Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth, #1)

by Kristen Ciccarelli

When Rune finished tying the ribbon, she lifted the silk rose, tucking it into her red-gold hair, which was now braided into a semi-crown at the back of her head. He’d spent the last two hours making it for her, feeling slightly ill as he sewed every petal. Roses always brought the painful memories rushing back. But Harrow’s advice—to woo Rune—kept ringing through his head, and his mother could never resist the silk roses his father used to make her after they argued.

“You were very cute,” he said, studying the child in the painting. Rune glanced sharply up at him. The wine hadn’t worked, but perhaps her tears had? Is that your weakness? she wondered. Girls who cry?

“Cute? No.” His eyes gleamed in the candlelight, taking her in. “No, I wouldn’t say that.” She ran her fingers lightly down the edge of his lapel. “How would you describe me, then?” Gideon stayed silent, watching her fingers. Rune hated this part of the game. The flirtatious touching—which inevitably led to kissing—was always the last, most desperate step in obtaining information.

It was so unexpected—Gideon Sharpe, making a joke—that a laugh burst out of Rune. He let go of her hand, falling quiet. When her giggling subsided, she looked over to find a thoughtful expression on his face. “Your laugh is like a fuse,” he said. “It lights you up.” Rune’s heart thudded. No one had ever told her that before.

Alex stared at her like she’d gone mad. “Rune. Your secret is safe here.” Letting the water run, he came back to her. Getting down on his knees, he touched her cheek. “You can sleep in the spare room tonight. And tomorrow morning, we’ll figure out what to do.” She stared at him in disbelief. “If they find out, they’ll kill you, too.” He smiled at her, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “They can go right ahead.”

“Enlighten me. What type of people do girls like Rune end up with? Men like you?” Gideon raised his fists. “Men who stand on the sidelines, pining in the shadows, too afraid to go after what they want? Have you gotten so used to being handed everything in life that you think she’ll hand herself over to you, too?” Alex slugged him. Pain exploded in Gideon’s jaw.

His hands made quick work of it, telling Rune how practiced he was. She couldn’t help comparing those hands to his brother’s. Alex had the hands of a musician: wide palms, slender fingers. Elegant and beautiful as a song. Gideon’s hands were strong and rough and calloused. Hands that could hold a gun as competently as they could haul a witch into a prison cell—or take a girl’s measurements, evidently.

“What are you doing this afternoon?” she said, touching her fingertip to the uppermost button of his shirt. “I have a luncheon at noon, but after that … There’s a quiet beach near Wintersea House where I ride sometimes. Do you want to join me?” “Can’t,” he managed, drawing the blanket into his lap. “I have to work today.” She ducked her chin, disappointed. Not wanting it to seem like he was rejecting her, he quickly added, “Depending on how this evening’s transfer goes, I might get off early. I could meet you afterward.” Her attention shot back to his face. “This evening’s transfer?” He nodded. “Laila and I are transferring a witch to the palace prison.” Rune lowered her gaze. “Is it far? The place you have to bring her from, I mean.” She slowly unfastened the button of his shirt. He had the urge to pull her down into his lap. Focus, you idiot. “Not too far. She’s being held at the old mine near Seldom Harbor.” “I see.” Rune’s lips pressed into a pout as her fingers dropped to the next button. “There’s a masked ball at the Creeds’ tonight. You could meet me there afterward.” Gideon struggled to keep his hands to himself. The wool of the blanket itched against his palms. “I’ll try my best.”

Her mouth curved to the side as she released the button without undoing it. Before pushing off the table, though, she leaned in toward him and the bridge of her nose grazed his cheekbone. “Thank you for the dress, Gideon.” His name on her lips sent a tremor through him. His hands clenched. He wouldn’t be able to hold out much longer. “My pleasure,” he murmured. When she pulled away and turned to get dressed, he decided against watching her shimmy back into her trousers, choosing to tidy up instead.

If Gideon were being honest, he hadn’t brought the hounds because the thought of siccing them on Rune made his stomach turn. He’d remembered her trembling beneath his touch in her bedroom; shivering in nothing but her underwear as he took her measurements. Gideon had gone soft on a murderous witch—or at the very least, a witch sympathizer. Fool.

