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Regulus stared at Adelaide. She couldn’t be giving up. She wouldn’t... But then, he had seen her nightmares. “What are you doing?”
Adelaide slowly stood and faced the sorcerer. “I make you a counter-offer.”
The sorcerer stroked his beard. “Speak quickly.”
“You think your sorcery makes you so strong. Then fight me—fair and square. No hurting Regulus to hurt me. No help from Nolan.” Regulus stood and grabbed her hand. She pulled it away, but not before he sensed her determination. “Chain Nolan and Regulus up and have a fair fight.”
The sorcerer laughed, but it was sharp and angry. “Why would I do that?”
“You defeated me before, but you were cheating, using the staff. You’ve already cheated today.” She held her hands out to her sides. “I’m tired and weakened. So what are you afraid of? Do you think my magic is stronger than your sorcery?”
“Of course not! And it’s not cheating to use every tool at your disposal. Why would I waste energy when I can just continue to torture your mercenary lover until you break?”
Regulus flinched. Please, no! But a warning bell went off in his mind. She wouldn’t. He had to be wrong, she—
“Because if you win and I survive, I’ll serve you,” Adelaide said quietly.
“Adelaide!” Regulus turned her toward him. “Absolutely not.” He would rather Carrick cut him to pieces than Adelaide enslave herself. Ideally, though, the bond would break and let him die first. He understood why she wouldn’t remove it, but he wished she would. He was tired of the pain.
Sorrow made Adelaide’s eyes look dull and lifeless. “My father is...dead.” She swallowed. His heart clenched at the brokenness in her voice. “I can’t let any more of my family die because of me.” She turned back to the sorcerer, leaving a hollow ache in Regulus’ chest.
“But if you win,” Adelaide said, “whether I live or die, you have to promise no harm—no pain, no capture, no killing—will come to my family or Regulus’ men.” Carrick snorted.
The sorcerer raised a brow. “And if you win?”
“I’ll kill you.”
Adelaide and the sorcerer glared ice daggers at each other. Regulus eyed the distance between himself and the sorcerer and tried to judge how far behind him Carrick stood without looking. He could still remember the feel of Carrick’s blade through his heart. The excruciating feeling of dying without the release of death. Until Adelaide’s magic had eased the pain. Until he had stolen her magic, weakening her.
It wasn’t fair. If Regulus could just reach the sorcerer, maybe he could break the monster’s neck. But if either the sorcerer or Carrick attacked him first, all he would accomplish was weakening Adelaide further. Despair pressed against his lungs. No. He wouldn’t give up; not on Adelaide.
The sorcerer fiddled with his belt. “You know what you’re agreeing to, if you lose and don’t die?”
“I’ll accept the mark.” Adelaide’s shoulders slumped.
No. Regulus wanted to say they should take their chances fighting together, fight until death if need be. But if they lost, her family would suffer. Dresden and the rest of his men would suffer. Etiros, help us!
“You realize I’ll marry you off to Carrick,” the sorcerer continued. “You’re too annoying and wearisome to have around all the time. Besides, in a moment of shortsightedness, I technically did promise he could have you.”
Regulus bristled. “You can’t force her to marry him!”
“What about the mercenary?”
“Let him go.”
The sorcerer scoffed. “Unacceptable.”
“If you lose, he dies,” Carrick said, as if he thought he were the one giving orders.
Relief surged in Regulus. I’d be free at least. No more pain. No watching Adelaide suffer and be corrupted by sorcery. Please. Kill me. He shook his head to dislodge the invasive thought. He would never abandon her.
Adelaide gulped. “A compromise. If I die, you can kill him—only him, no one else. But if I lose but live, I’ll remove the bond. Then you let him go.”
“Hm.” The sorcerer looked past her to Carrick. Regulus looked back at Carrick, not bothering to hide his rage—or his heartbreak.
Carrick glowered. “Fine. I can live with that.”
Regulus was about to protest when Adelaide grabbed his hand. Her fear slammed into him. She would sacrifice herself with the hope she protected everyone else. But hope simmered under her desperation. She wanted to win and believed she had a chance. She was just preparing for the worst. It was a daring plan. The plan of a tigress. He squeezed her hand, and hoped she felt his admiration and belief she could win, and not just his fear. But he hated this plan didn’t include him.
