Page 67 of A Simple Truth (the Freckled Fate #2)

66

GIDEON

I nervously twisted the ring in my hand, watching the Destroyer-made diamond reflect the bits of stars shimmering in between the dark clouds. I wished it wouldn’t be cloudy. I wished the stars would be shining brightly, lighting up the small, little place I had set up.

But if the gloomy weather were the only thing wrong with tonight, I’d count it as a lucky day indeed.

My stomach twisted with unease, and I let out a slow breath, adjusting the lapels of my jacket. I had rarely worn this type of clothing in the camp, but today required a nicer outfit; a special occasion indeed.

My eyes lingered on the best smoked salmon found in Esnox, my lips stretching up in a half smile. She was going to love it.

There, right next to the fish, was also a plate of fresh fruit, and a plate filled with different cheeses. I spent the whole day yesterday scavenging the streets of Svitar for the best of the best, because that’s what she deserved. I managed to find the small bakery she’d mentioned that she loved in her letters. Now, desserts of all kinds were abundantly laid out on the large picnic blanket.

The occasional gusts of wind fought the flickering flames of the million candles surrounding me, the melted wax lazily slithering down the shaft of the candles as I stood still, awaiting her arrival.

The plan was quite simple. After the games, I raced to this hidden spot on the beach, secluded and quiet, the perfect place for just the two of us as the ocean waves crashed into the sand. I spent a couple of hours setting up, then Orest would find her and bring her here. To me. And then? And then the rest of our eternity would start.

Soon, she’d be here with me .

A smile reach my eyes as I remembered her from this morning.

She was brilliant, magnificent, breathtaking.

And when she jumped off that cliff, I thought my heart jumped off with her. Then, as seconds passed and she emerged from the wild waters victorious, my soul relieved as her face lit up with that stubborn smirk as our eyes locked.

There would be songs and legends written about her. About her courage and her perseverance. About her brilliance and wit.

And about her heart. Her heart, which conquered the Lord of Death himself.

I let out a small chuckle, remembering the poor joke I had come up with about keeping her away from cliffs. She’d roll her eyes and yet, those perfect lips of hers would stretch wide in a smile, making my stomach summersault with glee.

My thoughts quieted and my eyes darkened when I saw Orest’s figure finally appear.

Alone.

“Where is she?” I asked, my heart dropping in my chest while my mind rang the alarms. Orest didn’t reply, the look in his eyes…

No. I objected to the loud assumptions sprouting in my head.

“Where is she, Orest?” I asked again, somehow irrationally hoping that she was just a step behind.

“Gideon, Finn is gone,” he replied with a quiet voice.

“Gone?” I repeated. Whatever excitement I had felt moments before, exploded in flames, leaving scorched earth behind.

“There is a missing dragonfly, Gideon…” Orest looked at me, his eyes apologetic.

No. I glared at him again.

No.

“A few guards are down as well.”

No. It can’t be. My mind shattered at the truth.

“She is gone,” Orest said once again, as the vile, wicked inferno burned me within.

“She is not gone then. She has left …” I bitterly spat out the words Orest was too afraid to say. My heart was being shredded, pain beyond my comprehension almost blinding me.

She left. My mind choked on the agony.

She. Left. Me.

She left.

My eyes narrowed at the burning candles, at the food and the wine.

Without hesitation, I incinerated it all, marching away from the ashes, down to the camp, where everyone celebrated while my soul slowly died.

My mind was blank as I walked, only infernos raged free within me, scorching every thought, every memory except one.

She left me .

Zora was already standing by my tent with her hands behind her back.

“Gideon—”

“Where is the woman I love, Zorianna?” I snarled at her, and her eyes flashed with hurt.

“She is off to the Rock Quarries, to free her friend,” she winced at the words.

“How long has she been planning on doing this? How long did you know?” I fumed.

“I had suspected for a while now, but I had hoped that you…” Zora swallowed hard. “I had hoped that she’d change her mind...” My jaw was about to snap as the fires played within my eyes. I stormed inside my tent, not bothering to light up the room, lest everything would burn within my sight.

“She’ll come back, Gideon,” Zora assured.

“ Come back?! Zora, the woman I love more than life itself is about to walk herself into a death trap and I’m supposed to just wait for her to come back to me?” A frantic laugh escaped my mouth. “No, fuck that.” I tried to keep my voice cool, but failed. “Fuck. Fuck. Fuck!” I kicked the chair down. “The Royal armies are stationed in the Rock Quarries right now, transporting all the slaves east.”

“What are we going to do?” Zora asked, her voice grave as the reality hit her.

“ I am going to the Rock Quarries, and I am going to bring her back.” Wrath burned within me as I pulled my nice jacket off, rapidly putting on my armor.

‘She’ll come back.’ Oh, I’d make sure of it. Even if I had to drag her stubborn ass to safety.

She would not fucking die for some pointless slave.

Fuck!

I was glad the lights were off so I wouldn’t see my hands shaking from desperation and fury.

“You can’t go,” Zora protested.

“I am going.”

“No. Let the Ten go and bring Finn back,” she countered.

“No. I am going, Zora.”

“If we go, it’s treason. If you go it means war, Gideon,” my cousin said sternly.

“I am fully aware, Commander, ” I growled.

“Zora, assemble the Ten, we leave in twenty. I’ll notify the De Villiars and Xentar. Gideon, the battalions will be ready to move out upon our return,” Orest commanded.

Zora’s nostrils flared as she gave a curt nod, obeying Orest’s command, swiftly leaving the tent.

“Why?” I asked Orest, as he paused on the threshold. “Why, Orest, why ?” I asked again, unable to finish my question, unable to hide the crumbling facade within me.

“Guilt is a powerful emotion, Gideon,” he carefully answered.

“I thought love was all prevailing...” my broken voice uttered through the disheveled darkness of the room. Orest’s eyes darted to the quickly disappearing figure of Zora.

“Then you never truly loved.”