“What if itcan?”
She pulled free of his grasp. “She’ll kill us both.”
Gideon stared at her. “Then it will be an honor to die at your side.”
She made a frustrated sound and shook her head. “Are you even listening to me? I can’t watch you fall into her hands again!” She pressed her palms to her eyes, as if trying to grind the nightmarish visions out of her mind. “I could recover from Nan’s death, and Alex’s. But I won’t recover from yours.” She glanced up at him. “It will shatter me.”
“It won’t,” he said, closing the gap. Touching his forehead to hers. “You’re stronger than that.”
“Maybe I was once,” she whispered. “I’m not anymore.”
He ran his hands up her arms and shoulders, cupping her neck. She started to soften beneath his touch. But when Gideon tried to draw her closer, she stiffened.
“I’ve made up my mind.” She pulled away. “Is this your answer? You won’t come with me?”
He shook his head, miserably. “I can’t. There are too many lives at stake.”
Rune gave a tight, terse nod. She understood, but he was breaking her heart. Her face said it all. “Then this is goodbye.”
She turned and continued down the path toward Lady, then mounted her and rode away.
It nearly killed Gideon to let her go.
But he did.
SIXTY-SIXRUNE
RUNE FELT LIKE HERheart was made of clay, and someone had smashed it into a thousand pieces.
She understood why Gideon had refused her. Of course she did. But it didn’t make her feel any less broken.
Put it behind you,she told herself as she rode Lady away from the hot spring.You’re leaving. He’s staying. That’s the end of it.
Her train departed this evening. Bess had bought her the ticket. She would be gone by sunset.
If she wanted to get to the station in time, she’d have to leave soon.
Rune needed to change into fresh clothes and retrieve her train ticket. She hurried to her bedroom, passing Abbie on the stairs. Recognizing Rune, the girl stopped and turned. As if to say something.
Rune rushed past. She didn’t want to face Gideon’s old sweetheart—a girl who was now very much free to win him back.
She ran faster up the stairs.
Rune couldn’t bear to stay here a moment longer.
SIXTY-SEVENGIDEON
GIDEON STOOD AT THEsecond-floor window overlooking the gates of the Wentholts’ cottage. His clothes were still damp from the waterfall, and his hair dripped water down his neck as he watched Rune ride Lady out through the gates.
In that moment, he knew, somehow, that she was not coming back.
Gideon watched until she disappeared into the surrounding woods and lingered long after, his temple pressed to the cool glass, wondering if he’d made the right choice.
“You didn’t go with her?”
Rousing himself, Gideon turned to find Harrow behind him, leaning up against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest.
Gideon was so used to seeing Harrow with her dark brown hair pulled up in a topknot, he almost didn’t recognize her. She’d let her hair down. Long and straight, it shimmered in the sunlight. Softening her hard edges.
