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“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 bearded 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.
He released her and stepped back. She fell on her hands and knees, gasping for air and coughing. Her throat felt raw, like she had been screaming. Her neck ached and throbbed. She looked up in fear as she struggled to catch her breath. But Regulus had withdrawn a couple feet and collapsed to his knees on the ground. He rested his arms on his legs, palms up, his left hand dripping blood, and stared at the floor.
Dresden, one hand clutching his head, staggered over. He hesitantly put a hand on Regulus’ shoulder. Regulus flinched, but otherwise didn’t move.
Adelaide healed her neck and dropped her hands to the cool stone. As her breathing evened out, she eyed Regulus, trying to determine if he had regained control. His cheeks glistened in the sunlight, and she realized he was crying.
She moved closer, swallowing back her fear. That wasn’t him. Regulus wouldn’t hurt her. Not as himself. Slowly, she reached for him. “Regulus...”
He drew back from her touch. “Don’t,” he whispered. “Don’t come close.”
She looked at her hand and pulled it back. “Oh. Right. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to—”
“What?” Regulus looked up, his brow furrowed above watery eyes. “Why are you apologizing?”
She swallowed, her mouth still dry. “For hurting you.”
Bewilderment showed in his expression. “You...think I blame you?” He laughed, but it was a bitter, angry sound. “You tried to help. Then I...” He choked and looked away. “I hurt you. I’m sorry. I feared something like this would happen.” He hung his head, his chin resting on his chest. “I should have stayed far away from you. I should have ended this before it began.”
She wrapped her arms around her torso as his words slashed into her heart. Her gaze dropped to the stone floor. “You wish we didn’t know each other?”
“Maybe the sorcerer would have picked someone else if you hadn’t been with me when he searched for a mage. Now you’re part of my mess. Now you’re in danger.” His voice seemed small in the vast hall.
She moved closer to him. Blood pooled on his left hand. If she attempted to heal it, would her magic clash with the sorcery within him again? It hadn’t last time she healed him. But the fury in his eyes as he had strangled her made her hesitate. Coward.
“I’ve tried everything to break the bond.” Regulus clenched his fists. The muscles in his neck bulged with tension. Understanding of the scars on his arm dragged her heart down to her gut. “I can’t even die.” The whispered words hung in the air between them.
Dresden paced back and forth behind Regulus’ bent form, his hands clasped behind his back. “You have to help him. The sorcerer said if Regulus brings you to him, his debt will be repaid. He will be free.”
Regulus shook his head. “He could be lying.”
“Here.” Adelaide took his left hand, pulled back the fingers. “Let me...” Blood still covered his hand, but she didn’t see a cut. “You...healed.”
“Hm?” He looked down. “Oh. Yes.”
“I thought sorcery couldn’t heal.”
“Not the way pure magic does,” Regulus said. “This is evil. Corrupted. It hurts as it heals...and sometimes after. It leaves scars. And it doesn’t heal minor injuries. Just ones that affect my ability to be a useful slave. I could have bled out. My bond to the sorcerer won’t allow that. So it healed.” His tone was flat, emotionless.
“Reg.” Dresden sat at the table. “You can’t avoid this.”
“I know,” Regulus murmured. He looked at Adelaide, sorrow and apology in his eyes. “I can’t let him... I can’t kill you. Or Dresden. Or Harold. Innocent people, people I care about, will die at my hand.” His gaze fell to her throat, his face twisting with horror. “I can’t control myself when he takes over, but I can see and feel everything. It’s as if I’m a puppet that has gained consciousness and sensation, but I can only do what the puppet master wishes. I could—” His voice cracked, and he looked away again.
She shuddered, remembering his hand crushing her throat. He was suffering as much as I was. She pressed his blood-stained hand between hers, but he pulled away. She wiped his blood off on her dress. “Regulus—”
“I could feel your skin.” His jaw pulsed as he clenched and unclenched his teeth. “I felt your throat as you tried to breathe, your hands trying to pull mine away. I saw the fear and panic in your eyes. And I couldn’t stop it. I tried. Etiros, I tried. I only stopped when he let me go. When he had gotten his point across.”
