Laila’s nostrils flared. But she said nothing more. Only tightened her grip on Rune’s arm and continued walking, leading them out of Rune’s bedroom and into the hall, forcing Rune downstairs, out the back door, and into the chilly night.
“Leave us,” Laila told the other soldiers. “I’ll take it from here.”
Alone, she marched Rune into the gardens.
“On your knees.”
Rune did as she said. The earth was hard and cold beneath her, and the sky was bright with stars overhead.
With her hands bound in front of her, Rune breathed in the scent of Nan’s roses.
This is a good place to die.
The Wintersea gardens were better than a platform surrounded by a bloodthirsty mob. Perhaps they would bury her here, among the roses.
Rune heard a softclickas Laila cocked her gun.
At least I got to see Gideon,she thought, remembering his calloused hand against her cheek.One last time.
She closed her eyes, breathed in deep, and waited for the shot to come.
FIFTY-NINEGIDEON
“YOU WOULD HAVE GONEdown in history as a hero,” said Noah as Felix and the other soldiers wrestled Gideon into his chains. “Instead, you fell in love with a witch.”
She was always out of your league, Sharpe.
Gideon suddenly remembered the way Noah used to look at Rune—from across a ballroom, or an opera box. The way his eyes tracked her.
He wanted her,Gideon realized.
He remembered the things Noah had said about Rune at Alex’s card game, months ago. Ugly things meant to hurt her reputation.
To punish her for rejecting him.
It all suddenly made sense.
“Is that really what bothers you—that I fell in love with her?” Gideon growled as they tried to lock the manacles around his wrists. “Or is it that she loved me back?”
Noah’s mouth twisted in a scowl.
“You don’t want her dead because she’s a witch,” said Gideon, “you want her dead because she didn’t wantyou.”
Noah stepped closer, raising his gun. Silently telling Gideon to cooperate with his captors. “Soon she won’t want you, either, since she’ll be six feet underground.”
The thought of Rune dead made Gideon’s heart turn to stone. But he’d heard no gunshot. That meant she was still alive—for now.
He struggled harder against the soldiers trying to subdue him. But it was four against one, and despite his efforts, the manacles clicked, locking his wrists behind his back.
How was he supposed to get to her, chained as he was, with so many armed soldiers intent on preventing him?
Rune is resilient. She’ll find a way to survive.
She had to.
Gideon didn’t want to live in a world without her.
He turned his angry gaze on Noah.
