The night seemed to draw in around the words.
Keegan’s voice was low when he spoke.
“What is it?”
Gideon kept his eyes on me.
“Depends on who’s holding it.”
My stomach tightened.
“Where did you get it?” I asked.
Something shifted in his expression then. It wasn’t much of a change, but enough to tell me he’d expected the question.
“From her,” he said.
For a moment, the night seemed to go very still. Nobody said a word for a solid minute.
From behind me, I heard Twobble suck in a sharp breath.
I hadn’t realized he’d crept closer again until that sound gave him away.
“You stole from her,” Keegan said.
Gideon’s mouth twitched. “It doesn’t belong to just one person. I reclaimed it.”
My throat tightened. “Why bring it to me?”
Gideon looked at me for a long moment, but in that silence, I, of course, saw the arrogance I expected, but there was something else there, too. Something I never thought I’d see on him. Fear. He wasn’t afraid of dying. That never seemed to bother him. He was afraid of failing. I could sense it.
“Because she will come for it. No matter who has it,” he said quietly. “And you offer more protection for the stone. You have an entire village to look after it. I’m just a man on the run.”
Keegan’s hand tightened at my back, and his voice was low and fierce. “Then leave it here and go.”
Gideon’s gaze snapped to him, sharp. “If I leave it here, she’ll feel it. She’s already sniffing along every boundary. You think she hasn’t tasted this Ward’s edge tonight? I’m letting you know so you can prepare for it. I will hand it to you when you’re ready.”
My stomach dropped.
He was right.
Gideon’s gaze returned to mine. “I came because you’re already in her line of sight. The choice isn’t whether you become part of this. You already are. I will keep her distracted for as long as I can.”
The words hit like ice water, and my breath trembled.
“What is the stone?” I asked.
“It’s a shadow stone. The last remaining one.”
“What does it do?”
“Nothing I’ll speak about in the open.” Gideon’s eyes held mine. “But I want you to stop thinking you can out-will her alone.”
Keegan’s voice was tight. “You’re asking Maeve to trust you after everything you’ve done?”
Gideon didn’t deny it. “Yes.”
“And why would she?” Caleb asked.
