He knew how to keep the irritation just alive enough to want to retreat.
My mind tried to map the distance between the cottage, the Flame Ward, Maple Ward, and Stonewick, where the boundary lines I’d walked so many times felt familiar. But this wasn’t there.
I took a step forward again, and the ground beneath my feet gave a faint vibration as if the land itself recognized me.
Gideon’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Don’t.”
I stopped. "Don't what?"
"Don't pull at it," he said, voice low. "Don’t move or sway too much."
“But we’re near Shadowick.”
He flicked his eyes, and I saw it—a brief glimpse of the Stone Ward.
How did he do this?
"You're near my cottage," I whispered. “But it feels like…”
He didn't deny it.
“Enough.”
Gideon held my gaze like I was the one being unreasonable. Even half-dead, he could make me feel like I was failing some standard he'd never actually set.
"She's after you," I said.
His jaw flexed, and he gave a quick nod. "Yes."
His response lifted the hair on my arms.
"You vanished that day after the orcs. After the meeting. We thought—"
"That I was slipping back into shadow?"
I glared at him, unsure of what I thought. "That you were planning something."
"I am."
Of course he was. I nodded, but he lifted his hand with his palm outward. It wasn't theatrical. Just steady.
"Maeve," he said softly. "I’ve been in hiding."
The tone in his voice took me by surprise.
"You? Hiding?" My gaze narrowed on him, and something crossed his face…irritation, perhaps?
"You think I enjoy this?" he murmured.
For the first time, I saw the faintest tremor in his fingers, which he quickly controlled. It looked like his body was running on sheer will alone. It reminded me of when both Gideon and Keegan had fallen deeper into the curse.
“You’re hurt,” I whispered.
He dropped his hand slowly but kept his eyes on me. “Not in the way you mean.”
His words made no sense and made perfect sense at the same time.
The Priestess didn’t need to stab any of us to break us. She could do far worse with a whisper and a well-placed fear.