Otherwise, she’d need Alex to escort her home with his coat over her shoulders—and that would certainly make people talk. Boys who let girls wear their coats home were making their intentions known.

As the three friends turned to leave, Gideon watched Alex press his hand to the small of Rune’s back. At least he’s taking my advice. For some strange reason, this didn’t make Gideon feel better. It made him feel much worse.

What would I do if this were a real courtship? Gideon recoiled at the thought. He didn’t know how to fall for someone as superficial as Rune Winters. Maybe that was the wrong way to think about it. How would he fall for a girl pretending to be superficial—in order to outwit him? That was easier.

This is a game, he reminded himself, his chest tight. It means nothing. But if that were true, why did he feel like he was walking straight off a cliff, hoping he wouldn’t fall?

IF GIDEON WERE BEING honest, part of him secretly hoped it was Rune who’d escaped him down in that mine. Which should have disturbed him. It would make her his enemy, not to mention a murderous, evil witch. But a girl who could outwit him thrilled Gideon too much to deny. Her kiss felt the same. Like the first taste of something forbidden. Heady and delicious. Awakening all his senses at once.

“Alex invited me,” she said, defensive. “Of course.” His jaw clenched. “To show you off like a piece of treasure.” Rune looked sharply toward his silhouette. “What are you talking about?” “Nothing. Never mind.”

“What is it you want from me? An apology?” He threw out his arms beneath the glittering night sky. “I’m sorry I was rude to you, Rune Winters. Even at fifteen, I was an intolerable ass.” Lowering his arms, he studied her. “Will that suffice?” “That’s not … I didn’t—” “Then why is this important?” “I don’t know!” She balled her hands into fists. “I guess it hurt. I wanted you to like me.” Rune suddenly felt more naked now than she had on the beach.

“When I saw Alex at your side, I knew exactly who you were: Rune Winters. The girl Alex never shut up about. A girl who was entirely off-limits, because my little brother found her first.” Rune frowned, irked by these words. “That’s not the way friendship works,” she said, turning back to him. “Alex didn’t find me. He doesn’t own me.” Gideon’s gaze dropped to her mouth. “I’m not talking about friendship, Rune.” A shiver rushed across her skin. Lifting his thumb to her bottom lip, he dragged it slowly across. His touch was like a switch, turning on an electric current that flickered through her.

“Rune.” His thumb brushed across her knuckles. “I would like to come in, but I promised to go slow with you.” Lifting her hand, he kissed the sensitive part of her wrist, making her shiver. “And if I step through that door tonight, I’m afraid I won’t keep my word.” A wild feeling swept through Rune. She didn’t want him to keep his word. She wanted him to take her upstairs. This instant. “Good night, Miss Winters.”

His thoughts raced back to Rune in the garden. It had taken all of his willpower to walk away from her. On the ride home, he’d nearly turned back twice. The thought of Alex had stopped him. Gideon blew out a frustrated breath. Did he regret kissing her? Yes. Absolutely. What kind of man kisses the girl of his little brother’s dreams? But he also liked it. He thought of Rune on the beach, stripping off her clothes. Letting him look. Heat flickered deep inside him. Gideon ran a palm over his eyes, trying to chase the image out of his brain. “I took your stupid advice, yes.” “You got her naked.” He looked away as the blood rushed to his face. Harrow whistled. “You do move fast. And?” He shook his head. “There’s nothing. No scars.” “But you were thorough?” “As thorough as I could be.” “So, you slept with her?” “What? No.” The thought of it turned the flickering heat into a raging inferno. “No. We went swimming the other night.” Harrow raised a skeptical brow. “I looked,” Gideon growled. “I found nothing.”

“Gideon. This is a witch who’s escaped detection for two years now. She won’t keep her scars where anyone can find them. Did you look between her thighs?” The thought of Rune’s thighs made him grind his palms into his eyes. “Stop.” “Because if I were a witch hiding in plain sight, that’s definitely where I’d keep mine.” Gideon groaned. “You’re killing me, Harrow.” “You need to sleep with her.” “Absolutely not.” “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it.” Of course he’d thought about it. It had physically hurt to turn down Rune’s invitation. The moment he got home, he’d gone straight into a cold shower, so he could stop thinking about it. If they were truly courting, it’s all he’d be thinking about. But they weren’t courting. Not really. So he needed to not think about it. “It’s the only way to know for certain.” “No,” he said again. It was too far. A crossed line.

