Page 62 of Staff of Nightfall

“I couldn’t save you.” Dresden’s head sank further. “I kept staring at you, trying to think of what I should have done differently so you wouldn’t be lying there. My friend. Mybrother. Always there to protect me, and every time it matters, I can’t protect you!” He looked up, his eyes brimming with tears.

Regulus stared at Dresden, at a loss for words. Part of him wanted to point out he wasn’t always there. He hadn’t been there when Carrick beat Dresden. And it wasn’t Dresden’s fault Carrick was immortal and unstoppable.

“I can’t see you like that again.” Dresden forced a smile. “You’re not allowed to die. Ever.”

“Okay.” Regulus smiled weakly. “Only if you never die.”

Dresden laughed, the sound tight and pained. “Deal.”

Chapter 24

As the sun rose thenext morning, clearing away the fog rising off the nearby stream, it became clear Adelaide would not awake anytime soon. Regulus washed the blood off his clothing as best he could and put his chainmail and his gambeson in his saddlebag. His long-sleeved gray shirt now was bloodstained and had a hole over his stomach, but they had no thread or needles with which to mend it. They found a shed nearby where Adelaide had clearly been held, and the fury in Alfred’s eyes rivaled Regulus’ own. They let Adelaide sleep through the day, exchanging concerned glances and wondering if they should move her. And wondering when they should continue to the palace.

Alfred wanted to warn the king, but he also wouldn’t leave his daughter. Regulus had determined never to part ways with Adelaide again. Dresden didn’t stand a chance of convincing anyone to even let him in the palace. Besides, they were exhausted from riding through the night and all day to find her. So they waited and prayed as the day turned to night and another day dawned and Adelaide still did not wake.

At least Regulus had convinced Dresden that Adelaide wasn’t a sorceress and hadn’t enslaved him. The marks looking nothing alike helped. Dresden teased him about how it looked like hearts. But he still looked at Adelaide with a mixture of distrust and fear. Not that Regulus could entirely blame him—Drez and Alfred had confirmed that he hadn’t been hallucinating. In her fury, Adelaide had sprouted a pair of fiery wings.

Unfortunately, though, Carrick had escaped. Regulus blamed himself. If Adelaide hadn’t left her pursuit of Carrick to save his life, perhaps she would have succeeded in killing the villain. If anything could break the bond to the sorcerer, it would probably be a weapon of pure magic. Maybe cutting him in half would do the trick.

Regulus sat next to Adelaide, watching an eagle circling high above the trees. Alfred had left to stretch his legs. Dresden had gone in search of fresh food as midday approached. Adelaide stirred, the grass rustling against her tunic. He laughed with relief and wetness rimmed his eyes as she stretched out on the grass with adorable soft grunting noises. She squinted against the bright sunlight.

His grin pulled at his scar. “Morning,sumdir.”

She smiled groggily and propped herself up on her elbow. “You’re alive.” She eyed his torn, stained shirt. “A mess, but alive.”

“All thanks to you.” Regulus cupped his hand to the side of Adelaide’s face and caressed her cheek with his thumb. Her smile vanished and fear flooded his mind. She flinched, pulling away from his hand. He drew his hand back, his stomach dropping. “What’s wrong?”

She shook her head and forced an unconvincing smile that made his heart twist. “Nothing, everything’s fine. I’m sorry.”

“What aren’t you telling me?” he asked quietly. Uncertainty lingered in her eyes.

“Nothing.” She rolled her shoulders and looked around. “What time is it?”

“Approaching noon. It’s been two days since we found you, though.”

“Two days! I slept that long?”

---