“I’m supposed to fight for you. I’m supposed to protect you.”
“We’re supposed to fight for each other.” Her fingertips lifted his chin. “And you already have fought for me and protected me. When you came for me after we separated. When you nearly died for me. When you came to my aid in the palace. And every time you pulled me out of a nightmare. Every time you didn’t let me feel alone. You fought for me. It’s my turn to fight for you.” Her thumb rubbed his chin, flaking off bits of dried blood. “You’ve fought enough today, Regulus.”
The surge of affection and gratitude from her wasn’t enough to erase his anguish. Her fingers left his chin as she turned back to the sorcerer. Regulus’ chin drifted downward.
“Do we have an agreement?” She held out her hand.
After a moment, the sorcerer took her hand. “We do.”
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THE COLD METAL OF THE shackle pressed against Regulus’ wrist as Adelaide closed it, her jaw clenched and apology in her eyes. He sat against the oak tree again. She wrapped the chain a few times around his forearm, then pulled back and chained his other hand. On the opposite side of the fire, Kirven used the other chain—which he had melded back together—to bind Carrick to a tree.
“I’m going to win,” she said softly.
“I know you are.” Regulus smiled. “You’re a mage and a tigress. You can do anything.”
She smiled, but her eyes were sad and harbored the same doubts he felt. “I love you.”
“And I love you. After you win, I’m going to spend the rest of my life showing you just how much.” She laughed, but it ended in a sob. “I believe in you, Adelaide.”
Adelaide gripped his face and kissed him. Her tears wet his face. Regulus knew he was covered in blood and disgusting, but that thought faded as he kissed her. The chains held his hands back, preventing him from holding her like he longed to. He tried to push all other thoughts away and just be here, with her, alone in this moment. But tears slipped down his cheeks anyway, because he couldn’t stop the thought—this might be the last time he kissed her.
“If you’re quite done,” the sorcerer said brusquely, “I have a fight to win.”
Adelaide’s mouth left his far too soon.
“Adelaide...”
She didn’t meet his eyes as she stood and turned away.
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ADELAIDE’S INSIDES felt scrambled, as if they had been rearranged and turned inside out. But she squared her shoulders and faced Kirven anyway, the memory of Regulus’ kiss soothing some of the ache in her heart. “Love,” Father’s voice echoed in her mind. I’m not losing anyone else today.
“I’d like to check you put those on properly.” Kirven strode past.
“Fine. Then I’m checking you didn’t cheat with Nolan’s.”
“Certainly.” Kirven reached down to check the shackles on Regulus’ wrists. She ground her teeth and stomped over to Nolan.
Nolan had stuck his sword in the ground a couple feet in front of him, and the sight of it tied her stomach in knots. Seemingly oblivious to her revulsion, he smiled.
“Comfortable?” she snapped. “I hope not.”
“Not particularly.” His smile took on a wolfish quality. “But it’s not bad when I think about how comfortable I’ll be tonight with you in my arms.”
She shuddered as ice slid through her veins. Focus. Only the fight matters. She walked around the tree, tugging on the chain in various spots, then stopped in front of him again. The chain looped around him bound his arms against his sides. He shouldn’t be able to move or break free. Hopefully.
“You killed my father.” She stared at Nolan’s hairline, unable to look in his eyes. “The thought of you touching me should be enough motivation to ensure I either win or don’t survive this fight.”
“Ouch.” His voice softened. “I am sorry, Adelaide. I was focused on getting to the king. I didn’t even realize it was your father until it was too late.”
“Likely story.”
“It’s the truth.”
She pressed the heel of her palm to her forehead. “If—when I win, I’m going to kill you.”
“Love, I truly am sorry about your father.” Carrick offered the sincerest expression of sorrow. Ever the convincing actor. “I didn’t want to kill him. I had orders, kill anyone who got in my way. You know what happens if I disobey Kirven. I wasn’t paying attention to who I was fighting. I wish he hadn’t been there. Honest. I never wanted your family hurt. I wish I could change it.”
Adelaide’s chest tightened as her throat constricted. “Liar. You didn’t kill the other guards.”
“Hm, must have thought I did.”
“You...” No. There was no time to force him to admit he was lying. She needed to forget about Nolan and the pain of Father’s death and focus on winning this fight. And failing that, figure out how to make sure she died.