When he burst through the other side, into the eye of the spinning flames, Rune turned towards him. His chest tightened at the sight of her ashen face. Gideon closed the space between them in a single stride and threw the jacket over her, tucking her into it. Her whole body trembled with shock. “You came,” she whispered. He pulled Rune against him, trying to shield her from the heat. What would have happened if he’d arrived five minutes later? If he hadn’t made it here at all? Don’t think about that. Just get her out of here. “Ready to run?” She nodded. Scooping her into his arms, Gideon plunged through the flames. He didn’t feel the searing heat on his skin. Only Rune’s forehead pressed against his throat, and the lock of her arms around his neck.

When the doors were ten paces away, Gideon pumped his legs. Willing them to go faster. His shoulder hit the wood first and the door gave instantly, swinging open and depositing him and Rune onto the floor of the hall. As they fell, Gideon twisted his body so that his shoulder blade hit the marble first. He winced at the impact but managed to spare Rune, who sprawled on top of him.

With her palms pressed to the floor on either side of his head, Rune sat astride Gideon. His jacket hung from her shoulders, mostly burned, and her red-gold hair was a wild mess, filling his vision. A bewildered expression lit up her face. “Why did you do that?” He frowned at her, his hands moving to her hips. “What?” “Why … why risk your life for me?” Gideon sat up so they were eye to eye. “Did you think I’d let you be burned alive?” “Maybe? I don’t know! What am I supposed to think?” She was still sitting on top of him, her dress hiked to her thighs. “I didn’t hear from you for three days. You didn’t even send flowers!” Flowers? What is she talking about? Gideon stared up at her ash-streaked face. “Do you … want flowers?” “What?” Rune fell off him, trying to untangle herself from his jacket. “No. Never mind.” Clearly she was in shock.

The young girl held a glass of water in her hands and, after shooting a fearful look at Gideon, crouched down to give it to Rune. “The spellfire’s gone, Miss Winters.” After taking the glass with trembling fingers, Rune touched the girl’s cheek—a gesture that, for some reason, made Gideon’s chest tighten. “Thank you, sweetheart.”

Gideon watched her gulp down the water, trying to make sense of it all. A witch had tried to kill her tonight. Witches didn’t kill other witches. Therefore, Rune couldn’t be a witch. Right?

When the child went back inside, and they were alone again, Gideon remembered Rune’s strange words to him a few moments ago. “What did you mean in the hall? About the flowers.” Rune’s cheeks reddened. “I have no idea why I said that.” She quickly got to her feet. “You were upset with me. Why?” She looked away, fisting her hands. “Please, let’s just forget it.” Gideon stepped toward her. Taking her face in his palms, he guid...

“I kept waiting for a telegram,” she said. “Or some other sign that maybe I’m not so easy to walk away from. But there was nothing until your note tonight—and that was only to say you’d be late.” She looked up at him. “I thought you were jilting me.” “Jilting you?” Gideon’s eyebrows arched. He almost laughed. “Rune, I haven’t stopped thinking about you for three straight days.”

This time, Gideon did draw his pistol. “Show yourself,” he called out, stepping in front of Rune to shield her.

Gideon didn’t like the thought of Rune returning to Wintersea alone. Not after a witch tried to kill her. “Let me send soldiers to escort you.” “I appreciate your concern,” said Rune. “But it’s unnecessary.” “You were the target of that spell,” he pressed. “If the witch who cast it comes for you again, you won’t be able to stop her.” “And you will?” asked Verity. Of course I will, Gideon wanted to say. Except he was no match for a powerful witch, and they all knew it. “I’ll be all right,” said Rune. Walking back to Gideon, she pushed herself onto her toes and planted a quick kiss on his cheek. “Thank you for not letting me burn.” He felt Verity’s eyes on him. She made no effort to conceal the fact that she thought him unworthy of Rune. Annoyed by her disdain and overcome by the sudden urge to prove her wrong, Gideon cupped Rune’s neck with both hands and captured her mouth with his, stopping her from leaving. He kissed her slowly, deeply. Claiming her in front of Verity. At least, that’s how it started. As Rune softened, and her hand slid up his chest, he forgot their audience entirely—just as Rune remembered it. She pushed against him, halting the kiss, and stepped out of his reach. “Buttercups are my favorite,” she whispered, breathless and walking backward. “But daisies are also acceptable.” The corner of Gideon’s mouth turned up. “Noted.”

