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ADELAIDE FELL ASLEEP as soon as she pulled on her blanket. She hadn’t slept so soundly in ages. But when Giselle woke her, she felt refreshed. The festival grounds echoed with the sounds of tents being collapsed, horses and carriages prepared, and the chatter of everyone from nobles to servants. While servants loaded their belongings onto palfreys and mules, she took Zephyr and found a small grove of trees a short ride away. A quiet place where she could feed him oats and a few sugar cubes in peace and not worry about being in the way.
After a short while, hoof beats approached. She turned to look, expecting Sir Gaius or one of the Drummonds’ servants. Zephyr’s lips tickled her outstretched palm, and she smiled. But then she saw the intruder’s face. Her smile vanished as she clenched her jaw. “You’re not welcome here, Sir Carrick.”
Nolan chuckled, as if she were teasing. He dismounted and sauntered closer as her whole body tensed. “That’s hardly polite of you.”
“I know what you did,” she said, her voice low and accusing.
“And what’s that?” His playful tone and crooked smile taunted her as he moved closer.
“Regulus’ squire and horse were attacked last night. I know you’re behind it.” She raised her chin. “So you are not. Welcome. Here.”
“Interesting.” Nolan stepped closer and rubbed Zephyr’s neck, looking at the gelding in admiration. Her heart pounded against her ribs. “Because I know something, too.” He met her eyes. “I know what you are.”
She stopped breathing. Icy tendrils wormed through her chest. “What are you talking about?” She had meant to speak with confidence, but her words came out breathy.
“I wasn’t certain what I saw when you showed up and played the knight to Half-Breed’s damsel. An amusing moment, that. But then the mercenary didn’t sustain injuries. I heard you visited the mongrel’s camp last night. And this morning, he apparently rode his horse away before dawn, despite whispers the horse was maimed. I also heard a rumor someone broke his squire’s nose, but he looked fine. The look on your face confirms my theory.”
The last sugar cube in her hand slipped from her fingers and fell to the ground. She felt light-headed. Goosebumps pricked her arms.
Nolan laughed and looked back at Zephyr, still stroking her horse’s neck. “Don’t worry. I won’t tell.” He shrugged. “Not yet, anyway.”
“What do you want?” Her voice sounded hoarse.
“I would have thought it was obvious, my dear.” He gave her a wicked grin and stepped toward her, his hand falling from Zephyr’s neck. “I want you.”
Indignation crackled under her skin. She clenched her fists. “You’re out of your mind.”
“No. I just know what I want. And I get what I want. Marry me, Adelaide.”
She fixed him with a death glare. “What in creation makes you think I would ever marry you? After everything you’ve done?”
“Oh, I realized a while ago I wasn’t going to win you over by charm alone.” He gave a dismissive frown. “I’m not used to that, to be honest. I thought to scare you away from Hargreaves, but that failed too. When I left you with him after the attack, I hoped you’d see him as weak and move on, but no. I thought I would threaten the mercenary into leaving you. But that seems to have failed as well.”
“So what?” Her thoughts turned to the weapons stowed in her boots. “You’re here to threaten me now?”
“Not threaten yet, no. Blackmail. I know your secret, Adelaide.”
Nervousness made her shiver, but she squared her shoulders. “Fine. Tell who you will. I’m done hiding who I am.”
One side of Nolan’s mouth curved up in a condescending smile. “You say that, but I don’t see you broadcasting your,” he lowered his voice conspiratorially, “abilities.” He crossed his arms. “I can’t say I blame you. If everyone like me had been brutally hunted down and murdered, I also would want to keep my identity secret.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Listen closely. I would rather the entire world knew my secret than ever marry you. Why are you so desperate, anyway? If ladies usually find you so charming, why am I so important? What makes you want to marry me so badly?”
Irritation clouded his eyes, but then his usual careless smile returned. “I know your secret; you might as well know mine. I’m out of viable marriage options. Either my brothers already married into the best families, the families of my station don’t have eligible daughters of a decent age, or...” He shrugged. “I’ve burned one too many bridges, it seems. My gracious parents,” he spat the words, “have threatened to disinherit me. They gave me a deadline, and if I don’t marry, they’ll disown me and throw me out of Carrick Barony with no inheritance. I’m down to a month.”
“How tragic for you.” Serves you right. “Go bother another young lady.”
“Ah, but why would I do that? I had resigned myself to marrying some moderately attractive woman who would have a smaller dowry than a nobleman of my standing deserves—”
Adelaide snorted. “What a shining example of chivalry you are.”
