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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 her 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.”
