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There was a rush of air. Movement in the dark. The hair on her nape rose. Trap, said her brain, seconds before her body caught up.
D:
The voice was unmistakable. Gideon. White-hot anger burned in her breast. He’d set her up. Baited the trap and waited for her to step into it. I am such a fool.
Rune stumbled back, smiling in triumph. More shots rang out. Bullets splintered the wood.
TIIME TO RUUN
She needed to get to the Creeds’ masked ball, and fast.
SWEATING
The Moth was a coldhearted killer. Gideon had seen the corpses she’d abandoned in the city streets, ruthlessly bled dry. So why aim for his leg?
Put it togttther u hunky man
The idea of Laila hitting her mark made Gideon stiffen. If it was Rune … Gideon scowled. Who cared if it was Rune? Rune or not, the Crimson Moth wouldn’t think twice if their situation was reversed—the proof was in his throbbing, bleeding leg.
Gideon had gone soft on a murderous witch—or at the very least, a witch sympathizer. Fool.
“If she wasn’t here tonight and the Moth is someone else, Rune won’t yet know this was a trap. She’ll be at Oakhaven Park.”
Some couples keep separate bedrooms, Alex joked once, others keep separate estates.
Seeing him was like a drowning woman sighting a buoy. She wanted to throw herself in his direction, loop her arms around his neck, and hold on for dear life. She did none of these things.
The less irritable half of her was surprised at the fingers interlaced with hers. They’d never held hands before.
Before the hall turned, Alex opened a door, his hand still gripping Rune’s as he pulled her into the room.
The thin silver ring on his smallest finger glinted in the firelight.
“And why was Laila shooting at you?” “I was at the old Seldom mine, looking for Seraphine. Your brother set me up.”
“It will take us three days to sail there, and three days to sail back. So: no. You’ll have to come for the full month.” Why is he so adamant about this? It wasn’t like him.
When it’s over, will you still hide yourself in plain sight, pretending to be what you despise? Resenting everyone around you? They will never change their minds about you, Rune. Don’t you want to be free of them? Of all of it?”
“Not for a month. I want you to leave with me and never come back. I want you to be free of this, Rune. You shouldn’t have to live in constant fear for your life.”
He wants to ssee hher live a life for herseelf
For now. As if he were being patient with her. As if he’d wait for as long as it took Rune to come to her senses.
He would just for her
“In Caelis, we’ll go to the opera house every day of the week. Where they show real operas, not that propaganda you despise.”
He knows her so well
Alex, the boy she trusted most in the world. She closed her eyes. This fragile feeling in her chest felt like hope. No. She shut the feeling down. She pulled her hand free.
T~T
“You’re right. Some people are determined to live out their own personal tragedies.”
Why was he doing this? Alex was the one steady rock in her life. Always there to lean on. They didn’t fight. Not ever.
He doennnt wat to see the woman he loves suffer
“You did what you had to do to survive.” He pushed back his mask. “Kestrel wanted you to live, Rune. Don’t throw away the gift she gave you.” She glanced sharply away from him. You’re wrong.
He's not wrong
“Sometimes it feels like you’re afraid to look at me,” said Alex. Placing his warm hands on her cheeks, below her mask, he tilted her face back to his. “Is it because I don’t want to hurt you? Or hunt you? Or watch you die?”
“If I have to listen to Bart Wentholt wax poetic about his shoe collection again, I’m going to scream. Does it never occur to him that nobody cares?”
LMAOOOOOO
All of them disgusted by his presence. Witch’s whore, they’d called him. They didn’t want Gideon in their ring. But neither would they throw him out, fearing Cressida’s wrath.
One night, after crawling out of her bed like the insect he was, Gideon noticed a man old enough to be his father watching from across the bar as Gideon drank himself into oblivion before a match. While the other men spat on Gideon when they walked by, this man only stared.
“I hope things went smoothly for you, Gideon.” The voice belonged to Charlotte Gong, and it stopped him in his tracks.
“I was telling the girls at Charlotte’s luncheon about it,”
“Naturally, I’ll need to give them an update.” She smiled up at him, waiting for details. Gideon blinked. “You … did what?” If Rune had gossiped away the information he gave her, it meant other people had the same information.
Clever girl
Is she actively sabotaging me? Or is she innocent? He didn’t know. And either way, he could no longer arrest her. Not without further evidence.
And thhe game continues
Verity’s clipped voice answered for her. “Rune and I came with Alex tonight. He’s taking us both home.”
If Rune had come to this masked ball with his brother, she couldn’t have also been in Seldom Harbor. It was another strike against him.
Holy poop
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.
My feelings are EVERYWHERE
She should have felt victorious at the look on Gideon’s face when he realized she’d turned the tables on him. Instead, she felt … drained. Like she could sleep for a month straight if given the chance.
And want to marry and LIVE like that?!?
What had he been about to say before Verity barged into the room?
Maynbe "i luv u"
Rune’s nose prickled. One of these days, she would gently suggest to her friend not to dab so much perfume on … But not tonight. Tonight, if Rune felt exhausted, Verity looked it. There were dark circles under her eyes, and every few minutes, her loud yawns broke the silence in the carriage.
“How Rune will get out after she gets in,” Alex added, sounding displeased but taking part.
“I’ll talk to Noah,” said Alex, his voice like quiet thunder. “I’ve invited him and Bart over for cards this week.”
“You tried that already,” Verity pointed out. “It didn’t work.” “You tried that already?” Alex dragged his hands through his hair. Rune ignored him.
“Afterward,” said Alex, darkly. Verity said nothing. She’d gone utterly quiet.
Fighting with Alex made her feel unbalanced. Like a ship they’d been sailing smoothly on for years had suddenly plunged into stormy waters.
That’s all this was.
Nows not the ttime to bbe diving iinto deniall
No paint adorned her lips tonight. No rouge reddened her cheeks. Even her feet were bare. She looked wild and raw and exposed out here.
Her mouth quirked a little. “Did you just call me beautiful, Gideon?” “I’m stating the obvious. Don’t change the subject.” She looked away.
lol
“One of us thinks ourself too good for the other. But it’s not me.” The gate swung closed behind her. Gideon stared after her. What?
Ur move hunter boi
Rune, on the other hand, seemed rattled by his insults, but unfazed by his defiance. It was uncharted territory. And without a map to guide him, Gideon stood motionless, watching her get further away. Not even Harrow’s voice in his head was any help.
The forest ahead obscured their view of the sea, but he could taste the brine on the breeze. They were getting close.
I wonder how muchh of this, when shes around him, is her
THE SEA WAS FREEZING this time of year. Rune had opened her mouth to tell him so when Gideon shucked off his shirt. The words died on her lips.
LMAO
“Last chance, Rune.” He dropped them next. “Oh. My. Stars.” Rune covered her eyes with her hands. “Gideon Sharpe!” “Is that a blush coming up on your cheeks?”
