Gideon
She struggled to take several steps away from the structure. Blood poured from her mouth as she faced the shaking building with screams emerging from it.
He wanted to move, to intervene, but his feet felt rooted in place. The woman he once loved was screaming, and yet all he could feel was the bitter tightening in his gut.
She clenched her fist, her fingers trembling with barely restrained power. A heartbeat later, the building groaned, the stone walls fracturing like a spider’s web, cracks splintering outwards.
The ground seemed to vibrate, a low rumble that built into a roar, and then, with one final tilt of her head, the entire structure imploded. