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“CARRICK!” Regulus’ shout boomed through the twilight air. A flock of birds in a tree beyond Carrick and Adelaide took flight, their wings rustling as they soared into the pink-tinged sky. Adelaide was lying on the ground, propped up on her elbows. Carrick leaned over her, holding a rope tied to a collar around her neck. Indignation boiled Regulus’ blood. He kicked Sieger forward and raced down the hill toward them. Dresden and Alfred followed close behind.
Nolan sighed as he stood, pulling Adelaide up with him by the arm. “What are you doing here? How did you even get here?”
“Turns out you’re not the only one good at hunting,” Regulus snarled as he jumped off Sieger’s back and drew his sword. In actuality, one of the servants had overheard the sorcerer telling Nolan where to find Adelaide. Drez and Alfred had insisted on coming, too, and they had pushed their horses hard to catch up. Sweat frothed on Sieger’s neck.
Nolan wrapped his arms around Adelaide and held her against his chest. A human shield. Regulus ground his teeth.
“Lord Belanger?” Nolan frowned. “How...unexpected. I really didn’t think you could actually pull off a rescue, mercenary.”
“Unhand my daughter!”
Adelaide looked at them, eyes wide—with hope or fear, Regulus wasn’t sure. He stalked closer. Why wasn’t she doing something? Had she lost her magic again? His gaze flicked to the iron collar around her neck. Did that have something to do with it?
“Ah, and the Carasian servant.” Carrick grinned. “Did you give your master my message?”
Regulus glanced at Dresden. Dresden had turned dark red.
“I wish I’d had the time for a more comprehensive belting,” Carrick said. “Did he tell you those stripes were for you?”
“Enough!” Regulus’ voice shook.
“Three against one,” Carrick said. “And I’m not wearing armor and they are. Don’t you think that’s unfair, love?” He kissed Adelaide’s shoulder, just below the collar, maintaining eye contact with Regulus. Adelaide flinched as his mouth pressed against her skin, and Regulus focused in on a bruise on her cheek. He hurt her.
“Let. Her. Go.” Regulus took an offensive stance, ready to sprint forward at the hint of an opening.
Carrick raised a brow. “All right.” He dropped his arms, then hit Adelaide hard on the side of her head. Alfred screamed as Adelaide crumpled into Carrick’s arms. Regulus’ heart fell like a stone. Carrick lowered her onto the ground. “Don’t worry, she’s just unconscious. I wouldn’t kill my bride.” He stepped over her still form. “What are you waiting for?”
Regulus lunged forward and swung at Carrick’s neck. Carrick dove under the blade with unsettling speed and pummeled into Regulus’ torso, wrapping his arms around Regulus as they toppled. Regulus grunted, the air knocked out of him. His sword slipped from his grip as he landed hard on his back with Carrick on top of him.
“I’m going to finally kill you, mercenary.” Carrick punched Regulus in the face, and Regulus groaned as his cheekbone cracked. He wrapped his legs around Carrick, gripped his shirt, and twisted, rolling Carrick onto his back. He punched Carrick’s mouth, and blood seeped from Carrick’s lips.
Carrick growled and caught his fist. Regulus punched with his left hand, catching Carrick in the temple. Carrick shouted and wrenched Regulus’ arm, then threw him to the side. Regulus jumped up, his right shoulder aching, as Carrick scrambled to his feet and picked up Regulus’ sword. He barely escaped Carrick’s manic thrust. Carrick sliced and Regulus jumped back. The tip of the sword scraped across his chest, the sword clinking against the chainmail.
Two curved blades protruded out of Carrick’s chest. Carrick stared at Regulus, mouth hanging open in a silent scream. Good job, Drez. As Carrick fell to his knees, Dresden withdrew his scimitars. He swung at Carrick’s neck, but Carrick met one scimitar with Regulus’ sword and grabbed Dresden’s other hand. Dresden strained against Carrick. Regulus grabbed Carrick’s shirt and tossed him to the ground. Carrick groaned, but rolled onto his back as Regulus reached for his sword, moving too fast. His fingers dug into the grass. Too slow. I’m too slow!
Carrick kicked his ankle, and Regulus collapsed to one knee as Carrick rolled away and sprung to his feet. A little pain couldn’t stop him right now. He needed to get up! Drez blocked Carrick’s desperate swing. But then Carrick released his grip on the sword with his right hand, reached forward, closed his hand around Dresden’s neck, and shoved. Regulus scrambled to his feet as Dresden fell onto his back, coughing and wheezing. Not my best friend, cur.
Regulus aimed a punch at the back of Carrick’s head. Just before his fist made contact, Carrick leaned forward and turned. His boot rammed into Regulus’ gut, knocking him backward. Regulus gasped, his abdomen throbbing and lungs struggling to pull in air. Dark spots flickered in his vision. Carrick sneered and thrust the sword at Regulus’ heart. The blade pressed into the chainmail, but Carrick kept pushing until he fell onto his back. His chest ached. Carrick stomped on his sternum, and something cracked. Regulus sucked in air against the suffocating pain as his vision blurred.
“Let’s see what my new strength can do.” Carrick stood over him, straddling his middle.
I have to move. But his body wouldn’t listen. Carrick raised the sword and brought it straight down with the speed of a viper. Against the superhuman impact, and with no give as Regulus lay braced against the ground, the chainmail broke.
The sword ripped into his gut with hellish pain, its momentum stopped only when it hit the chainmail on his back. Regulus gasped; strangled, staccato groans of agony as tremors ran up and down his body. He’d nearly died enough times to know—he wouldn’t survive this. But all he could think about was Adelaide. Get her away, Alfred.
“No!” Drez screamed. “Regulus!”
Carrick released the sword and turned in time for Dresden to bury both scimitars in Carrick’s stomach. Carrick bellowed in pain as Dresden withdrew his blades. Regulus’ hands shook, but he grabbed the blade and tried to push it out. The sharp edges cut through his leather gloves, stinging as it split open his palms. Shallow, pain-inducing breaths wheezed in his throat. Through his blurring vision, he saw Carrick throw Drez aside like a rag doll. No... He tried to call Dresden’s name, but couldn’t speak. Darkness encroached along the edges of his sight.
“I told you I would kill you, mercenary,” Carrick panted.
He grabbed the hilt and twisted. Regulus’ scream came out strangled. The blade scraped out of his stomach as Carrick withdrew it. Tears ran down his temples into his hair. Carrick dropped the sword and stumbled away, pressing his hand against his blood-soaked middle as he headed toward Alfred and Adelaide. No! Panic forced Regulus’ dying body into action.
“Carrick!” He coughed up blood, but he fought through the pain and managed to get to his knees. He’d endured worse. “I’m not dead yet.”
Carrick glanced over his shoulder, then laughed. “You’re good as.”
Regulus tried to stand and fell back to his knees. He was dying, and this time, there was no stinging sorcery dragging him back from the brink. He had failed to protect Adelaide. My fault... He fell forward. He raised his head and tried to warn Alfred, but his tongue wouldn’t work.
Pain overwhelmed his senses. The world went in and out of focus. I’m sorry, Adelaide. I’m sorry. I love you, and I’m sorry. His eyelids felt heavy. He had the odd thought of being terribly thirsty. He looked at Alfred, trying to see past him to Adelaide. To see her one last time.
Alfred moved aside. Adelaide sat up, and Regulus wondered if he was dreaming, or maybe already dead. Or halfway between the realm of the living and the afterlife. Adelaide’s eyes glowed golden as she leapt to her feet. Wings of fire spread out behind her back and a sword of light and flame appeared in her hands. His avenging angel. The world faded into darkness. He let his face fall onto the grass.
Goodbye, Adelaide.
