Page 120 of Prince of Shadow and Ash

“We should sl—”

“Hush.” She sounded exhausted. “I’m concentrating.” The pauldron on his left shoulder loosened. She slipped it off and placed it on the ground next to him. It didn’t take her long to remove it all and place it in a neat pile.

“I’m impressed.” He turned to face her. “Harold does that all the time and isn’t much faster.”

“There was an old set of my father’s armor in the cottage my mother and I stayed in.” She rubbed her arm, her face downcast. “I tried to see how fast I could take it all off the display mannequin and put it back on. To pass time.”

He didn’t know how to respond to the loneliness in her admission, so he did the only thing he could. He pulled her into an embrace. She tucked her arms under his and hooked them over his shoulders. Her breathing deepened as she rested her head on his shoulder. Regulus wasn’t sure if he was holding Adelaide together or if she was keeping him from falling apart. Maybe they both needed the other to hold them, to keep them standing. A surreal, detached calm settled over him. But as much as he didn’t want to let go, they couldn’t stay like that.

“We need to sleep,” he whispered into her hair.

“Mm.” She stepped back. Sleep pulled at her eyes as she laid down on a grassy area under a maple tree, pulling his cloak over her. He laid down a short distance away, his sword close at hand. She propped herself up on her elbow. “Where’s your cloak?”

“I forgot to grab an extra. Don’t worry, I’m fine.” Regulus closed his eyes, then opened them as he heard grass rustle. Adelaide laid down next to him and threw the cloak over them both. She rolled onto her side, her back pressed against him. He didn’t move; his breath caught. The gentle beat of her heart pulsed against his side. He relaxed as the steady rhythm of her breathing lulled him to sleep.

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LIGHT WOKE REGULUS. He felt Adelaide next to him before he opened his eyes. He had rolled onto his side in the night, and lay pressed against her, her back curled against his chest. His right arm wrapped around her over his cloak. He blinked away the sleepiness and eased himself up on his left elbow. Mist swirled in the ethereal pale glow of early morning, and dew clung to every surface—including her dark hair. Sunlight caught in the droplets, making her hair sparkle.

The first night Regulus saw Adelaide, he had thought she looked angelic. Now, with dew drops glittering in her hair like diamonds, the peaceful, untroubled look on her face as she slept, and the sunlight highlighting her brown skin, she took his breath away.

He moved to stand, but she wrapped her hands around his arm. She grunted in her sleep and pulled his arm closer to her chest. So Regulus did the only thing that made sense. He settled back down in the grass next to her until Adelaide finally stirred. She shifted, rolling over onto her back with a stifled groan. He propped up his elbow and rested his cheek on his fist.

“What are you smiling at?”

“Has anyone ever told you,” he stroked her damp hair, “that you’re pretty?”

“That’s the best you’ve got?”

“No.” He gazed into her eyes. “You’re spectacular. Kind. Strong. Brave. Unrelenting. You’re a tigress. My tigress. Myshiraa.”

“And you’re myekaleh hadya.” Her eyes shone with playfulness. “My lone wolf.”

A pang stabbed at his chest. “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”

Regulus leaned over her and planted his right hand on the damp grass near her head. Adelaide gazed up at him, her chest rising and falling with each breath. Her hand drifted up to his chest and her fingers spread across his sternum. Her touch felt like the warmth of a fire on a cold night, igniting him from the inside out. He shouldn’t be this close. He wanted to be closer. Her breath brushed across his face. A sudden stinging attacked his forearm. She winced, and he knew she felt it, too. He hung his head, his hair brushing the grass next to her face.

“You’re not alone.” Adelaide turned his face toward her. “And if we make it out of this, I’m never leaving you again.” A grin broke over her face. “Marry me, Regulus.”

He laughed, his elation and surprise erupting out of him. “I’d be a fool not to.” He leaned down and kissed her, the pinch from the mark forgotten in the ferocity of her kiss. But the mark sent a shock up his arm, and he pulled away with an agitated sigh. He stood and offered her his hand. Her stomach growled as he helped her to her feet.

“How much food did you bring?”

“Harold packed enough for a couple days for us both.” He crossed to Sieger and pulled a leather pouch of venison jerky out of the saddlebag. He took a large piece and tossed the bag to Adelaide.

“We’d better get going.” Regulus grinned. “Help me with my armor?”

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