He ignored her and continued. “And then I met you. The daughter of the renowned, wealthy war hero Lord Alfred Belanger. You would come with respectability, in spite of your mother. Prestige. And, I’m certain, a generous dowry.” His smile took on a wolfish, hungry quality. “And to top it all off, you’re beautiful. Even with your Khastallander complexion.”
“Is this supposed to improve my opinion of you? Because it’s having the opposite effect.”
“No.” Nolan’s voice became low, menacing. “It’s so you understand what is at stake. My entire life hinges on marrying. And you’re the best option, sweetheart. At this point, likely my only option. And the only thing that stands between me and the lifestyle I want, I deserve, is that thrice-accursed mercenary.”
“And me.” She folded her arms. “I won’t be bullied any more than Regulus.”
“You don’t want to go to war with me, love.” He stepped forward and she stepped back, pulling her dagger out of her boot with practiced speed. She had picked too secluded of a spot. No one could see his aggressive behavior.
“Take another step and I’ll cut your heart out.”
Nolan looked at the dagger in her hand, the one Regulus had given her. He grunted. “Very well, my lady.” He turned toward his horse. Some of the tension drained from her body and she lowered her dagger.
Nolan spun around and lunged forward. She cursed herself for lowering her guard as she stepped back and slashed at his face. He dodged, but the tip of her dagger still nicked his cheek. Blood beaded from the cut and Nolan hissed and grabbed her wrist with both hands. She reached for his face with her free hand, but he wrenched her hand down, twisting her wrist. Adelaide yelled and dropped the dagger. He caught her other hand right before her fingernails scratched his eye.
“That. Stung.”
“You dare assault a lady?”
He released her and Adelaide stepped back. Tears stung her eyes. She cradled her throbbing wrist with her other hand.
“Just showing you I’m not to be trifled with.” Nolan nodded at her wrist. “I’d apologize, but I imagine it’ll be whole in no time.” He bent down and picked up the dagger. “This is nice.” He stuck it in his belt.
“Give that back!” She reached for him and whimpered as the movement sent a stab of pain through her wrist.
He wiped blood off his cheek, but lines of blood continued to flow from the shallow cut. “So demanding.”
There was still no one in sight. She raised her left hand as a ball of fire grew in front of it.
He clicked his tongue and shook his head. “I wouldn’t do that. Do you think no one knows I’m here? You kill me and you’ll be hanged for murder.”
“Maybe I don’t kill you,” she bit out. He could be lying. But she wasn’t confident enough to risk being accused of murder. And if his body was found scorched to death, she would have a lot of explaining to do.
All humor fled Nolan’s face. “Now I’m threatening you. All I have to do is say a word, and I have men who can discretely sabotage your sister’s carriage. I can’t imagine a carriage wreck being healthy for her or the baby.”
Adelaide gasped. Etiros, no. She wanted to believe he wouldn’t. But after Harold and Sieger... Nolan looked at her with cold, indifferent resolve. She dropped her hand to her side, the flames extinguished.
“Good girl.”
“You still can’t take that,” she said, but her voice held no confidence. “Your father gave it to Regulus.”
“Who gave it to you, and you kindly gave it to me.”
Adelaide felt helpless. She had never felt helpless. Her mother hadn’t raised her to be helpless. Etiros, what do I do? She could roast Nolan alive, or throw a knife at his back as he walked away, even though she was far less accurate with her left hand.
But she couldn’t. She couldn’t put her family at risk. And she didn’t want to hang for murder—or even really want to kill again. He tapped his foot on the ground, waiting.
“Please.” Adelaide lowered her head, staring at the ground. Her wrist ached and her eyes watered. Her heart felt made of lead. “Please.”
“All right.” She looked up, surprised. “I’ll give it back.” He leered. “For a kiss.”
“Troll take you!”
Nolan shrugged. “Have it your way.” He turned and walked away, Regulus’—her—dagger still in his belt. He mounted his horse. “See you soon, love. And if I were you,” he smiled cruelly, “I’d think very carefully about how you will answer next time I ask for your hand.”
After Nolan left, Adelaide healed her wrist. Tears of despair stung her eyes as she sent anguished, rage-filled prayers to Etiros. She waited until she had stopped crying to ride back to camp. She couldn’t tell Minerva. Minerva would tell Gaius; Gaius would challenge Nolan. Adelaide had seen them both fight. Nolan would win.
Minerva would be a widow with a baby due in three months.
No. She wouldn’t put Minerva and Gaius in the middle of this. She wouldn’t risk their safety and their lives. A month didn’t give her much time, but at least Nolan wasn’t trying to force her into marrying him next week. She would tell Regulus after their supper. They would come up with a plan together. She combed her fingers through Zephyr’s mane.
Maybe Regulus would ask her to marry him. She couldn’t marry Nolan if she was betrothed to Regulus.
Right?
