Gideon’s hands fisted, crumpling the telegram, which he promptly threw in the fire.
He could do this. He simply had to prove it. If the Commander wanted to punish him for his disobedience once he was back on New Republic soil, so be it. Because Cressida Roseblood had to be stopped, no matter the cost. She could not retake her throne, and she couldnotresurrect her sisters.
Cress alone was one thing; she was powerful and cruel. But compared to Elowyn and Analise, she was a novice.
Gideon was seeing this job through to the end. There could be no hesitating this time.
He would find Rune, and he would kill her.
And if a small voice inside him objected, it was only because Gideon was still compromised. Stillweakenedby her. If he thought about how Rune risked herself tonight to help him, he would waver.
Gideon couldn’t waver.
If he did, Cressida would rise to power. She’d resurrect her sisters. And together they would destroy the New Republic and usher in a new reign of terror, this one far worse than the last.
Gideon had no choice. Killing Rune was the only way to stop that from happening.
If it broke him, so be it.
TWELVEGIDEON
PRINCE SOREN TO MARRY HEIRESS-IN-EXILE!
Prince Soren Nord and Lady Rune Winters, a witch recently escaped from the New Republic, wish to announce their engagement. The couple are keeping the wedding’s date and location secret, citing privacy concerns, but hinted that the ceremony will occur within the month. The announcement comes hand in hand with Prince Nord’s proclamation last night in Caelis, at the Royal Ballet, where he made it clear he supports Queen Cressida’s claim to the Roseblood throne and will do whatever is necessary to help her secure it.
SO, THE HAPPY COUPLEwere in the capital.
If there was one thing Gideon knew about Rune Winters, it was that she loved fashion. As an aristocrat, Rune felt the need to keep up with whatever styles were currently in vogue.
And if there was one thing he knew about Soren Nord, it was that he liked to flaunt his things.
Suspecting the prince would want to indulge his new fiancée—and in doing so, show her off to the upperclasses of Caelis—Gideon headed for Caelis’s wealthier shopping district to hunt for them. There, he planted himself against the wall of a tailor shop and waited, scanning the weekend crowds from the shadows.
It didn’t take long before Gideon spotted them, and soon he was following the couple at a safe distance. He watched Soren escort Rune into a shop while the prince’s bodyguards took their positions outside the door. In the window, faceless mannequins wore wedding dresses edged with lace and pearls.
Should he wait for Rune to exit and take his shot? Or was it better to get her alone? To do this somewhere private and escape undetected?
In the end, Soren chose for him. A few minutes after entering the shop, the prince emerged without Rune. Perhaps he considered it taboo to see her in a wedding dress before the ceremony. Or perhaps he intended to purchase his own matrimonial attire while Rune was trying on hers.
Whatever the reason, the prince stepped out, said something to the bodyguards, and continued down the road, taking one with him. The other stayed to guard Rune, keeping his eyes on the street merchants and their customers.
Gideon relaxed. One guard was easier to deal with than two.
Time to get this over with.
He headed for the shop. Unsure if the soldiers would recognize him, he swiped a fedora off a hatter’s display and pressed it onto his head, hoping it matched the suit he wore.
Tipping the brim forward to shadow his face, he stepped straight past the guard and through the door.
A bell dinged overhead.
The guard briefly glanced at him, then returned to his scan of the street.
“Can I help you?”
The shop matron stepped out from behind the counter, clutching a cane, as the door shut behind him. Her silver hair was done up in an extravagant bun.
“G’day, ma’am.” He scanned the shop and found it empty.Rune must be trying something on.He nodded toward the back, where a mirror stood with fitting rooms on both sides. “I’m looking for my fiancée. She’s trying on a dress.”