“Adelaide, love—”
“Don’t call me that!” She clenched her hands and forced herself to meet his eyes. “I wish killing you would rid me of the memory of you. But at least you’ll be dead.”
“Oh, Adelaide.” Nolan rested his head against the tree and stared up at the branches, like he hadn’t a care in the world. “I admire your confidence. But I’m not going to die, because you’re not going to win. And when you lose, you’re going to marry me.” He leered. “And then you’re going to keep your promise.”
She flushed and turned away, trembling so hard she feared she would start retching again. Not now. Focus.
“Don’t worry, love.” Nolan’s honeyed tone was like sweets on an upset stomach. “I’ll be gentle.”
You don’t know the meaning of the word. Adelaide straightened. She wouldn’t cower before Father’s killer. With her head held high, Adelaide strode back toward Kirven, who stood waiting for her halfway between Regulus and Nolan. Halfway between the man she loved and the man she loathed. Between the future she wanted and the future she dreaded. She looked at Regulus. She would focus on the future she wanted to give her strength to make it through this fight. Because if she thought about Nolan...she swallowed back the hopelessness that tried to drag her to the ground.
“You look tired.” Kirven looked her up and down. “You should surrender now and save yourself the pain.”
He was right. She was tired. But she smiled and forced all the confidence she didn’t feel behind it. “Having second thoughts? I guess all that Prince of Shadow and Ash business was posturing to make up for your insecurities.”
Kirven snorted. “You have a sharp tongue for a slave.” He whipped his hand up so fast she barely had time to raise a shield before the line of razor-sharp shards of green light slammed into it. The impact pushed her back. She shoved her shield at Kirven. He sidestepped it and threw a fireball at her head.
Adelaide ducked. The heat of the fireball made her dizzy, but she threw her hand across as if throwing a knife to the side. A volley of small blue throwing knives rushed at Kirven from her fingertips. He put up a shield of his own before they reached him. Already she could feel herself tiring. Her eyes darted from Kirven over to Regulus. He watched with wide eyes, his worry clear, but he caught her gaze and smiled encouragingly.
“Is that the best your sorcery can do?” she taunted. Wear him out.
Kirven responded with a wicked smile and held his hands out to his sides. Several spears of green light flashed into existence around him, then spread until they pointed at her from the front and sides. She surrounded herself with a barrier as they zipped through the air toward her. The spears sizzled out of existence as they rammed against her shield. Kirven paced back and forth, throwing attack after attack from every side and driving her back toward the trees while she struggled to keep up with his pace. She bent over, breathing hard with her hands on her knees, and sealed herself inside a dome of shimmering translucent blue.
Kirven laughed and stole some more energy from trees on both sides of her dome. “Out of power already? Taking energy from living things will have to be our first lesson. This is pathetic.”
She didn’t respond. She had convinced herself that somehow, someway, she would win. But her limbs wearied, and she couldn’t bring Kirven down to the same level of mental, emotional, physical, and magical fatigue that plagued her. Not when he kept replenishing his energy when she couldn’t.
She was going to lose.
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REGULUS STRAINED TO see around the sorcerer’s back. Adelaide leaned forward under her barrier, like she was catching her breath. Come on, Adelaide. After a moment, the dome disappeared, and Adelaide straightened and threw a blast of blue light toward the sorcerer. The sorcerer leaned forward, arms crossed in front of him as he raised a shield, but Adelaide’s blast still pushed the sorcerer backward. His feet slid across the grass.
That’s right! Adelaide threw a blast of fire, but the sorcerer lifted into the air and away from her in a swirl of green. The fireball just missed the bottom edge of his robes. Press your advantage, Ad! Don’t let up now. She walked forward, sending blasts of light and fireballs one after another. The sorcerer dodged or blocked each one, and the space between each of Adelaide’s attacks lengthened. She was tiring.
Regulus couldn’t help feeling that yet again, he was at fault. If he had been more level-headed when fighting Carrick, he might not have nearly died, and Adelaide wouldn’t have needed to bind them. If he hadn’t gotten captured, Adelaide wouldn’t be here, and she wouldn’t be weakened. She would doubtless disagree with him. The fact she didn’t and wouldn’t blame him was the only thing that kept him from completely breaking as he watched her switch to defense and give ground again against the sorcerer’s aerial assault.
