SHE WANTED TO LOOKat Gideon like that. Wanted to believe in him like that. To trust he could deliver them from this.
But she didn’t believe it. Shecouldn’t.
She could only believe in Cressida’s cruelty and power and vengeance. She believed Cressida would prevail, and execute them all. She believed Gideon would lead everyone to their deaths.
I can’t stay and watch that happen.
She wanted to put the whole world between herself and the scene on the terrace.
Bess had given her directions to the hot spring this morning. It wasn’t the other side of the world, but it would give Rune privacy. Not only had she not bathed in days, but there was little chance of someone finding her there and seeing her destroyed body.
It was only a ten-minute ride to the hot spring, situated at the top of a mossy headland. By the time she and Lady arrived, she was a little less upset. Hot water gushed from the source, forming a waterfall as it flowed down to the flat stones beneath.
Rune left Lady to graze further afield, grabbed the towel and the bar of soap she’d put in the saddlebag, and headed for the waterfall. Setting her towel down on a dry rock, she stripped offher clothes and stepped into the steam clouding the air. Its heat caressed her skin.
She drew closer to the waterfall, her feet slapping against wet stone. Already, she was feeling better. More herself.
She saw now how ridiculous it was, the way her chest tightened at the sight of Abbie. And how humiliating, that the look between Abbie and Gideon made her want to run like some small, frightened animal.
She wasn’tthatgirl. She didn’t trip over silly feelings.
Runesurvived.
She stepped into the waterfall, letting its heat soak her skin.This is all I needed. A chance to clear my mind.
Turning her face into the rushing water, she closed her eyes against the warm droplets…
… and burst into tears.
SIXTY-FOURGIDEON
AFTER THE COMMOTION CAUSEDby Gideon’s old friends, more chairs were pulled up to the table, and Abbie, Ash, and the others squished in. As Antonio and Bess retreated to the kitchen to cook more food for their unexpected guests, Gideon finally sat back down.
Which was when he noticed the empty seat across the table.
“Where’s Rune?”
Bess, bringing out more coffee, poured some into Ash’s cup and said, “I saw her riding into the headlands. There’s a hot spring out there. I told her the heat would do those wounds of hers some good.”
Gideon frowned, remembering the scar he’d seen on her neck. “What wounds?”
Bess startled, missing Ash’s cup and spilling coffee on the tablecloth. “Oh! I assumed you knew.” She shook her head. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything.”
Gideon was about to press her when Juniper said quietly, “Rune’s back was flayed to the bone.”
His temperature spiked.
“What?”
Bess nodded, clearly relieved to no longer be the only one revealing Rune’s secret. “I saw the marks this morning, when she asked for help dressing.”
Flayed to the bone?
“Who—”
“Cressida whipped her within an inch of her life,” said Juniper.
Everyone turned to stare at her.
