Page 40 of Rebel Witch: The Crimson Moth 2

FORTY

GIDEON

R UNE IS THE MISSING heir.

The adopted granddaughter of Kestrel Winters was a Roseblood princess. Daughter to Queen Winoa. Half sister to Cressida.

Heir to the Roseblood throne.

And no one knew.

Gideon’s mind was a tempest as Comrade’s hooves thundered down dirt roads, racing back to the capital.

If Cressida learns of this…

But Gideon had a bigger problem.

I’m giving you two days to come through on your promises. Noah’s voice echoed through his head. If the Crimson Moth slips through your fingers once again, I’ll have to assume it’s intentional.

Tomorrow was the deadline. Gideon had promised to hand over Rune and the heir. If he didn’t come through…

If you fail, you’ll be accused of sympathizing with witches and put in a cell to await execution.

There was still time to arrest Rune before she left. He could tell Noah the truth: Rune and the Roseblood heir were the same person.

He could come through on every promise.

But if I tell the truth, Noah will kill her.

It’s what Gideon himself had planned to do.

And if I don’t tell the truth?

If he handed Rune over to Noah and kept her secret to himself… would Noah kill him ?

Gideon might still be able to talk himself out of a death sentence. Rune’s arrest could be enough to satisfy the Commander. Especially if Soren eliminated Cressida and her witches in exchange for the safe delivery of his fiancée.

Laila would back him up, he was certain.

But Rune would never forgive him. Not for handing her back to Soren. Not for bartering with her to get more witches killed. It was betrayal, pure and simple.

And if I don’t betray her?

The unthinkable would occur: Cressida would wage a war, win back her throne, and usher in a new reign of terror. One Gideon wouldn’t even live to see, because Noah would execute him first.

And if Cressida ever learns who Rune is… if she casts that summoning spell herself…

Gideon’s heels dug into Comrade, urging the horse to go faster.

There was only one choice he could possibly make.

Before he did, there was someone he needed to talk to.