Page 118 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

“Great.” Regulus’ deadpan echoed the dread that made the hair on her neck stand on end.

“Why do you need it?” she asked.

“My business with the Staff of Nightfall is my own.” The sorcerer’s mouth turned down. “All that should matter to you is what will happen to you and your friends and family if you fail me.”

The sorcerer folded the map and held it out. His movements cautious, Regulus stepped forward and took the map. He tucked it into his belt and turned to leave. She did the same, but the sorcerer’s voice stopped them.

“Mage.”

Adelaide turned back as the sorcerer slunk toward her. Regulus held his arm in front of her. Shielding her. As if that would make a difference. The intensity with which the sorcerer watched her made her feel exposed.

“I don’t like needing you. And I don’t trust you.” His eyes glowed green in the shadow of his hood.

Regulus went rigid. He spun toward her and clamped his hand around her throat.

“Reg...” She choked as Regulus squeezed hard enough to hurt, but not enough to strangle her. She grabbed his hand as he looked down at her, his gray eyes cold as stone, his mouth set in a hard line.

“I’m not taking any chances, mage.” The sorcerer grabbed her right wrist with surprising strength and wrenched her arm down. He shoved her sleeve up and put his hand on the underside of her forearm above her wrist.

White-hot pain seared into her arm. A scream rasped up her strangled throat, scraping and burning. Her vision blacked out and her stomach twisted. Right when she thought she would pass out, the sorcerer drew his hand away. The burning cooled and disappeared. Regulus released her throat, and she fell to her knees.

Harsh black lines stood out against the brown of her arm. Two touching hollow diamonds and a half diamond open toward her wrist. The same as the mark on Regulus’ arm.

Chapter 44

REGULUS BLINKED ASthe sorcerer relinquished control. Fury and shock slid like ice through his veins. “What did you do?”

He knelt next to Adelaide. She held her right arm, underside up, in her lap. Staring at the mark on her skin. The mark that matched his own. He glared at the sorcerer. “You said you wouldn’t hurt her!” His throat constricted, making his voice hoarse and scratchy. His hands hovered above Adelaide’s shoulders, unsure what to do. Unsure if he dared touch her.

Her fingers trembled as she brushed them over the black lines.

“She didn’t agree to this! You had no right!” Tears stung at Regulus’ eyes. Her scream still rang in his ears.

“Oh, please. She agreed outside, remember? She said she’d help me, do whatever I want. Not my fault she didn’t understand the weight of her words.” The sorcerer turned away with a shrug, but his posture sagged and he moved slowly. “This is temporary. When the opal is mine, I’ll remove both marks.”

“You say that, but you said you wouldn’t harm her! You said she wouldn’t be in danger!”

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