Page 40 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

“Indeed.” She finally looked away.

After a moment, she continued. “I have five half-siblings, my father’s children with his first wife. The youngest, twins, were two when their mother died. The oldest was only eight.” She poked the roast duck with her fork. “My father went to war shortly after and met my mother. He returned with a new wife who soon was pregnant. It was hard on them. Not as much when they were younger, but the older we got... We were different.” She shrugged. “It didn’t help I spent several years away as a child because I was—sickly.” She cleared her throat. “Thank Etiros for Minerva, or I might have lost my mind.”

Even as he empathized with her lack of connection with her half-siblings, he latched onto her mention of Etiros. Until that moment, he hadn’t considered that most Khastallanders venerated the pantheistic god Prakasroht, not the creator-god worshiped in Carasom and Monparth. At least religious disagreements wouldn’t be an issue, especially if they had children—wait, what? Slow down.

She gave him a weak smile. “So that’s Adelaide Belanger. Half-noble daughter of a lord’s second wife who speaks Khast and barely knows her half-siblings.”

The loneliness and rejection in her words cut his heart. He had the sudden and strong urge to take her hand or caress her face. That would be wildly improper. A voice in the back of his mind urged caution, reminding him of the dangers of getting too involved, but he wasn’t listening.

“What a strange way to describe yourself.”

“What?” Adelaide glanced at him askance.

“If I were you,” Regulus smiled, “I would say, ‘Adelaide Belanger, daughter of a war hero, woman of intellect who speaks Khast and Monparthian, paragon of honesty and grace with the heart of a tigress.’”

She stared, and his palms grew slick. He sounded like an idiot boy, writing atrocious love poetry. Adelaide grinned, and the embarrassment faded. “I like your version better, too.”

“Wait until I tell the men about this...” Drez whispered, so low Regulus barely heard him. Regulus stomped on his foot, and Drez jammed his knee into the table. A servant came by with a wine jug, and Regulus held up his goblet, ignoring Drez’s glare.

“And how would you describe yourself, Lord Hargreaves?”

He swirled the wine in his goblet.Bastard son of a lord of little account who became a mercenary, swore an oath that made him an evil sorcerer’s slave, and has too many deaths on his conscience.

“I’m afraid Regulus has never been good at self-praise.” Dresden leaned around him. “Allow me. Regulus Hargreaves, a strong leader, a good man, and a selfless friend who needs to take better care of himself.”

Regulus took a long drink and swallowed hard.And a fool.A fool who wished he hadn’t come and wished the night would never end all at once.

Adelaide leaned on the table. “Tell me, Sir Jakobs—”

“My friends call me Dresden, my lady,” Drez interrupted. “Or even Drez.”

“All right, Dresden.” Her smile looked full of mischief. “Be honest with me.”

“On my honor.”

She squinted and dropped her voice in a fake whisper. “Is Lord Hargreaves a vampire?”

Regulus’ eyes widened. “Wh—”

“Oh, no,” Dresden said, his tone serious. “He’s a shape-shifting spirit.”

Adelaide and Dresden both laughed, and Regulus realized how tense his shoulders were. He took a deep breath. “Hilarious.”

She turned back to her food. “Tell me, Lord Hargreaves, what do you want me to know about you?”

Whatdidhe want her to know? What did he dare tell her?

Dresden elbowed his side. “Speak up, man, or I’ll tell her every dirty prank you’ve ever pulled.” Regulus suppressed his scowl.

“I wouldn’t have thought you the prankster type.” Confusion and amusement mixed in Adelaide’s expression.

He wasn’t sure what to make of that. “To be honest, Dresden is the prankster. I just sometimes helped. What typedoyou think me?”

She studied him, lips pursed. “Strong. Serious. Observant. Diligent.” She paused. “Kind.” She returned to her food. “But you still haven’t answered.”

He laughed nervously. “Right.” He poked at the peas on his plate. So many things he could tell her. So many he couldn’t. He recalled her teasing question,is Lord Hargreaves a vampire?Which rumor to address? “I didn’t send my father’s wife and my sister-in-law away. Or kill them.”

Adelaide paused and lowered her fork, watching him.

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