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Rune swallowed. Was that suspicion in his voice, or flirtation?

Danger, danger,said her brain.

“What do you do with them, when you—”

Taking her chin gently in his fingers, Gideon turned her face toward his. His eyes were intense, his breathing shallow and uneven.

“Rune,” he said, pupils dilating. He lookedhungrysuddenly. Like a man who hadn’t eaten in years. “Less talking.”

He’s going to kiss me,she realized.

And the scariest thing was, Rune wanted him to. More than she wanted information, more than she wanted to rescue Seraphine …in this moment, she wanted to know how his mouth would feel against hers. If it would be soft or rough. If it would be as tender as his fingers, or if he’d give in to that ravenous hunger, taking his fill of her.

It shocked her out of her stupor.

Rune was no longer the mimic spider, luring her victim into a trap. She was inside her own trap …about to be devoured by her prey.

Desperate to extricate herself, Rune remembered the cup still in her hands.

Before Gideon completely overwhelmed her, she dumped her wine down the front of his suit.

TWELVERUNE

GIDEON SHOT LIKE LIGHTNINGfrom the sofa. On his feet, he stumbled away from Rune, staring down at the dark stain seeping through his rare and expensive jacket.

Guilt pricked her like a pin.

“Oh, Gideon! I’m so sorry …” Rising from the love seat, Rune grabbed the wool shawl hanging off the back of her dresser chair. She felt shaky. Light-headed. “Clumsy me. Let me clean you up …”

He backed away from her, arms raised. “It’s fine. Please—don’t ruin your shawl.” He unbuttoned the jacket, shrugged it off, and held it out to inspect the damage.

“I’ll call for Lizbeth. Maybe if she soaks it—”

“What is going on here?” a voice exclaimed from the doorway.

Rune spun to find Verity entering the room, pearls gleaming from her neck and wrists. She looked windblown and out of breath, as if she’d heard Rune’s startled cry and, expecting the worst, ran to her bedroom.

At the sight of Gideon, Verity abruptly halted, staring like she’d caught them in the middle of something scandalous. Her heart-shaped mouth formed a shocked O.

“This appears to be my cue to leave,” said Gideon. Foldinghis soggy jacket over one arm, he caught Rune’s eye. “I’ll see myself out, Miss Winters. Good night.”

Before she could answer, he trod past a still-gaping Verity and disappeared into the hall.

When he was out of earshot, Verity hissed, “Are youout of your mind?”

She’d gone dark as a thundercloud.

“That”—Verity’s index finger sliced the air in the direction Gideon had gone—“wasnotthe plan. Gideon Sharpe is not on your list!”

Rune crept to the door and peered out, watching the Blood Guard captain’s form recede down the hall. She was warm all over, her body humming with the memory of their close encounter. When Gideon was good and truly gone, she said, “That’s because he’s never shown interest.”

Verity went quiet. “Has he shown interest?”

Rune’s skin buzzed where Gideon had reached for her chin. She could still hear the hunger in him as he murmured her name.

Maybe?

Either that, or he was a cold, calculating master of seduction.