She gazed at the broken man before her, at the hopelessness on his face. The man who had sacrificed his freedom to save the lives of his friends. The man who fought against the desires of this sorcerer, despite the pain he brought on himself. The man who won tournaments but recoiled from her touch in fear of himself. He didn’t deserve this. No one deserved this.
Adelaide pulled Regulus’ sleeve up past the mark. She thought the diamonds looked like chains as she placed her hand on it and winced. He was in pain. Because of her. Was facing a sorcerer any worse than facing Nolan? She slid her hand down and entwined her fingers in his. His gaze drifted up to her eyes, surprised.
“I see you. Your heart. Your strength. Your courage.” She cradled his face in her other hand. “And I love you.”
Regulus’ mouth trembled as his eyes searched hers, hope and fear, joy and dread warring in their silvery depths. “You...”
“I love you, Regulus.” She blinked to hold back the tears that threatened to fall as Regulus’ eyes watered.
He crumpled toward her and drew her into his arms, his forehead pressing against her shoulder. “I love you.” His arms tightened around her. “I tried not to, for your safety, but... I love you, Adelaide. Completely and utterly. I can’t begin to express how much I love you.” His shoulders shook. “I wish... I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.” She stroked his back, her throat thick with emotion. “We should go, before he hurts you again, or worse.”
Regulus pulled away, relief mixed with defeat in his expression. “You’ll come willingly?”
“Yes.” She had wanted to sound braver than that. If Regulus could be brave when a sorcerer could take control of his body at any moment and force him to hurt his friends, she could be brave, too. “I’ll do what the sorcerer wants.” Surety returned to her voice as she spoke. “We will free you. If he refuses to honor his word, we will find another way. There must be a way. And then figure out how to stop Nolan. Together.”
A smile pulled at Regulus’ mouth as his gaze filled with devotion and warmth. But then his expression fell. “There’s something else.”
What else can there be?
“The sorcerer...” His throat bobbed. “He’s The Shadow. He promised not to kill you. But you should know.”
The Shadow. Her lips parted. The threat she had hid from her entire life, the reason she was alone and didn’t understand her magic. The Shadow that hated mages enough to murder children. Her breathing went shallow. What if he didn’t keep his word?
But Regulus was in pain. He was enslaved to the evil she feared. And they didn’t have another choice. She could go willingly...or she could watch the love leave his eyes as the sorcerer took over again.
“Thank you for telling me.” Her voice barely made it past her lips. She cleared her throat. “But it doesn’t change anything. It only makes me want you free more.”
Regulus released a breath. “I don’t deserve you.” He reached for her face with his free hand, then grimaced at his bloody palm and drew it back.
“I hate to say it,” Dresden said, “but you two need to go.”
Regulus nodded glumly. “Can you wait here? I need to change.”
She nodded, and Regulus trudged upstairs. She felt drained. Too many complicated emotions. Dresden still sat at the table, watching her. She stood, and he did the same, steely gaze never leaving her.
“I’m not going to run, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
Dresden’s fingers drifted to his own bruising throat. “I wouldn’t blame you if you did.” He clasped his hands behind his back. “I like you. Truly. But I would do anything for Regulus. Including things he might not appreciate—like knocking you unconscious if you try to run.”
“I understand.” She stepped forward. “Here. I can heal those bruises.”
Dresden blinked. “I...okay. Thank you.”
She healed his bruises, mulling over the sorcerer’s words through Regulus. “The bearded one and that squire barely escaped last time.” “He attacked you. Before today.”
“Yes.” Dresden rubbed his healed neck, his eyes sad. “Me and Harold. Terrified Harold. But it broke Regulus. It’s...taken him a long time to heal.”
Adelaide looked at the shadowy stairwell, her heart aching.
“I think you’re good for him,” Dresden said quietly, drawing her attention back. “He felt he had to distance himself from us. He’s a wolf who tried to protect his own pack by leaving it, but Regulus is at his best with others, when he feels like he has a place to belong. And you bring out the best in him.”
She blushed and lowered her gaze. “He’s a good man. A better and braver man than most.”
“A good man?” Dresden’s mouth curved into a half smile. “He’s the best man I’ve ever known.”
