“Yet.”Gideon shot her a withering look. “I don’t have a planyet.”
“It’s not too late to hand them in.” Harrow nodded toward Rune, Seraphine, and Juniper.
“What I do have is a proposition,” said Gideon, ignoring her.
He rose from his seat and stood between the table on the terrace and the gardens beyond. Rune stared into her coffee, preparing herself to listen to his nonsense all over again.
“You said yourself the Blood Guard are rudderless, Harrow. And Noah Creed is not his father. If it’s true his army is bleeding soldiers, we can draw those soldiers to our side. I know these men and women. I know what they want, and what they’ll fight for, and I’m willing to bet there are those onyourside”—he glanced at Seraphine and Juniper—“who want the same thing: a world where they and their loved ones can be happy and safe. A world without tyranny, violence, or hate. A world where we can live as equals.”
Harrow blew out a skeptical breath and sank lower into her chair.
“Youhave been hunting us for years,” said Juniper suddenly.“What reason do we have to trust you?” She glanced at Harrow. “Anyof you?”
“I just gave you your enemy’s weakness,” said Gideon. “The Blood Guard are floundering without a strong leader. There’s one reason to trust me.”
“She’s right, though,” said Bart. “Even if it were possible to steal the Good Commander’s army from under him and then crush Cressida’s, why would anyone believe we wouldn’t return to hating each other?”
Gideon seemed about to respond when Seraphine’s voice cut through the noise.
“Cressida’s army is also in shambles,” she said, folding her hands on the table. “Half of Soren’s soldiers blamed Cressida for the prince’s murder and left, taking his ships with them. The other half she pays to keep in her employ—but at some point, the money will run out.”
This seemed to surprise Gideon, who glanced at Harrow, as if trying to confirm the information.
“Even now,” Seraphine continued, “many witches are deeply troubled by Cressida’s tactics, but are afraid to rise against her when disloyalty will cost their lives. They know Cressida is the only thing standing between them and the witch hunters, and for that reason alone, most will remain loyal. She is the lesser of two evils. However: with Soren’s army diminished, and without the sisters she badly needs to rule at her side, Cressida will struggle to hold on to her power. If someone were to offer the witches a better deal, they might be persuaded to abandon their queen. Or better yet: turn on her.”
This, Rune knew, was exactly what Gideon wanted: fault lines running through both sides.
But was Seraphine truly considering this? Allying herself with Gideon’s reckless cause? Very few witches would dare standagainst Cressida, knowing how painful her vengeance could be. Rune had the scars on her back to prove it. Witches who hadn’t seen Cressida whip her almost to death would have heard the story. It would be a cautionary tale.
Gideon planted his hands on the table, leaning in as his gaze locked with Seraphine’s. “If we permanently ensured she can’t resurrect Elowyn and Analise, would that help?”
“It would be a start.”
“There’s a long-lost heir, right?” said Harrow, leaning her chair back so it balanced on only two legs. “A sibling Cressida needs to do the resurrecting? If we found and killed them, it would put an end to her resurrection plans.”
Seraphine tensed. Juniper reached for Rune’s hand beneath the table.
Rune stared into her coffee, a chill sweeping through her as she remembered Gideon’s plans to hunt down the missing Roseblood.
There hadn’t been enough time to tell Gideon the truth. And even if there had been, Rune wasn’t sure she wanted him to know.
If he knew it was me, what would he think?
Not only had her biological family destroyed his, but Rune was the sister of the girl who’d abused him.
Would he do as Harrow recommended—dispose of her before Cressida could use her?
It would be the smart thing to do, anyone would agree. Her death could prevent the resurrection and upend Cressida’s plans for ultimate tyranny.
She watched Gideon run a hand over his rough-shaven cheeks, as if contemplating Harrow’s question. Before he could answer it, Juniper interrupted, still squeezing Rune’s hand.
“Instead of murdering innocents”—her voice sharpened asshe cut her gaze to Harrow—“I’ll return to the capital and learn where Cressida is keeping her sisters’ bodies. If we destroy them, they can’t be resurrected.” Juniper glanced at Gideon. “While I’m there, I could recruit more witches to our cause.”
Ourcause.
Rune couldn’t help but notice the word choice.
“And why should we trustyou?” The legs of Harrow’s chair slammed onto the floor as she leaned across the table, eyes narrowing on Juniper. “You could just as easily give us all away.”
