It wasn’t a dream.
Her eyes burned with the realization.
BANG!
The gunshot brought her back to the gorge. Rune turned to Gideon, whose eyes were dark with fear.
“Try to reach the bridge,” he said, still firing. “If I keep shooting at them, maybe—”
He was in denial. Refusing to see what was right in front of him. Rune wouldn’t even make it to the bridge. And if by some miracle she did, more witches were waiting beyond it, not to mention the soldiers.
“Gideon.”
He didn’t seem to hear her.
Cressida was seconds away. Any moment now, soldiers would shoot him dead, forcing Rune to watch him die. Andthen Cressida would kill Rune, too, resurrecting their sisters and cementing her reign of terror.
If Rune didn’t act now, the world she’d glimpsed last night would be snuffed out in the blink of an eye.
She couldn’t let that happen.
BANG!
“If you can get to Seraphine,” said Gideon, “maybe you can—”
Before he wasted the last bullet in the chamber, Rune grabbed the hot barrel and forced it down.
“Gideon.”
He jerked his head toward her, studying her for a moment. Droplets of spray shone in his hair, making it look darker than usual.
“Let go of the gun.”
He frowned, his eyes wild with confusion.
Swallowing down her fear, she said, “Do you trust me?”
It seemed to take all of his strength to do it, but he let her take his pistol.
The sacrifice must be living when the spell begins.
She was going to die. That was certain. And in light of that certainty, there was only one choice before her. Only one move left to make.
A dead victim will not work, even if the blood is fresh.
With trembling hands, Rune turned Gideon toward her. Away from the horror a few steps away.
The victim’s life must be taken in the process of casting the spell, or it will fail.
“Look at me.” She made sure the pistol was cocked. Just like he taught her.
Her hands shook harder, making her realize she couldn’t do this herself. She was going to need his help.
Tearing his eyes from Cressida, Gideon fixed them on Rune.Placing her hand over his heart, she said, “I want you to know I am so grateful, solucky, to have loved you.” Her voice wobbled. “Even if it was only for a little while.”
Gideon’s jaw clenched. “What are—”
Rune shook her head. The tears prickling her eyes made the sight of him blur.
