Regulus!” She reached toward him and Magnus snarled. Dresden grabbed the huge dog.
Magnus snapped at him, but Dresden said in a firm voice, “Magnus, upstairs. Obey!” The dog tucked its tail and whined. “Magnus, go upstairs,” Dresden commanded over Regulus’ howls. The dog headed up the stairs, and Dresden closed the stairwell door behind him. He went to Regulus and grabbed his shoulders. “Regulus!”
Regulus stopped screaming, and Adelaide leaned against the table, relieved. His arm fell to his side. He looked at her, his expression unreadable. Dresden released Regulus’ shoulders and took a step back, caution radiating from him. “Reg?”
“Oh, dear me.” Regulus shook his head and stood. “Tried to remove our bond again, did you, Hargreaves?” He clicked his tongue. “Naughty boy. And you.” He looked Adelaide dead in the eyes, his gaze filled with loathing that hurt far worse than when she thought he’d shared her secret. “Stupid little she-mage. That. Hurt. I don’t appreciate it. You’re giving me second thoughts about the whole not-harming-you thing.”
She recoiled, bumping into a chair. Did Regulus just...talk to himself? Stupid she-mage? Nothing he said made sense. “Regulus?”
“No.” Dresden placed himself between her and Regulus. “It’s the sorcerer.” His voice wavered, and the hand he held out to shield her shook.
“He can do that?” Her tongue stuck, threatening to choke her.
“That’s Prince of Shadow and Ash to you.” Regulus glanced at Dresden with distaste. “Yes, I can do that. Not for long. But long enough to make him kill one or both of you. The beard
ed one and that squire barely escaped last time.” He smiled, cruelty in his usually kind eyes.
“Run!” Dresden looked over his shoulder. “Just avoid him long enough—”
Regulus bolted forward with unbelievable speed and grabbed Dresden by the neck. Dresden clawed at his hands as Regulus lifted him into the air. Like he was tossing aside a dirty shirt, Regulus threw Dresden. Dresden flew several feet and landed with a horrible thud and a sickening crack as his head hit stone. Adelaide’s heart lodged in her throat. Dresden moaned, and she gasped. He’s alive. But now Regulus’ icy gaze fixed on her.
She drew her dagger from her boot as she stumbled away, tripping over a chair. This can’t be happening. This can’t be happening. That wasn’t Regulus. But it was. Did she dare use her dagger against him?
“I need your pure magic, girl.” Regulus advanced toward her. “There’s at least a couple others, but they’d hardly be useful. Drunks and children. So, you see, Hargreaves has a choice.”
It was surreal to see Regulus with cruelty in his eyes. To hear him talk about himself as someone else. Her heel caught on an uneven bit of stone, and she fell backward.
“He can bring you to me, you help me, everybody lives and is happy. Or he can kill you.” Regulus lunged.
She half-heartedly stabbed toward his right shoulder, but he grabbed the blade with his left hand. Blood seeped between his fingers.
“You can’t kill him to save yourself,” Regulus’ voice said. “His life is tied to mine. So long as I live, he lives.” Regulus’ right hand closed around her neck.
His large hand encircled her throat and squeezed, his skin hot against her throat. She released the dagger and pulled at his fingers, coughing and choking. He pulled her to her knees. Her throat and lungs burned from the effort to breathe. Her thoughts turned fuzzy. He dropped her dagger, and it clattered to the ground.
“Please,” she croaked, “stop...”
The edges of her sight turned black. Bright spots swam in her vision as Regulus’ sneering face went in and out of focus. She scratched at his hand but felt herself weakening. Etiros, he’s going to kill me! I’m. Going. To. Die.
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