Page 56 of Staff of Nightfall

“I can protect you easier if you marry me.”

“I don’t need or want your protection!”

“Really?” He lifted his brows. “If that’s true, why were you bound on the floor of an abandoned shed?” He pulled on the rope. The collar pressed against the back of her neck and she stumbled out of the stream toward him. “If you didn’t need my protection, you wouldn’t have a magic-suppressing collar around your neck.” He drew her in until she was standing in front of him. She stared down at the grass poking up between her toes.

“Look at me, Adelaide,” he pleaded. She clenched her jaw, annoyed at his constant playacting. “Please.” With a huff, she looked at him. “Stop fighting Kirven and marry me, and I can and will give you anything and everything you can possibly desire. You won’t have to wear this collar. You can use your magic. You want tutors in magic? I’ll send to every kingdom to find the best ones. You want silks? I’ll order dresses in every color in any style you choose. You want exotic fruit? I’ll send to the edges of the known world for them. You want to travel? I’ll take you anywhere. You want to meet your mother’s family? I’ll find them for you. What do you want, Adelaide? I’ll make sure you have it.” He looked at her, his eyes gentle, begging. His love-sick puppy act sickened her. “Just love me.”

She crossed her arms. “I want this collar off.”

“Once we’re married. After you’ve sworn your loyalty to me in front of witnesses.”

“Now.”

Nolan sighed. “I try to be your knight in shining armor, and you act like I’m the dragon. You’ll see. I can be cruel, I know, but only when necessary. I won’t be denied or disrespected. But I can be kind.” His blue eyes shone with affection that caught her off-guard. “I can be the man you deserve, Adelaide. The man you need.” He rubbed the back of his fingers down her arm in a soft caress.

She shivered, and not just from the cold of her wet clothes.

“I will give you all the riches of the world. I will fill you with ecstasy and live for your pleasure, if you let me.”

He ran his thumb over her cheekbone. Adelaide swallowed back the bile pushing against her throat and turned her head away. She stepped back, but the collar dug into her neck, keeping her close to him.

“Stop fighting me.” Nolan’s voice dropped to a seductive murmur. “We could be unstoppable. We could do anything. Let me in, Adelaide.” For a moment, the tenderness of his tone took her aback. Gentle longing filled his eyes. His ability to lie, to play a part, astounded her. No wonder he had seduced so many. Only because she denied him did she have the displeasure of seeing his true nature.

“Untie the rope at least. Please.” She tried to look harmless and innocent as he regarded her, lips pursed.

He shook his head. “You’re not ready yet.”

“I’m not going to marry you!” Adelaide grabbed the rope and turned to run. Nolan’s grip was too strong, even with her sudden movement. She released the rope and stood erect with her back to him.

“I am your destiny, one way or another.” His voice hardened as he grabbed her elbow, his fingers digging in around the joint, and wrenched her back around. She bit her tongue to keep from crying out. “You can sit in splendor at my right hand, or you can kneel at my feet. The choice is yours. But either way, you will be mine.”

Nolan lifted her chin, placed his other hand on her back, and pressed his lips to hers. Her skin itched with disgust as she stood momentarily frozen. He kissed her softly, then more forcefully when she tried to pull away. She pushed against his chest, but he locked his arms around her. His hand on the back of her head held her in place. She squirmed and thrashed, her arms pinned between their bodies, trying to break away. Her lips hurt from trying to deny the press of his mouth. His lips left hers and she gasped in a deep breath. He brushed a kiss against her jaw.

“Be mine, Adelaide.” He kissed the side of her neck above the collar.

“Stop,” she rasped. She shook as she pushed against him. She couldn’t breathe.

Nolan lifted his head. His eyes glinted with hunger. “Why don’t you want me? How can I be driven mad with the thought of you, and you won’t spare a glance my way?” He kissed her shoulder, ignoring her struggling. “You fill my dreams; your smile steals away my concentration. I see you when I close my eyes, and it’s not fair.”

His mouth hovered above hers. With his hand still holding the back of her head like a vise, Adelaide couldn’t turn away. Her heart pounded against her chest and she pressed her eyes and mouth closed.

“You’ve gotten under my skin,” he murmured. “Some half-Khastallander girl with skin the color of dark amber, the product of an alliance between a lord rich with the spoils of war and a merchant’s daughter. You aren’t topping any list of most wanted maidens.”

How flattering.She pushed her head back against his hand to no avail.

“You were just the answer to my marriage predicament, but I can’t stop thinking about you. I desire you with every fiber of my being, with every bone in my body.” He gave her a quick peck on her closed lips, then pulled back. She risked opening her eyes.

Nolan watched her, his eyebrows pinched. “Does no part of you desire me?”

Adelaide clenched her jaw. “No.”

She sent a burst of magical energy out of her palms and into his chest. It was tiny for how much effort it took, but he stumbled back, his arms slipping and allowing a small space between them. She sent another shockwave and he let go as he staggered backward. Dark spots danced in her eyes, and she shook her head, trying to clear away the dizziness. She swayed and leaned forward, supporting herself on her knees.

Nolan straightened, face flushed and eyes dark. “I’m tired of you!” He pulled on the rope and she fell to her knees on the grass. “I’m tired of you fighting me! I’m tired of you choosing that scarred bastard mercenary over me! I’m tired of losing to that stuck-up mongrel nobody who doesn’t deserve his title or castle and certainly doesn’t deserve you. I’m tired of wanting you and being denied. I’m tired of you acting like I’m some cruel monster.”

“Then stop behaving like one!” She sounded braver than she felt. Those small uses of her power had drained her, and she didn’t have much energy left to so much as stand, let alone fight. That scared her, because she didn’t know what Nolan would do next.Etiros, protect me.

“You think me cruel?” He strode toward her. Adelaide tried to crawl backward, but he drew in the rope, stopping her. “So be it. If that’s what you want, I can show you cruelty.” He backhanded her face, making her cheek sting and throb. “I can be your monster.”

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