Page 120 of Staff of Nightfall

Chapter 43

Confusion welled inRegulus as Adelaide’s barrier dissolved above them. She pulled away and took a shaky step toward the sorcerer.

“We surrender. You win. My family and Regulus’ friends are safe.”

Regulus’ shoulders caved. For a moment, the spark in her eyes, the way she said together... He thought she had changed her mind. So that was it then. A lifetime spent serving the sorcerer. Spent watching Adelaide taint her soul with sorcery and suffer under Carrick’s control. But the alternative of abandoning her to bear that alone was worse.

“Could have saved us both a lot of trouble and me a splitting headache if you’d given in earlier,” the sorcerer grumbled.

“No harm will come to my family or Regulus’ friends?” Adelaide pressed.

“So long as they don’t interfere with me, no harm will come to them.”

The sorcerer would provide himself a loophole.

But it must have been good enough for Adelaide, because she pushed her sleeve up over her elbow. “You’ll take Regulus, too?”

The sorcerer huffed. “Fine. Give me your arm.”

“What?” Carrick sounded offended. “You can’t—”

“Ican do whatever the hell I want,” the sorcerer snapped. “Now stop whining before I change my mind about keeping my word.”

Carrick grunted, but shut up.

This is wrong.Regulus gripped the hilt of Carrick’s sword. If he could cut off Carrick’s head...

“Drop it, mercenary.” The sorcerer’s voice was cold. “Now, mage. Your arm.”

Adelaide hesitated, and hope sparked in Regulus. But then she held her arm out to the sorcerer. Regulus looked away. He couldn’t watch.

“Do you know whatshiraameans, Kirven?” Adelaide asked. Regulus frowned up at her.

The sorcerer shrugged. “It’s Khast. Tigress.” He placed his hand over her forearm.

“Tigers,” Adelaide said softly, “don’t like being caged.” Her palm glowed a soft blue. A shaft of solid blue light appeared in her grip and extended into the sorcerer’s stomach.

The sorcerer shrieked. A blast of green light knocked Adelaide to the ground. Regulus seized the sword and leapt up. The sorcerer was focused on healing the hole Adelaide had put through his abdomen, paying no attention as Regulus rushed him. Carrick shouted a warning, and the sorcerer’s head whipped up.

Regulus swung with every ounce of energy he had for the sorcerer’s neck. The sorcerer gaped and lifted his hands, his palms glowing green, but too late. Regulus screamed a battle cry, all his anger and heartbreak lending strength to his wearied arms. The sorcerer’s head tumbled to the ground.

The sorcerer’s body fell.

Regulus’ chest heaved. It was over. Really, truly, over.

He lowered the sword. For the first time in two years, he felt free. He squared his shoulders as an immeasurable weight lifted off him. But then he looked for Adelaide, and his rage threatened to rip him apart.

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