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“Coming, Gideon?”

He paused, shooting an apologetic glance back at Alex.

I’m doing this for you.

But his brother didn’t look wounded. He looked worried.

Exactly who Alex was worried about, Rune or Gideon, was hard to decipher. And he didn’t have time to figure it out. Fixing his attention on the task at hand—unmasking the Crimson Moth—Gideon quickly caught up to Rune. Together they left the party, and Alex, behind.

TENRUNE

RUNE’S FINGERTIPS PRICKLED WITHannoyance.

Yes, Alex had warned her away from his brother. Yes, Rune had flat-out disregarded his warning. But she had expected a scolding from him, not a direct attempt at sabotage.

She would have to nip his meddling right in the bud—as soon as she’d won over Gideon.

How am I going to do that?

She’d been expecting to leave the party with Bart or Noah tonight. Gideon was a very different type of suitor. Not only did he hunt witches for a living, there was also a good chance he suspected Rune of being one. It might even be why he was here tonight.

She wondered about his change of heart—was his irritation in the opera box actually due to fatigue? Or had something come to light about Rune that he needed to investigate himself?

She simply couldn’t trust him.

Rune thought about Verity’s mimic spider, Henry, pretending to be weak in order to catch predators in its web.

Verity’s right.She needed to be like Henry.

Rune had invited her greatest predator into the heart of her home. Now she had to ensnare him here so she could finishhim the way she’d finished so many others before: by plying him with wine from the cup she had enchanted.Truth Tellerwould compel him to tell the truth without realizing he was being compelled.

As Gideon Sharpe’s long-legged stride caught up to Rune, she remembered the scene from the ballroom. It surprised her that he didn’t know how to dance, since Alex was such a proficient dancer.

But that’s because I taught him,thought Rune. Clearly no one had taught Gideon.

She wouldn’t have asked him to dance if she’d known he didn’t know how. Humiliating him like that, in front of all her friends, would not win him over. And from the rigid line of his shoulders and the stiffness in his step beside her, she could tell his guard was still up.

If she was going to ensnare him, she needed to first put him at ease.

“I apologize for my guests. You’re a novelty here, you must know that. They couldn’t help but stare.”

He scanned their surroundings, taking in everything from the pale blue floor tiles to the white marble columns lining this hall. “Is that a nice way of saying I lack pedigree?”

“Not at all!” She forced a laugh, settling into her persona. “Just look at your suit.”

“It was my father’s,” he said, defensive.

Rune’s footsteps slowed.He thinks I’m making fun of him.

How was she botching this so badly?

“Wait …” She frowned, realizing what he’d said. “It was your father’s suit, or your father made it?”

“Both.”

Rune stopped walking altogether. Gideon was several yardsahead. Realizing she was no longer at his side, he turned to face her.

“Gideon. You’re wearing a vintage suit made by the Sharpe Duet, and you think my guests are laughing at your pedigree?”