Alex’s lean shoulders hunched as his hands moved like spiders over the keys. The sight of him was like coming home. Like wrapping herself in a warm blanket on a chilly day. Alex was constant and safe. Gentle and kind.

With his eyes still on her, Alex placed his fingers on the piano and resumed the song. And like that, he was gone again. Soaring away from her. “You play better than your brother, that’s for sure,” she said when he finished, remembering Gideon plunking piano keys in her library. “Oh? Has he been serenading you?” The playfulness of the question couldn’t hide the edge in his voice. Before she could answer, he closed the fallboard, and the keys disappeared.

“Rune, never. I want …” Before he could finish, Verity flew into the room with a tray of tea and cookies. “Is anyone else starving?” Alex’s hands dropped and he turned sharply away from Rune. As she watched him slide off the bench and stand before the fireplace, quietly stoking the flames, she remembered Gideon’s words from the garden. When I saw Alex at your side, I knew exactly who you were … a girl who was entirely off-limits, because my little brother found her first. Rune had thought he was talking about ruining her and Alex’s friendship. Now she wondered if he’d meant something else.

Alex cut in. “I can get the coin.” Rune and Verity glanced at him. “How?” “You said every Blood Guard of high rank carries one.” Alex spun the slender silver ring on the smallest finger of his left hand. “My brother is a Blood Guard captain, and he has only one weakness that I know of. If you give me a few days, I’ll get you his coin.” For as long as she’d known Alex, he’d refused to choose a side. Or rather, refused to choose Rune’s side over Gideon’s. What had changed his mind?

Gideon didn’t know what he would do without his little brother. If Rune Winters was truly in the market for a husband, she could do no better than Alexander Sharpe. That thought put a sour taste in his mouth. Before swallowing it down, he let himself wonder: What if Alex weren’t in love with her? Would I stop pretending, and court her in truth? For a second, he let himself imagine it. He’d have to attend her parties. Learn how to dance to her songs. Spend less time in Old Town, and more time at Wintersea. He could do that. Those were small prices to pay for the luxury of going on long walks in the woods with her. Or the privilege of arguing with her. Or the rare gift of seeing that wild girl she kept hidden beneath the surface. It doesn’t matter. His knuckles bunched. Because it will only ever be pretend—or not at all.

“The New Herald reported that Citizen Winters is only alive because of you,” said the young man whose name Gideon didn’t remember. “Said you ran straight into the spellfire and carried her out.” Gideon preferred not to relive the moment when Rune had disappeared inside the fire. The fear of not getting to her in time still hummed a little too loud in his blood.

“Well, I for one am glad we have people like Gideon doing the dirty work for us.” This came from Bart as he won the current round with a full house. “Can you imagine it? Putting yourself in that kind of danger every day?” He shuddered. “No wonder the girls all fancy him.” Gideon almost laughed, wondering what Harrow or Laila would say to that.

“Speaking of girls who fancy Gideon,” said Noah, sipping his drink. “How is Miss Winters? Does she live up to her reputation?” If Gideon had hackles, Noah’s tone would have raised them. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean,” he said, staring hard at his cards but not seeing any of them. The last thing he wanted was to get into it with the Good Commander’s son. So he let Noah’s comments go. “You know exactly what I mean,” said Noah, as if sensing Gideon’s restraint and wanting to test its limits. “Rune Winters is a merciless flirt. She has a new suitor every week.” Unable to help himself, Gideon rose to the bait. Just an inch. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say you sound jealous.” “Jealous?” Noah scoffed. “What’s there to be jealous of? If the rumors are true, she’s as loose as a whore.” Before Gideon was halfway out of his seat, a fist slammed against the table, making them all jump. Gideon looked up, his body buzzing with anger. Across the table, Alex stared down Noah the way a lion might stare down a hyena. “Insult her again, and I’ll show you the door.” Noah scowled. “It was a joke, Alex.” “Joke or not, I won’t tolerate disrespect toward Rune.”

