Page 98 of This Shattered Star

“Gideon,” I rasped, hurling myself past fire and wind—towards his already open arms, the softness in his dark cinnamon eyes threatening to spill tears from my own. I crashed into him, but he remained steady, wrapping his arms around me in a bone-crushing hold.

“A warm welcome as any, I suppose,” Gideon murmured into my hair. “Though I didn’t expect anything less.”

I wouldn’t cry. Not here—not yet. I gave him one last squeeze before pulling away, just enough to get a good look at him. He seemed fine. Unharmed. Exhausted, but what mattered was that he was okay.

I thought I was never going to see you again,I wanted to say. “What are you doing here?” I settled on asking instead.

He read every unspoken word, like always. Then gave my shoulder a light squeeze.I know,that squeeze seemed to say. His gaze hardened as it settled on the others. Assessing the threat they posed, despite them being the sole reason I stood next to him. Theia was beside Brannon now, warily studying the hand on my shoulder.

Gideon stiffened before holding a fist over his heart. It was a gesture the guards usually reserved for the king. One meant for respect. For loyalty. “Thank you,” he said. “For helping her.”

It was enough for Kodhan to extinguish his flames. “You trained her well. She hardly needed it.”Hardlywas a massive understatement, but I said nothing.

Pride loosened some of the tension in Gideon’s shoulders. But regret laced his next words—and a hatred I was all too familiar with. “I wish I was here for different reasons, but I’ve been sent here to escort you all towards Wit. To ensure you don’t escape.”

“And of all the guards in his employ, Maverick sends you,” I said bitterly. Any hopes I had regarding Gideon not being present for my potential death cracked and faded into nothing.

Maverick’s nicely polished promises on the balcony certainly did not negate his cruelty. Perhaps he sent Gideonbecauseof what happened on the balcony. I hadn’t turned him down, but I hardly gave him what he wanted, either.

And healwaysgot what he wanted.

Gideon grimaced. “Actually, Diana offered to send me.” My heart sank. “Was quite insistent on it. The king could hardly refuse.”

Brannon glanced between us both. “Why would a member of court be so insistent on parting from their personal guard?”

“Because she hopes he’ll be used against me. If either of us are hurt in either way, it shall be punishment for the other.”

His eyes widened, sharpening with anger. “That’s morbid.”

“That’s Diana.”

Kodhan seized the opportunity to ask, “Can you tell us anything about Wit? Or why the king decidednowwas the best time to undertake in heavy renovations?”

Gideon shook his head, splaying his hands apologetically. “I was only told where to retrieve, and where to lead you. I do know that eight of you remain in total, for what that’s worth. All made it out of the tower before it collapsed.”

Only eight. The four of us, Lachlan, Elias, and two others strong enough to withstand both Courage, and the massacre that accompanied it. I could still see the blood caked under Darion’s nails in the back of my mind. That crazed glint in his eye.

I did not regret killing him. And I wouldn’t regret killing his friends.

“I heard about what he did for Courage. Thoseinsects.And thank the stars I wasn’t in the same room as the bastard when I did. It was twisted. Far from legitimate.”

If only he knew what I really saw. Who I nearly wielded his training against.

“Others in my unit vaguely recounted the results of who’d made it. That’s how I found out that you were alright,” Gideon explained. “The guards who were given the task of serving you those poisoned meals all have different versions of what happened.” He ran a ragged hand through his dark hair, as if remembering them all, each worse and more exaggerated than the last. “The king’s explanations were also filled with half-truths, no doubt. Only he, and those present around him at the time, will know the true extent of what happened.”

I knew, in the very marrow of my bones, that he would force their secrecy. Through any means necessary.

“Over half of the kingdom is angry about not being able to see what happened during Courage,” Gideon added.

“And therefore will expect Wit to make up for it,” Brannon mused, his face a cool mask of displeasure.

Theia plopped my rings back into the jewelry box, one by one. “As if we haven’t already endured enough misery.”

“And what of my father? Where is he?” Kodhan pressed, and Gideon’s brows furrowed.

“General Dreadmourne remains at His Majesty’s side. More so than usual, in fact. I haven’t seen them separated since the beginning of Strength. Should he be anywhere else?” His honest curiosity spoke for itself. Gideon had no idea Kodhan’s father was also a traitor to the crown.

“No. He is where he needs to be,” was all Kodhan offered, which did nothing to smooth away Gideon’s concern.