Page 111 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

“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? WhatdoI 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. Thiscan’tbe 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.”

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