RUNE
RUNE FINISHED HER PICKLOCK spell and pulled open the door to the cargo hold. The engine’s thumping quieted as she stepped into the darkness within. After fumbling around, she found the chain for the nearest gaslight and tugged.
The room illuminated.
Black coal was piled high along two walls and in the middle of the room. Like small mountains. The other wall was packed with wooden crates
—likely containing supplies for the ship.
There was no luggage in this hold. And if there was no luggage, there was no reason for the hunting hounds to check it before departure.
It was exactly what she needed to get a few witches out.
The gaslight flickered as Rune walked around the piles of coal and across the room, trying to estimate how long they’d need to hide themselves here. With the Arcadia sympathetic to their cause, it wouldn’t matter if they were found after disembarking from the New Republic. It was when the ship was still in Republic waters that they were in danger. If they could conceal themselves until the ship was out at sea, they’d be safe.
The door shut behind Rune, making her jump. “I had a feeling I’d find you here.”
She spun to discover William standing in the hold with her, unbuttoning his jacket. Her heart pounded. Could he see her because Ghost Walker had faded? Rune’s skin was sticky with sweat from the boiler room’s heat. Combined with the steam, the spellmarks for Ghost Walker may have already faded.
Or could he see her because he expected her to be here?
“William!” With her pulse racing, Rune managed to smile. “You startled me.”
“Did I?” The corner of his mouth curled as he shrugged out of his jacket and set it down on a crate.
Unease churned in her stomach.
“I should get back,” she said, starting toward the exit. “Before Gideon comes looking for me.”
William blocked her path. “Oh, don’t worry about that. Your husband has his hands full. He and Abbie are in your cabin. I’m sure they’ll be a while.”
Rune halted, her heart sinking like a stone.
He took a slow step toward her. “You deserve someone who sees you, darling. A man who reciprocates your adoration.”
Rune took a step back, trying to keep some distance between them. “I think you have the wrong impression.”
“Oh?” he said, coming closer. “I’m … in love with my husband.”
The backs of Rune’s legs hit something hard. She glanced over her shoulder to find a crate behind her, and several more stacked behind it. When she turned to him again, William was directly in front of her.
“That’s the sad thing, isn’t it?” William lifted his hand. Ran the backs of his fingers across her cheekbone.
Rune stiffened beneath his touch.
“It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that you pine for a man who doesn’t want you.” He tucked a lock of stray hair behind her ear. “Unlike your husband, I knew from the moment I saw you that you were special.”
Through the cloth of her dress, Rune checked the knife she kept strapped to her thigh. She would use it if she had to.
But only if she had to.
“I’m flattered,” she said. “Truly. But I’ve had too many men in my life lately. I’m trying to pare back…”
She ducked under his arm, whirling to face his back as she moved toward the door. She’d gotten what she came here for. This room was big
enough to hide three witches—herself, the sibyl, and the missing heir— though it might be tight.
“Do you like cards?” she asked.
William didn’t bother following. Only pivoted to watch her with a look that made her skin prickle. When she’d finally put enough space between them, she turned toward the door, her back to him. “We could go upstairs and play a round of—”
“I was hoping for something more intimate.” The click of a cocked pistol made Rune freeze. “Turn around, Crimson Moth.”
The breath shuddered out of her.
He knows who I am.
Rune stared at the door, contemplating making a run for it. William had left it open a crack.
His clothes rustled as he moved toward her. “Turn around, witch, or I’ll shoot.”
Rune let out a slow breath and did as he said. The barrel of his gun was pointed at her head.
This was it, then. Her flirtatious games had finally caught up to her.
Except I never flirted with him.
He’d lavished his attention on her without provocation. Now she knew why.
“Gideon Sharpe doesn’t act like a husband because he isn’t one, is he? Can you explain to me why a Blood Guard captain is smuggling a fugitive witch back into the New Republic?”
Rune’s gaze darted to either side, looking for something to defend herself with. There was nothing but coal and oversized crates. And by the time she grabbed her knife from underneath her dress, he’d have put three bullets in her.
This was the end. And Gideon didn’t even know where she was.
Nor does he care.
The gaslight flickered again, changing the shadows behind William. “I’ll make you a deal, Rune Winters.” William stepped closer. “If you
come back with me to my room, I won’t shoot you.”
The insinuation of what he would do to her in that room was unmistakably clear.
Rune lifted her chin, staring him down. “I’d rather be shot.” “And if I don’t give you a choice?”
The shadows moved again. Only this time, it wasn’t because of flickering lights.
A few paces beyond William, someone stepped out from behind a tower of crates, silent as a wolf. Gun drawn. Rune’s pulse hummed as his furious gaze met hers over William’s shoulder.
Gideon.
The sight of him lit a flame inside her. When had he entered the room?
William took another step toward Rune, oblivious to the man behind him.
Before he came an inch closer, Gideon said, “She said no, William.
Didn’t your parents teach you that when a girl says no, she means it?” His voice was like a barrel full of gunpowder, ready to be lit.
William went still as a statue.
“You’re not her type,” Gideon continued. “That’s what she’s been trying to tell you. You should have taken the loss and left her alone.”
William licked his lips, staring at the door over Rune’s shoulder. “And what is her type, Captain Sharpe?”
Rune studied the witch hunter in the shadows. Stupid brutes, apparently.
“Drop the gun,” said Gideon.
William narrowed his eyes, pointing it more firmly in Rune’s direction. “Drop. The. Gun.”
His voice was a dangerous growl.
The pistol clattered to the floor at William’s feet. “Kick it toward Rune.”
The pistol came skidding toward her. Rune bent to pick it up. The metal was still warm from his grip.
“Go back to the cabin, Rune. I’ll finish this.” Rune frowned. “What are you going to do?”
Gideon’s angry gaze flickered to hers. “Send him to the bottom of the sea. It won’t take long. I’ll meet you in our room.”
