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, “afterI 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 theheir. 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 herdead.” 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 heirandRune 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.
THIRTY-SIXRUNE
RUNE WAITED THREE HOURSfor Gideon to show up. When the sun set and there was still no sign of him, she rocked Meadow to sleep and put her in his bed. Then she found the closet where Gideon kept several spare weapons and boxes full of bullets. She loaded two guns and set them down on the table, in easy reach. In case the Blood Guard showed up.
This was a terrible idea.She drummed her fingers against her leg as she paced.What was he thinking?
What wasshethinking?
I shouldn’t have left him.
What if he didn’t make it out alive?
When another half hour passed and the apartment grew dark, Rune lit several candles to see by. She considered leaving the sleeping Meadow with a neighbor so she could find out what happened to Gideon and rescue him if need be.
Footsteps on the stairs made her freeze. Rune picked up one of the loaded pistols and aimed it at the door, her body buzzing as she listened to the sound of a key turning in the latch.
Rune’s grip tightened on the gun.
But when the door swung open, Gideon stood in the frame.
