Page 112 of Staff of Nightfall

Adelaide opened her eyes. She wouldn’t do it. She’d die before she served him again. And she knew Regulus would, too.

“You don’t have to run out of energy.” Kirven held his hand toward the closest tree, a birch sapling a few feet away. Green tendrils of light stretched from his hand to the tree. The leaves curled in on themselves and blackened. Black veins crawled up the tree trunk and spread until it was totally black. Still Kirven didn’t lower his hand. The tree shuddered, and its leaves all fell off at once with a soft whoosh. The bark disintegrated, leaving behind wood as white and dry as old bones. Kirven lowered his hand. He took a deep breath that swelled his chest. “Ah...” He smiled. “That’s a bit better.”

She stared at the tree. She could sense Regulus’ disgust. That...was wrong. Kirven didn’t just use the tree, like cutting down a tree for a building. He...consumed it. His sorcery reached into the tree and sucked its life, its energy, right out. Just like the fairies had tried to trick her into doing at the neumenet tree. Just like he had done to the forest surrounding his tower. Just like he had done toher.

“Try it,” Kirven coaxed. “You’ll like it.”

“No.”

“Tens of thousands of people in Monparth,” Kirven muttered, “and I had to find a mage with a conscience.” He held out his hand and glowing green ropes snaked over the ground. She conjured a domed barrier over herself and Regulus.

“Adelaide.” Regulus’ voice was heavy. “Is that true?”

She plucked blades of grass. “I don’t know. But I know I’m tired. And it gets more exhausting every time you’re hurt.”

“Oh, Ad.” She felt his wish through their connection as he guided her hand to the blood-covered mark on his arm. “You have to remove it.”

“This is my choice.” Adelaide pulled her hand off Regulus’ arm and cradled his face in her hands. “Forever. That’s what I asked you. Did you want to be bound to me forever, and you said yes. I’m yours, and you’re mine. Is that still true?”

His heartbreak rushed through her. “Of course it is.”

She pressed her lips to his. “Then stop asking me to do what I cannot.”

“You can’t stay in there forever, you know,” Kirven said as he and Nolan circled the dome in opposite directions, hunters on the prowl. “You might as well give up now.”

Regulus brushed his fingers through her hair. “I’m ready to fight when you are.”

“Fighting isn’t worth it,” Kirven said. “You’ll lose.”

“What you fail to realize,” Regulus said, his gaze never leaving hers, “is that we will die before we serve you.” She smiled sadly.Together. Love conquers fear.

Kirven made a sound like a growl. “What you fail to realize is I won’t stop at killing you. You think your family and friends will be safe when you’re dead? You think just because I can’t make you watch I won’t still enjoy torturing them for all the trouble you’ve caused me?”

Adelaide released Regulus’ face as her hands went cold. Fear tore up her insides. She dropped the barrier.

Chapter 41

---