Page 122 of Staff of Nightfall

Nolan glared at Adelaide. “I’m sorry.” He pulled his lips back in a snarl, contorting his handsome features into the monster he really was. “I never should have let you leave that morning after I took you from Arrano. I’m sorry I didn’t break into your room that night and make you my—”

Regulus’ fist connected with Nolan’s jaw with a sharp crack as Adelaide paled.

Nolan spit blood and grinned, his teeth smeared with red. “Too bad you can’t kill me, since the wench got herself in a predicament.”

Anger burned away Adelaide’s exhaustion, mixing with her fear. She clenched her fists as she tried to stop shaking.

“Bet you can’t make her tremble like that, mercenary.”

Rage and humiliation knotted her insides and squeezed her throat. Regulus punched Nolan’s stomach, and Nolan stumbled back, coughing. Nolan straightened and stepped back as far as the long chain would allow.

“Want another kiss, love?” He licked his bloodied lips as his eyes roamed over her. “Maybe a bit more?”

She shuddered. “Gag him.”

Nolan gave her a mocking smirk as Regulus moved toward him. “I’ll convince the king I was ensorcelled, and Hargreaves entrapped you. And when I marry you, I won’t waste time—”

Adelaide screamed and threw a knife she didn’t recall conjuring at Nolan. The glowing blade buried deep in his neck. His face went slack as he choked.What did I just do?The blade vanished and Nolan fell to his knees, pressing his hands against his throat. She stared in mute shock, rooted in place.Your bargaining chip.You need him alive!But she couldn’t move as his face whitened. He fell forward with a clatter of chains.

Adelaide dropped to the ground. He might still be alive. But she didn’t have the energy or desire to save Nolan’s life. She stared at Nolan’s body as tension built behind her forehead. Regulus knelt next to her and held her against his chest.

“He deserved it, Adelaide.”

She sobbed and wrapped her arms around Regulus’ neck.

“He was guilty and dangerous,” Regulus whispered. “And he deserved so much worse.”

“I murdered him.” She buried her face in his shirt. “Justice...”

“This is justice.” He rubbed her back. “Even your father told me Carrick deserved to die. Now or later, why does it matter? We’re royal guards. We have the authority to kill a traitor to the crown.”

“Well...you are,” she mumbled. “Oh, Etiros, what have I done?”

Chapter 44

Etiros, I don’t knowhow to help her.This wasn’t the first life Adelaide had taken; Regulus knew that. But this wasn’t a random bandit. And she wasn’t a mercenary. The things he usually said to help a man struggling after his first battle didn’t seem right. He wasn’t even certain if she was more upset that she had killed Carrick, or worried about her desertion.

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