He had felt her sincerity when she refused to remove the bond. She wouldn’t risk sacrificing him to save herself. Which made him feel guiltier that she would sacrifice herself to save him—even though he would do the same for her in a heartbeat if given the chance. If only he could give her back everything she had given him. If only he could give every ounce of energy and strength he had left to her, the way she had given her magic to heal him.
Come on! You're strong, Ad; stronger than you know. As she threw a reckless barrage of magic knives toward the sorcerer that went wide, Regulus wished he could get her to sense his thoughts without touching her. That she could understand how much he believed in her. One of the sorcerer’s spears grazed her hip as she raised a barrier a moment too late. She yelped then glared at the sorcerer, but her posture betrayed her weariness.
Oh, Etiros. Give her strength! Why can’t I help her? Why can’t my strength be hers? What good is this bond if it helps only me and not her! He would give up the bond to give her back all the power his wounds had stolen. He would give his life if it gave her life. Blood stained the side of her dress as she held up a barrier against the sorcerer’s attacks with one hand and healed her hip with the other. He might be chained and physically useless, but he wouldn’t let her fight this battle alone.
“Adelaide! Who are you?”
She looked toward him, panting. Sweat gleamed on her brow. If I could give you any strength I have, I would do it. But I’ll give you my belief. “Tell me who you are!”
Adelaide straightened behind her barrier. “I’m a mage.”
“I can’t hear you!”
The sorcerer glanced back at him and hovered closer to the ground as his focus wavered. “Shut up, Hargreaves!”
Regulus strained against the chains. You’re so strong. Any strength I have at this point is yours. All yours. “Who are you!” He felt a strange draining sensation. Utter exhaustion hit him with the force of running straight into a stone wall. If he hadn’t already been sitting and chained, he would have collapsed. He sagged against the tree but kept his eyes on Adelaide.
Adelaide lifted her chin. Her eyes shone with golden light. “I am a mage!”
Regulus realized then he had never understood what it meant to be in awe. But as flames arched up behind Adelaide and unfolded into the shape of gigantic wings and blue light swirled around her feet and lifted her into the air, as a sword as big as the one he had carried as the Black Knight flashed into existence in her hands, he knew what awe felt like. It felt like his heart leaping for joy and plummeting to the ground in shock, somehow at the same time. It felt like his jaw hanging down like it had come unhinged. Like his mind struggling to comprehend what he saw. And awe felt like an overwhelming flood of pride and love as Adelaide soared toward the sorcerer, her wings of flame trailing behind her.
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ADELAIDE PULLED THE sword back over her head as she leapt, propelled by her magic and Regulus’ faith in her. Kirven’s face went white. He raised his hands, conjuring a barrier as he looked up, but he had misjudged where to place it. She passed over his barrier as she came back toward the ground. Kirven raised trembling hands. He created a shield just above his head right as she swung her sword down. The impact of the sword against the shield make a crack as loud as a thunderclap. Kirven’s shield stopped her sword from cutting into his skull but couldn’t stop her momentum. Shield and sword slammed into the top of his head. He crumpled and fell.
She landed on the ground next to Kirven’s still form. Adelaide dropped the sword, her sudden burst of energy spent, then turned from Kirven’s body toward Regulus. Regulus looked pale, but he grinned. Relief and joy bubbled up inside her as she ran to him.
“That’s my shiraa!” Regulus sounded like he was cheering for the champion at a tournament. “That’s my mage!”
She laughed and wiped a tear from the side of her nose as she dropped to her knees next to him. She hastened to remove the shackles. The moment his arms were free, he wrapped them around her and started kissing every inch of her face.
“You did it. You did it. I knew you would.”
For the first time in what felt like forever, the tears that snuck down her cheeks were tears of joy.
He pulled her close. “My mage.”
“My mercenary.” She kissed his blood-covered scar. He brushed his fingers through her hair, but then his gaze darted away from her face and his eyes turned stormy. “What?”
“Carrick.” Regulus scowled.
Oh. Right. Her heart sank. She didn’t want to deal with him right now. But she stood anyway and held her hand out. Regulus took it, and she gasped.
“Reg!” As he stood, she gripped his forearm. It was still stained rust-red from smeared, dry blood, but... “The mark...it’s gone.”