“Just one more round,” said Alex. As if he truly wanted his brother to stay. “For me.” Gideon remembered their fight in the boxing ring. He remembered daring Rune to strip down naked and swim in the sea with him, even though he knew how Alex adored her. He remembered kissing her in the garden, his mouth and hands insistent. Then kissing her again in that alley. The shame of it scorched him. Gideon sat. “One more game,” he said, tossing the prison coin into the pile of money in the center of the table. “And then I’m out.”

Rune marveled at the coin, then glanced up. “You hate pitting yourself against your brother.” “Actually.” He held her gaze. “I no longer mind so much.” He was choosing her, she realized. This boy who saw exactly who she was—what she was—and didn’t care. Or rather: cared so much, he wanted to give her back what the revolution had taken.

An unnerving thought occurred to Gideon. The witches had disappeared into the fog, while Harrow had appeared out of it. He thought of Cressida, hiding in plain sight. Gideon was well acquainted with the kinds of tricks and deceptions witches were capable of. Could Harrow be Cressida in disguise? He immediately shook off the thought. Impossible. The amount of magic it would take to alter her appearance so drastically …

Alarmed, she drew back against the door behind her. “Merciful Ancients, I look frightful. I should get home …” Before anyone else saw her, and her reputation was damaged further. Rune moved to step around him. Gideon held out his hand. She walked into it, halting. Keeping his palm pressed to her stomach, he urged her gently back against the door. She glanced up and found him staring at her like she was out of her mind. “You have never been more beautiful than this moment.” The words made her pulse kick. What? He stepped closer. Lifting his hand to her hair, he tangled his fingers in it. “You’re exquisite, Rune.”

“Do you want to come in?” he breathed against her lips. The question sparked a fire inside her. No, said her brain. But her mouth defied her. “More than anything.” Gideon reached for the knob beside her hip. Still kissing her, he turned it and pushed the door open, guiding her backward. He kicked the door shut behind them.

Gideon needed to get Harrow’s voice out of his head, because the thought of being between Rune’s thighs made him stop halfway up the stairs, overcome. He pinned her against the wall, breathing hard as he debated unhooking her legs from around his waist, dropping to his knees, and going down on her right here in the stairwell. No, he thought as Rune nipped his throat, struggling to regain his senses. You don’t even know what she likes. She might not even know what she likes. Gideon still didn’t know if she’d ever done what they were about to do. Start in the bed, he told himself, bringing her the rest of the way to the second floor, where he opened the door to his apartment and carried her inside. He would start there, and if he proved himself worthy of her, maybe this could be more than a game. Not just flirting and kissing and courting, but a life shared. Maybe Gideon could have all of her. But would she want all of him? He was terrified to even hope for it. Start in the bed.

“Can we move to the bed?” she asked. “We can do anything you want.”

IT WAS ONLY LATER, after Gideon fell asleep with Rune cocooned in his arms, that she lay awake, her whole body buzzing with a frightening realization. I’m in love with him. Instead of getting Gideon Sharpe out of her system tonight, Rune had gone and gotten herself addicted. The hunted had fallen for the hunter.

“You’re afraid of something,” he said. “Tell me what it is.” She bit down on her lip. Gideon wanted to close the gap between them, take her face in his hands, and tell her he’d protect her. But he held himself still. “You,” she whispered. “I’m afraid of you.” His heart sank like a stone. “Me?” She backed up a step. “The way you make me feel is …” She hugged the bundle of clothes tighter. “I’m afraid it’s something I could get used to. Something I could need.” She shook her head. “I’m afraid you’ll be the end of me, Gideon.” And then, much more quietly: “Maybe you already are.”

Her breathing changed, becoming shallow and rapid. She softened beneath him, melting fast. Like she was ice and he was fire. Why did it feel this good to please her? “I want all of you, Rune.” Gideon kissed her brow. “Not just tonight, but every moment from now on.”

“What if we fight all the time?” “I’d rather fight with you than do most other things.” Her forehead pinched in surprise. “You would?” “Yes.” He dragged the bridge of his nose across her cheekbone, breathing in her soapy scent. “And after we’re done fighting, I’ll take you to bed, and we’ll reconcile. In fact, I think we should fight every day just so we can make up every night.”

It would have been nice to replenish at least some of her blood stores before tomorrow, but her monthly cycle hadn’t started yet.