She turned back around.
He held out his hand to her. “Dance with me?”
The corner of her mouth turned up as she took his hand.
As he led her into the dancers, Gideon looked to make sure Rune was still in view. She and William weren’t at the card table with the rest of Abbie’s friends. Gideon scanned the room, but there was no sign of her. Realizing he didn’t even know if Rune had followed them in, he stopped walking.
“Is everything all right?” asked Abbie.
“I…” He turned in a circle, scanning the walls, the tables, the dancers. “Have you seen my wife?”
“She seemed friendly with William,” said Abbie. “I’m sure he’s taking care of her.”
There was an edge in her voice. Like she meant something else.
Gideon frowned, remembering the way William had tried to insert himself in Rune’s booth last night, plying her with wine. She was a beautiful girl, sitting alone. Gideon had been under no illusions about what he wanted, even if Rune had.
But Rune was a master of seduction herself. Surely she could see his game.
Right?
Gideon hesitated.
If he was wrong, if Abbie wasn’t working for Harrow, thenthe spy was still at large while Rune wandered through the ship, oblivious to the danger.
He let go of Abbie’s hand.
“I’m sorry. I need to find her…”
Before someone else does.
TWENTY-TWORUNE
“I TOLD YOU ITwas warm down here!” William yelled to be heard above the engine’s noise. He stepped off the steel catwalk and descended the spiral staircase, leading Rune deeper into the boiler room. The steam from the boilers wafted up to them, moistening Rune’s skin as theSHUNK SHUNK SHUNKof the engine beat loudly. “Careful not to slip!”
Rune gripped the rail, wanting to put as much distance between herself and Gideon as possible. She and William had left the room where the ship’s staff were having an after-work party, and where she had found Gideon taking Abbie’s hand and leading her into the dancers.
The sight was like a fist squeezing her heart.
Gideon had called Abbiean old friend. So why did it seem like more?
And why did it bother Rune so much?
And why hadn’t he askedherto dance?
A girl like you wouldn’t be caught dead dancing with riffraff,he’d once told her.
How can he know if he never asks me?
Sighing, she turned her attention to William.
“Did you fight alongside them at the New Dawn?” She raised her voice to be heard as they descended. “Ash and Abbie and Gideon, I mean.”
He shook his head, helping her down the steps. “I grew up on the Continent. I only met Ash and Abbie here, aboard theArcadia. Though, from all the stories they tell, I sometimes feel like Iwasthere.”
Another question hung from the tip of her tongue, though Rune was afraid to ask it.
She forced it out: “Gideon and Abbie weren’t just friends back then, were they.”
