“Sorry, Charlie,” Maddie said, then made a sound like a laugh crossed with a hiccup, or maybe a sob.
“Stop right there. What’s going on?”
Maddie stopped about eight feet away and faced the men.
“You said you loved me. But you're withhernow.”
Is she talking to Rowan or Duke?Charlie's hand moved to her sidearm. “Maddie?—”
“I loved you,” Maddie said, her voice breaking. “I did what you asked. I turned them all against her.” She gestured wildly toward Viv.
“Maddie, honey?—”
“Shut up, Viv!” She turned her attention back to the men. “I did everything for you.”
Duke's eyes went round. “Maddie, what?—”
“And then you got your new show.” Maddie's voice rose. “And your new girlfriend. Like I never existed.”
“Maddie,” Duke said carefully, “we were just friends. I never said I loved you?—”
“Liar! Youdid!” Her voice cracked. “Every time you complained about Viv. Every time you said they were ruiningthe show. Every time you told me I was the only one who understood. I was The Chronicler. For you. I riled up the fans. For you. You're the perfect Caiden.”
Her voice dropped, low and menacing. “I cut that saddle strap for you. So Rowan would get hurt, Viv would fail, and you'd keep being Caiden.”
Duke's face went white. “Maddie, I never asked you to?—”
Maddie drew a gun and pointed it directly at Duke's chest.
Charlie's weapon came up as she moved, putting herself between Maddie and Duke.
“Gun down.Now.”
“I don’t care what happens to me anymore.” Maddie's eyes were dead. Empty. Her finger moved to the trigger.
Charlie lunged. The gunshot cracked across the mountain.
Followed by a roar above them. A wide, white plume of snow rose and blotted out the sky.
TWENTY-TWO
Ben watchedCharlie disappear up the mountain, her snowmobile's taillight vanishing into the darkness and falling snow. Three more lights followed—Viv, Rowan, Duke.
His chest felt tight. She was working. This was her job.
But he still wanted to be up there with her.
“You're staring, Moose,” Elias said, appearing at his elbow with two steaming cups of coffee. They seriously clashed with his medieval-style armor. “Want one?”
“I'm good.” He took it anyway.
“You're not good. You're pining.” Elias grinned. “When are you going to pop the question?”
Ben felt his ears go red. “Christmas.”
“Finally.” Elias clapped him on the shoulder. “About damn time.”
Gabe, Bear, and Waylon drifted over in their Embersworn Knight costumes minus the helmets. They were having the time of their lives.
