Gideon remembered her fingers twined through the prince’s. How generous she’d been with her kisses. Staying close to him at all times. Letting him show her off to his friends.
She’d never done those things with Gideon.
It was a stern reminder of how out of his league she’d always been. How had Gideon ever let himself believe she’d settle for someone like him?
He’d been a sucker from the start.
“You’ve raised your expectations considerably,” he said. “Aiming for a prince.”
Her face hardened into a mask, but not one he was used to. All trace of the frivolous socialite she once pretended to be was gone. This mask was blank as a stone.
“On the contrary. These days, my only requirement for suitorsis that they don’t want me dead. Most people would call thoselowexpectations.”
“Whatever you say.” His shoulders straightened and he steadied his aim, needing to get this over with. “I’m just glad Alex isn’t here to witness how fast you’ve moved on.”
The words visibly struck Rune. Her hands clenched. “If Alex were here, I wouldn’thaveto move on.”
“Until he discovered the truth: that you’re a conniving little—”
Rune flung the whiskey bottle straight at his head.
Gideon ducked. The wind of its passing ruffled his hair. The glass shattered against the wall behind him, and the spray of alcohol dampened his neck. A blur of gold shot past, and Gideon realized, almost too late, Rune was bolting for the exit.
He’d expected a spell, not a bottle flying at his face.
Gideon grabbed her around the waist and shoved her against the wall. He heard the air whoosh from her lungs. Before she could recover, he pinned her wrists over her head, then shoved his knee between her legs, trapping her there.
Rune gasped, glaring up at him.
Keeping her wrists pinned with one hand, he pressed the barrel of his gun to her temple.
Her smell invaded his senses, like juniper and sea salt. Threatening to weaken him. He swallowed, heart racing. It was dangerous being this close to her.
“I wish Alex never stepped in front of that bullet,” she said. “It should beyouwho’s dead. I wish it was you!”
The words were like a rusted knife in his gut.
How many times had he wished the same?
He remembered it all too well: Cressida demanding Gideon come with her, then lifting her gun and firing when he refused. Alex taking the bullet intended for him.
He could still hear Rune’s scream. Still see her in his mind, covered in his brother’s blood, clinging to Alex as he died.
And yet: if Rune had never helped Cressida Roseblood, Alex would be alive. It was Cressida who fired the gun, but Rune had helped conceal her. She’d been in league with Gideon’s greatest enemy the whole time. Even now, Rune was trying to put Alex’s murderer back on the throne.
This is why you’re here.
He’d failed the Republic by falling in love with his mark. He’d suspected Rune was the Crimson Moth—a villainous witch he’d spent two years hunting—and he’d fallen for her anyway.
Rune had never loved Gideon. It had all been an elaborate farce. The entire time she’d pretended to court him, she was in love with his brother.
What had she said near the end?
Alex is twice the man you’ll ever be.
Rune made Gideon believe that someone like her could love someone like him. And it was a lie. He was beneath her and always would be.
But Gideon hadn’t wanted to see the truth.
