Page 59 of Staff of Nightfall

Carrick released the sword and turned in time for Dresden to bury both scimitars in Carrick’s stomach. Carrick bellowed in pain as Dresden withdrew his blades. Regulus’ hands shook, but he grabbed the blade and tried to push it out. The sharp edges cut through his leather gloves, stinging as it split open his palms. Shallow, pain-inducing breaths wheezed in his throat. Through his blurring vision, he saw Carrick throw Drez aside like a rag doll.No...He tried to call Dresden’s name, but couldn’t speak. Darkness encroached along the edges of his sight.

“I told you I would kill you, mercenary,” Carrick panted.

He grabbed the hilt and twisted. Regulus’ scream came out strangled. The blade scraped out of his stomach as Carrick withdrew it. Tears ran down his temples into his hair. Carrick dropped the sword and stumbled away, pressing his hand against his blood-soaked middle as he headed toward Alfred and Adelaide.No!Panic forced Regulus’ dying body into action.

“Carrick!” He coughed up blood, but he fought through the pain and managed to get to his knees. He’d endured worse. “I’m not dead yet.”

Carrick glanced over his shoulder, then laughed. “You’re good as.”

Regulus tried to stand and fell back to his knees. He was dying, and this time, there was no stinging sorcery dragging him back from the brink. He had failed to protect Adelaide.My fault...He fell forward. He raised his head and tried to warn Alfred, but his tongue wouldn’t work.

Pain overwhelmed his senses. The world went in and out of focus.I’m sorry, Adelaide. I’m sorry. I love you, and I’m sorry.His eyelids felt heavy. He had the odd thought of being terribly thirsty. He looked at Alfred, trying to see past him to Adelaide. To see her one last time.

Alfred moved aside. Adelaide sat up, and Regulus wondered if he was dreaming, or maybe already dead. Or halfway between the realm of the living and the afterlife. Adelaide’s eyes glowed golden as she leapt to her feet. Wings of fire spread out behind her back and a sword of light and flame appeared in her hands. His avenging angel. The world faded into darkness. He let his face fall onto the grass.

Goodbye, Adelaide.

Chapter 22

Nolan’s face turnedghostly white. With the collar gone, Adelaide felt lighter, but also furious. All fear vanished. She raised her flaming sword to swing for his neck. Before she got the chance, Nolan fled. She sliced the sword through empty air. An arc of flame flew off the glowing magic blade and singed Nolan’s back as he ran. She started after him, but movement in her periphery caught her attention.

Dresden ran through the dark, weaponless. Not after Nolan, but somewhere else. She traced his trajectory to a mound in the grass.

No, not a mound.

Regulus.

The scream she emitted hardly sounded human. The magic sword vanished. She raced toward his still body. Dresden beat her to him and rolled Regulus onto his back as she slid to a stop. Even in the dim light, she could see the blood that covered his abdomen and had pooled on the grass. His eyes were closed, his features deathly pale and still. His chest wasn’t moving.

“No, no, no,” Dresden muttered. “Regulus? Can you hear me?” He touched Regulus’ neck, searching for a pulse. “Please, Reg.”

Tears burned her eyes and soaked her cheeks as she knelt next to Regulus. She reached out tentatively. “Regulus...”

Dresden made a strangled noise in his throat. “Don’t you abandon me now, Regulus. Please.” He adjusted his fingers on Regulus’ neck, pressing as if that would induce a pulse. “Reg?” His hand slipped away as he sobbed.

“No!” Adelaide grabbed Regulus’ blood-soaked chainmail, choking on her sobs. Her chest burned with the effort of breathing and her stomach muscles tensed and knotted to the point of pain. Mucus ran out of her nose and mingled with her tears. “Regulus, you hang on!” She placed her hands over the wound on his stomach. Soft blue light illuminated the ragged tear in his chainmail and blood-soaked gambeson.

---