Rebel Witch (The Crimson Moth, #2)

by Kristen Ciccarelli

“We both know what you want to do to me, Gideon. Well, here’s your chance.” His gaze slid to her mouth. “You have no idea, the things I want to do to you.”

Instead, he’d found this Rune. His Rune. A total mess. The basest part of him wanted to tilt her head back and kiss her until she told him why she was crying.

“I may not know Rune Winters,” he whispered, his mouth an inch from hers. “But I know the Crimson Moth. And she is no caged thing.”

A girl like you wouldn’t be caught dead dancing with riffraff, he’d once told her. How can he know if he never asks me?

“You want the truth?” Her own hurt bubbled up, like steam from a volcano ready to erupt. “This is the truth: I would have married you in a heartbeat, had you asked me. I would have married you knowing you would hand me over to my killers—or kill me yourself—the moment you found out what I was. That’s how pathetic I am, Gideon! That’s how desperately I wanted to be yours!”

Gideon saw her immediately. Like a compass that would always find north.

Don’t fight me, baby.

If this was weakness, he wanted to be weak. If this was sin, let him be damned to hell.

Cressida and Rune were impossible to confuse. They were as different as poison and its antidote.

Of all the boys in the world, why did she have to fall in love with the one who could never, ever love her back?

“Since we’re airing our grievances: it kills me watching you seduce other men.”

“Rune.” Her name pulled her gaze to his. “For once in your damn life, don’t fight me.”

“You are far worse than a thorn in my side,” he said, his dark eyes gleaming at her. “You are a knife in my heart.”

Rune glanced up from the note, staring across the sea, feeling like she’d made a terrible mistake. Like she’d abandoned half her soul behind in hell.

Most of all: Was this worth it? Was Rune worth it? The thought of her only brought resolve. Rune is worth everything.

We’re still in hell, she thought. It just has different trappings.

If Rune was going to leave everything behind, forever, she wanted a reminder of the woman who’d loved her so much she sacrificed herself so Rune could live.

“It might look like weakness on the surface. But in truth, it’s tougher than steel. Love can’t be controlled. Love can’t obey unjust laws. Love will always oppose tyrants.”

“Because I was stupid enough to fall in love with a witch hunter. Stupid enough to hope he might love me back. And if he did, I wasn’t going to let anything come between us again.”

I don’t deserve this girl. He slid his palms against her cheeks and tilted her head back. But I want to. I want to be the man who deserves Rune Winters.

“Is that extortion?” His mouth curved. “I’ll happily be extorted by you.”

It surprised her, even now, how both gentleness and strength could be bound up together in one man.

Sometimes our paths must diverge from those we love. But if love is the highest power, our paths will converge again—if not in this world, then the next.

Even in death, my love, you are a wonder.