Page 108 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

Minerva chewed on her thumbnail. “We have to tell Father.”

“And then what? Gaius gets attacked like Regulus’ squire, Harold? Something happens to you? I couldn’t live with myself, Min.”

“And I can’t live with you married to someone capable of doing any of that!” Minerva sat back down and placed a hand on her arm. “Gaius is already suspicious that Nolan threatened you or something. He...” She hesitated. “Hasn’t hurt you?”

Adelaide shrugged. “Not really.”Nothing permanent. For me.She patted Minerva’s shoulder. “Get some sleep. And tell Gaius everything is fine. Tell him I want this.” She tried to smile, but her lip quivered. “Act like everything is fine at breakfast.”

“I don’t like it.” Minerva embraced her tightly and the tears Adelaide didn’t realize she’d been holding back threatened to spill. “I’ll play along for now. But I’m not letting you marry a man you hate.”

“He’s handsome, at least.” Her attempt to lighten the mood didn’t help the sickened feeling in her gut. “I mean; it could be worse.” A tremor ran through her body and Minerva hugged her tighter. “I’ll be all right.”

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NOLAN AND HIS KNIGHTSjoined them for breakfast. Adelaide suffered through Nolan talking about how enamored he was with her and Lord and Lady Drummond’s warm congratulations. Minerva watched with fire in her eyes as Nolan’s hand traced up and down Adelaide’s rigid back and tangled in her hair. Adelaide spoke little. Gaius didn’t make eye contact with her or Nolan.

After breakfast, Adelaide headed to the stables. She needed some time alone to clear her head. She didn’t even ask for help, but prepared Zephyr herself. The stable gate creaked.

“Don’t you have servants for that?” Nolan strolled in, looking as debonair as ever.

She stiffened. “What do you want?”

“Just checking on my lovely bride-to-be.” He flashed a toothy smile that made him look beastly. “Making sure you’re not having any...foolish ideas. I’d hate for anyone to get hurt.”

She pulled the bridle over Zephyr’s head. “Murderer.”

“My dear, I would never.”

“Right, you’d have someone else do it for you.” Anger made her hands shake as she struggled to buckle the bridle in place.

“Maybe I’ll hire one of Hargreaves’ so-called knights.” He leaned back against the stall on the other side of Zephyr. “They kill for money, don’t they? I wonder if they’d off their master for the right price.”

Adelaide stilled. “We agreed. I’ll only do this if he’s not harmed.”

“Mm, fine. But honestly, I’d be doing the world a favor.”

“You’re a fiend.” Her face burned as she double-checked the cinching on the saddle.

“No, I’m your betrothed.” He leaned across Zephyr’s saddle, his face inches from hers as she straightened. “So how about a kiss?”

“Get your face out of mine or I’ll cut it.”

Nolan slapped her, and she blinked, stumbling back from Zephyr’s side. She covered her stinging cheek with her hand. He moved around Zephyr, gaze fixed on her. “You’re awfully rude for someone who has lives depending on her good behavior. Including your own. I know your secret, remember?”

“And I told you I don’t care who knows, remember?” Her cheek still stung, but she set her jaw and lowered her hand. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing her pain. “I’ll marry you to keep you from having Regulus or anyone else killed. But I won’t fawn over you.”

“What I’m hearing is you’re only agreeing to marry me so long as you can’t think of another way to keep me from having the mercenary’s head chopped off.”

Danger echoed in Nolan’s words, so Adelaide didn’t answer. But the look on her face must have confirmed his suspicion, because his lips curled into a scowl. He stalked toward her and she backed into the wall, her palms flush against the rough wood. He darted forward and grabbed her face. His body pressed into hers, and the frantic beat of her heart reverberated into his chest.

Nolan leaned forward, his mouth by her ear. Adelaide shook as his fingernails dug into her cheek. “I don’t know what you see in that scarred mongrel that you don’t see in me. But you’re pushing your luck,sweetheart.” He released her face and leaned back. His gaze fixed on her lips. “Why fight me? I’ve been told I’m an excellent kisser.”

Fury and revulsion drove back her fear. She put her hands on his chest. A blast of blue light pulsed from her palms and sent him flying backward. Zephyr whinnied as Nolan shot behind the horse, hit the opposite wall of the stable, and fell to the ground. He sat in the straw and dirt and glared up at her. She could kill him now. Throw a magical spear through his heart. And probably hang for his murder.

“I’m going for a ride,sweetheart.” She drew herself up to her full height and raised her chin. “I’ll be back when I’m back. Please, follow me. If you do, I’ll put a knife through your throat and claim you surprised me, and I thought you were a bandit. I’ll shed many tears.”

Nolan bared his teeth in a silent snarl. “You’ll be back in an hour or I’ll take Gaius and my men and come looking for you. You won’t kill me in front of witnesses.”

“Fine.” Adelaide led Zephyr out of the stables. She didn’t know where she was going. She didn’t care. But as the events of last night ran over and over again through her mind, she found herself on the road leading to Arrano. Let Nolan go looking for her. She urged Zephyr into a trot. She had some explaining to do.

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