Page 106 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

“She left because she wanted to. He’s not a mercenary anymore, and you can’t be guilty for your blood or the circumstances of your birth.”

“Once a mercenary, always a mercenary.” He shook his head. “But I don’t want to talk about the mongrel. I want to talk about you. About us.”

Adelaide ground her teeth. If she found a way around Nolan’s threats, there would be nous.Instead, she latched onto her irritation at his constant and unfair commenting on Regulus’ birth. “Oh, so you want to talk about theothermongrel?”

“What?” He twisted toward her. “Oh. The half-Khastallander thing? It doesn’t bother me. You are your father’s daughter, that’s what matters.”

“Meim apaneh mahn keh bateh hohm,” she snapped, then translated for him. “I’m my mother’s daughter. I’m Khastallander, too.”

“Well, obviously.” He gestured at her. “But you’re still attractive, regardless.”

Her face heated. “Regardless? Thank you, that’s so flattering.”

Nolan reined in his horse and they stopped. “I’m trying to compliment you.” His warm, husky voice didn’t match the way his brows pulled together in annoyance. He leaned toward her and placed his hand on her hip as he moved in for a kiss.Not likely.Adelaide kicked Zephyr’s sides, and the horse bolted forward, as did Nolan’s horse.

“Charming,” Nolan said once he’d recovered from the unexpected movement. “You’ll have to kiss me eventually, you know.”

Heat spread to her scalp. “Insulting my appearance and heritage is a good way to make me want to avoid that.”

“I didn’t...” He sighed heavily. “Look, I’m sorry, all right? I didn’t mean to offend you. That’s the last thing I want. You’re beautiful, end of story.”

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “Anything else you would like to apologize for while you’re at it?”

“Mmm, no?”

“Youhurtme,” Adelaide hissed, trying not to let her voice carry back to the carriage. “You threatened my family. And you tried to get Regulus killed!”

“I was making a point.” He spoke airily, as if none of this mattered. “You healed, as I knew you would. I don’t want to hurt your family, and since you’ve agreed to marry me, that shouldn’t be a problem. As for Hargreaves, I’m sorry you were there. I’m sorry if I frightened you. And frankly, I’m sorry I let him go.”

Adelaide opened and closed her mouth, at a loss for words. She wove her fingers into Zephyr’s mane to keep her anger—and her magic—at bay. She stared straight ahead, unwilling to so much as look at Nolan. “You didn’t frighten me, you infuriated me. And, just to make it clear, the last thing I want is to kiss someone who threatened the life of the man Iactuallylove.”

In a blink, his hand circled her wrist and squeezed. She tried to pull away, but he dug his fingers into the underside of her wrist. “Listen closely.” His voice was low and threatening. “You’re betrothed tome. You are going to forget about Hargreaves, or I’m going to forget about sparing his life.”

“You’re hurting me.”

“Good.” He pushed her arm back toward her and released his painful grip. “Now you know how I feel when you talk abouthim. So we’re even.”

She massaged her wrist.If Father finds out how he treats me, he’ll cut Nolan’s head clean off. If Nolan doesn’t orchestrate an accident or something first.

Nolan rubbed his forehead. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled for. I don’t want to have to hurt you. I love you. Just...accept me. Don’t fight me. And I’ll be kind in return.”

Right. Because love looked like veiled threats?Love isn’t meeting a sharp tongue with a hard fist. It’s not earning kindness. That’s control and fear, not love.But she couldn’t risk his threats shifting from her to Minerva and Gaius, so she kept silent.

“I don’t lose,” Nolan said, his voice low. “I’m a spare son. I’m used to fighting for what I want, even if it takes time. I had to work harder, be stronger, smarter, more charming, just...more, to get the same recognition as my brothers. If I’m not given respect, I take it. Fighting me won’t end well.”

Adelaide slumped in her saddle. Best to appear compliant until she figured something else out. She stayed quiet the rest of the ride back to the Drummond estate. When Nolan tried to discuss wedding dates, how long it would take her to make a dress, or where they would live, she responded with single-syllable words.

Nolan insisted on helping her dismount in the courtyard. He had returned her reins shortly before they arrived, so nothing looked amiss when Gaius and Minerva stepped out of their carriage. They watched as Nolan took her hand and guided her to the ground, but Minerva looked halfway between confused and concerned. Nolan took Adelaide’s arm and led her to the door, giving her no opportunity to speak to her sister.

Lady Drummond opened the door just before they reached the entryway. “So, was Arrano—Sir Carrick!” Her eyebrows shot up, and she curtsied. “Why...it is a pleasure to see you. What brings you to our home?” Her gaze fell on Adelaide’s arm hooked through Nolan’s, and a smile cracked her face. Adelaide wanted to pull her arm free but didn’t dare. She needed to play the part if she didn’t want to raise Nolan’s ire.

“Lady Drummond.” Nolan simpered. “There was a bit of confusion and a case of mistaken identity. My men and I thought we overheard Lord Hargreaves plotting against the king and accompanied the sheriff to arrest him for treason.”

Lady Drummond gasped. “Wouldn’t surprise me in the least. I hope the scoundrel didn’t give you trouble!” She looked past them at Gaius and Minerva, worry creasing her forehead. Adelaide winced atscoundrel.Lady Drummond would believe Nolan, after all her conspiring to get them together.

“Fortunately, we realized it was a mistake,” Nolan said, “and Hargreaves was not the man we overheard.” Adelaide clenched her jaw tighter. “Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that until after Hargreaves tried to fight fifty men and did a great deal of yelling.” Nolan patted Adelaide’s arm in a sickening gesture of comfort. “The whole ordeal was understandably upsetting to the ladies, so instead of heading straight home, I accompanied my betrothed. To help put her at ease.”

Lady Drummond clasped her hands together and giggled. Adelaide’s stomach turned. “Betrothed? Oh, Adelaide, that’s wonderful! Congratulations!” Lady Drummond covered her heart with her hand. “I’m so glad you realized what a catch Sir Carrick is before things went any further with that strange Hargreaves. I honestly don’t know what you saw in him, with his past and the...” She traced her finger over her cheek where Regulus had his scar.

---