Page 105 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

“There is the chance Adelaide can heal it,” Dresden said.

“And if she can’t?”

“Then nothing has changed.” They looked at each other for a long moment.

“There is another option,” Regulus said slowly. “It wouldn’t kill me.”

Drez paled. “No. He said he won’t hurt or kill her, and then you’ll be free. You’re soclose, and it might not even work.”

The thought turned his stomach, but it was better than hurting Adelaide. “But it—”

“Damn it, Regulus!” Dresden punched the back of the armchair. “I’m not cutting your arm off! I’m not letting you do it, either! We discussed this! The mark came back when you cut it out; what if it just moves? You’ll have accomplishednothingbut losing your arm. She’ll be okay. He’ll keep his word, just like he has so far. You’ll both be fine, you’ll be free, and you’ll be glad to have both arms.”

Regulus opened his mouth, but Dresden pointed at him, his hand shaking.

“You promised me. Youpromised.”

Regulus nodded. Relief and guilt warred within him. Relief at solid reasons for not cutting off his arm, or worse. Guilt that he wasn’t strong enough to do whatever it took to protect Adelaide. Guilt that he had nearly broken his promise to Dresden to endure and not hurt himself again.

“All right. I’ll start figuring out how to...” He hung his head. “How to kidnap her.”

Chapter 39

ADELAIDE POSITIONEDherself close by the side of Minerva and Gaius’ carriage, but it didn’t take long for Nolan to move from behind the carriage and ride up next to her. He snatched the reins from her and pulled them over Zephyr’s head and out of her reach.

“Hey—”

“We need to talk, love.” He kicked his horse forward, leading Zephyr after him, much to Adelaide’s displeasure. Once they were well ahead of the carriage, he let the horses slow.

“What?” She threw all her rage behind the word.

Nolan glanced over, the moonlight casting shadows over his disapproving frown. “Now, now, let’s try to be civil—”

“Civil!” She grabbed for the reins, but he moved them out of her reach, causing Zephyr to drift closer to his horse. She leaned back and crossed her arms as Nolan tied her reins to the pommel of his saddle. “Civil would be giving me my reins back. And civil isn’t blackmailing and threatening me into marrying you. Civil isn’t bringing false accusations against an innocent man—”

Nolan’s snort cut her off. “Innocent? He’s a mercenary and a bastard who drove his father’s wife out of her home. Even if he didn’t plot treason,innocentis a stretch.”

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