GIDEON
GIDEON FIRED, RELOADED, AND fired again. Over and over. Trying to buy Rune as much time as she needed while he dodged enemy bullets.
The air was clouded with smoke from the gunfire, choking out the smell of Rune’s magic.
Before knowing she was a witch, Gideon hadn’t been able to detect the scent. Unlike Cressida’s magic—which smelled strongly of blood and roses
—the scent of Rune’s blended into the island. It smelled like sea salt and woodsmoke and fresh-cut juniper.
For some reason, the thought of Rune’s magic made Gideon think of her mouth. The way it yielded to his in that library. The things it nearly admitted.
He was thinking about how, now that he wasn’t allowed to have her, she was all he wanted. Maybe he was destined to want things forever out of his reach.
And her eyes just now …
When she’d looked up at him a moment ago, her eyes had reminded him of Aurelia’s after she’d just had a vision. Clouded and pale.
But that can’t be right. Can it?
He was still thinking about Rune as he ran out of bullets. With no more ammunition, Gideon threw down the guns and raised his hands high, rising from the barricade he’d made.
“I surrender,” he called into the smoke-filled room.
The gunfire stopped. He heard someone give an order, and seconds later, several guards emerged from the gloom.
“Where’s your comrade?” one asked, keeping his gun trained on Gideon as he glanced behind the barricade. “And the child?”
Gideon shrugged. “No idea.”
He didn’t struggle as they arrested him.
 |
THEY BROUGHT HIM STRAIGHT to Blood Guard headquarters, which had been relocated after Cressida blew up the original building two months ago. They were now situated in an old stone citadel on the cliffs overlooking the harbor.
As the guards led Gideon through the darkened walkways, the torch flames flickered, fighting against the wind and the damp from the sea.
They marched him into the old war room, with its stained-glass windows running down the length of both sides. A young woman in uniform stood across the long stone table.
Laila Creed.
She was acting captain in Gideon’s absence.
Harrow stood beside her. The spymaster planted her hands on the table, staring down at whatever Laila was looking at.
At Gideon’s entrance, they glanced up.
“Sharpe?” Seeing Gideon’s shackled hands, Laila’s dark brows creased.
She looked at the guard who escorted him in. “What is this?”
“He was caught trespassing, kidnapping, and firing on security. A second Blood Guard officer was with him. She escaped with the hostage.”
Even from halfway across the room, Gideon saw the nerve in Laila’s jaw jump.
“What hostage?”
“Meadow Kantor. The sibyl’s child.” “Thank you,” said Laila, her face darkening. “Do you want us to take him to—”
“No. Leave him, along with the keys to those manacles. Then you may go.”
One guard stepped forward, sliding the keys down the stone table to Laila. She waited until their footsteps disappeared down the hall before
turning her full attention to Gideon. “What the hell, Sharpe. Again?” “I need to speak with Noah.”
“Noah’s at Wintersea. You’ll have to deal with me.”
An awkward tension filled the room. It had always been Gideon who gave the orders, and Laila who obeyed them. Now things were reversed, and her stiff posture said she felt weirder about it than he did.
“Then I need you to take these off,” he said, lifting his shackled wrists, “and let me go.”
“Gideon,” Laila said through gritted teeth. “They said you broke into someone’s house! And helped steal a baby! Who was with you? Or do I even need to ask?”
Gideon evaded the question. “What you need to do is trust me.”
She pressed her lips together and crossed her arms. “Why should any of us trust you ever again?”
Gideon flinched. It was because of him that Laila’s father, the previous Good Commander, had been killed by Cressida. He was the reason the witch queen was back and threatening them with war. The reason they were all in danger. If he hadn’t let Rune trick him, if he hadn’t let himself fall for her, he could have eliminated Cressida long before now.
“I bear the blame for it all,” he said. “And that’s why I have to make it right. But I can’t do that in chains—or with you set against me.”
“The Crimson Moth was with you, wasn’t she?”
This came from Harrow. Gideon forced himself to look at her. If trust was strained between him and Laila, it was nonexistent between him and Harrow.
“The soldier who escaped with the hostage,” she pressed. “It was Rune, wasn’t it?”
He looked away.
After a moment, Laila said: “Answer the question, Sharpe.” “Yes,” he breathed. “It was Rune.”
Laila pressed the heels of her palms to her eyes. “Gideon. Why do you have such a weakness for that girl? Rune Winters is bad news! If she manipulated you once, you can bet—”
“I’m well aware.”
No matter how badly he wanted to, he’d be a fool to trust Rune again, just as she’d be a fool to trust him. “I was using her to get the child.”
Laila glared at him from across the stone table, clearly skeptical. But she said nothing. So Gideon continued.
“Noah promised not to interfere with my plans.”
“Yes, well, Noah didn’t watch you fall for the charms of a manipulative witch only a few months ago. He doesn’t realize—”
“I promised the Commander I would deliver Rune to the Blood Guard,” he said, interrupting, “after I kill the Roseblood heir. The only way to do that is to learn Rune’s plans. I need Rune to believe I’m on her side. I need her to trust me.”
“And if you’re playing right into her hands?” This came from Harrow, who stood with her fists on her hips, looking utterly unconvinced. “She’s the one who told you she’s here to find the heir. What if it’s a lie? What if Cressida sent her to recruit more witches to their cause and attack us from the inside?”
Laila glanced at Gideon, awaiting his answer. But Gideon had none. He himself had wondered this.
“If you have a better plan,” said Gideon, “I’d love to hear it.” Judging by their silence, they didn’t.
“Cressida killed my entire family,” he said. “I have no sympathy for her cause. I want her stopped. I want her dead.” He strained against his manacles. “By standing here arguing with me, you’re only preventing me from accomplishing that. I promised Noah I’d deliver the dead heir and Rune Winters into Blood Guard hands. Now release me, so I can make good on that promise.”
Laila chewed her lip. “And if Harrow’s right, and Rune’s playing you?
If you get caught in her trap?”
“If I’m caught,” he said, smiling at her, “you’ll rescue me.”
She slit her eyes at him. For several moments, they stared each other down.
Laila glanced away first. Sighing, she grabbed the keys off the table.
“Fine. But keep me abreast of your plans. You want out of those manacles? Tell us what you’re planning, so we can assist you—or at the very least, prevent you from getting arrested next time.”
So Gideon did.
