Heartless Hunter (Crimson Moth, #1)

by Kristen Ciccarelli

She knew, in her heart, Alex would never betray her. He would just never betray his brother, either.

perturbed.”

RUNE WINTERS. Every time Gideon looked at the young heiress, she reminded him of the sea: steal-your-breath beautiful on the surface, with the promise of untold depths beneath.

Elias

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.

He did all thst before tge ball??

Gideon stepped directly behind Rune and the shadow of him spread up her back. Startled by the move, she froze, her pulse thrumming. With one hand still on the key to her left, Gideon reached around Rune with his free hand, pressing down on the keys to her right—F, then F-sharp—caging her in.

It feels like a foreshadowing of gideon trapping/capturing her

Rune’s senses heightened as she wondered if the mimic spider ever underestimated its much larger prey and was sometimes caught in its own web instead.

decanter,

she dumped her wine down the front of his suit.

Wouldnt he smell her Faint magic??

gave Rune bad information this morning.” Harrow glanced over at him. “Oh?” “I told her the location of a holding cell for witches near Seldom Harbor.” “And that’s bad?” “There’s no holding cell near Seldom Harbor. Just a trap waiting for the Crimson Moth.” Harrow’s golden eyes widened. As this

“Are you so determined to misunderstand me?” Gideon paused, studying her. If he and Rune Winters were truly courting—which would never happen—this is exactly the argument he would have with her.

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.

He wanted to sink into her softness. To bury himself in her.

His body buzzed at the lack of her. As if Rune in his arms was the only true thing in the world, and until she was there again, everything was wrong.

Maybe she isn’t a witch. He couldn’t see a single casting scar marring her smooth skin. And damn, did he look.

“I remember the sound of your laugh,” he said as the back door of the house came into view. “It pulled me like a magnet toward the beach, where I found the most beautiful girl in the world standing on the shore.”

mouth brushed the corner of her jaw, sending a rush of sensation across her skin and making her breath hitch.

He thought of Rune on the beach, stripping off her clothes. Letting him look. Heat flickered deep inside him.

Gideon felt too many things at once. His chest knotted with frustration. His body ached with desire. Worst of all, he suspected Harrow was right. It had been dark when they went swimming. He’d looked at Rune from a distance. And he hadn’t truly inspected every inch of her.

But it wasn’t only her physical attributes that had him spinning. It was her kindness. Her thoughtfulness. Her wildness. It was her willingness to argue with him. If he wasn’t careful, he might fall in love with her.

“Verity? Do you think the Roseblood sisters used Arcana spells?” Verity glanced up from the spell book’s pages. “Why do you ask?”

No wonder Verity hated her parents. This

Ngl this might be a set up bikm suspecting verity as the witch Thats supposed to Be dead but is alive

Gideon needed to keep his head about him more than ever.

GROTESQUE

satiate.

She looked away, fisting her hands. “Please, let’s just forget it.” Gideon stepped toward her. Taking her face in his palms, he guided her eyes back to his. “Tell me.” Her jaw was clenched, so he ran his thumb along its edge until she relaxed.

cogent

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?

coerce

infringing

Alex unknowingly not finished the job, or was some dark magic at play?

At the sight of him, alive, Rune burst into tears all over again. She tried to wipe them away. Tried to catch her breath between great heaving gasps. But it was impossible. “Hey. Hey. It’s all right …” He was suddenly right in front of her, his hands solid and warm on her shoulders. “Everything is all right.” “I thought you were dead!” she managed between sobs. She reached for

The haunted shadows in his eyes were gone, leaving something raw and yearning. His tender fingers traced along her jaw, making her ache. He was unraveling her. You’re vulnerable, she told herself. Get Lady and ride straight back to Wintersea. Before you do something you’ll regret.

IT WAS UNNATURAL, THE way he wanted her. Like nothing else in the world mattered more than bringing her upstairs, peeling her out of those riding leathers, and guiding her down to the bed. Like nothing mattered more than her.

“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.” Gideon felt her breath quicken. She liked the sound of that.

I want all of you, Rune. Not just tonight, but every moment from now on.

“You can’t renounce your own heart,” said Alex, stepping toward her, eyes brimming with emotion. He lowered his head, pressing his cheek to her temple.

Especially with his hand pressed to the small of her back. Even in his anger, he was tender with her. Stoic Gideon—so firm in his conviction, so diligent in his duty—was reluctant. Conflicted. She felt it in the gentle press of his palm.