Page 55 of Staff of Nightfall

“Here.” Nolan poured water over her chapped lips. She felt ridiculous, but thirst got the better of her pride and she gulped down the water. He placed the wineskin on the ground and picked up her right arm.

“What are you doing?” She jerked her arm, her eyes widening, but he didn’t let go.

“Relax, love.” He started rubbing her arm from the shoulder down.

She tensed, but eased as feeling returned to her arm. Fine, let him help. It would only restore her strength faster.

“Better?”

Adelaide didn’t want to admit it, but it was. She nodded, and he moved to her other arm.

“Kirven told me your magic is back. I’m happy for you.” He stopped massaging her arm and brushed his fingers over the collar. “You wouldn’t have to wear this if you joined us.”

She shifted away. “You’re not happy for me. You think having a wife with magic will make you more powerful.”

Nolan returned to massaging. “What can I say? I’m attracted to power.” He finished rubbing her arm and kissed her shoulder. She jerked away with a shudder. Nolan sighed and pulled a few pieces of jerky out of his bag. She devoured them, not caring they were dry and tough.

“I like your attire.” He handed the water over, and she begrudgingly accepted. His gaze wandered over her. “Very enticing.”

She threw the open wineskin at him. Water splashed his face, and she smiled with satisfaction at his irritated frown. She lifted her chin, trying to look as dignified as possible. “I need to relieve myself.”

His nose wrinkled. “Pretty sure you already have.”

She blushed and he snickered, making her face heat more. “Laugh when you’ve been left bound in a shed,” she muttered.

“All right, all right.” He picked up a long piece of rope from the ones he had cut off her torso and tied it to the loop in the side of the collar, next to the lock. “I’m not going to let you just run off,” he said in response to her withering look. He cut the ropes off her ankles.

It took Adelaide a couple tries to stand on her aching legs and numb feet, but she managed it with a little assistance from Nolan. He picked up his bag and wineskin and waited outside the door while she relieved herself.

“Done yet?” he called. She scowled as she exited the shed.

A few maple trees were spaced between little groves of ash and birch. A soot-blackened wooden frame of what might have once been a cottage stood several feet away. She sucked in a deep breath of the fresh air, appreciating anew the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the evening air on her skin.

Nolan gave her a once-over. “Come on. You need to clean up.” He strode off, the rope attached to the collar leading her after him. “There’s a stream down here.”

“Fine,” she said through gritted teeth. However, she was thankful for the opportunity to rinse off her clothes.

Nolan stood on the bank next to her boots while she sat in the shallow stream and attempted to wash off some of the smell. He leered. “This might be easier if you took your clothes off.”

Heat covered her head from scalp to collarbones. She turned away and scrubbed more furiously at her fitted trousers. He just laughed.

“I’m going to kill you.” The words spilled out before she thought better of it.

He stopped laughing. “First, that’s a rude thing to say to your knightly rescuer and future husband. Second, you must have missed the part where I can’t die.”

She glared over her shoulder. “I’ll try cutting your head off. I’d like to see Kirven heal that.”

His lips pursed. “We really need to work on your attitude. Plotting to kill your betrothed is frowned upon.”

“We arenotbetrothed.”

“Yes, we are. You agreed, remember? Besides, if we’re not, why am I sticking my neck out for you?”

She stood with her back to him and squeezed excess water out of the skirt of her suede tunic and tried to press water out of her trousers. “What are you talking about?”

“Prince Kirven would have killed you if not for me. You’re welcome.” He paused, as if waiting for a thank you, but he was not about to get one. “But His Highness isn’t interested in threats to his power. I told him I can control you, but if you misbehave, he won’t hesitate to kill you. And that’s not what I want.”

Adelaide turned, water dripping from her trousers. “Don’t pretend this is you being self-sacrificial.”

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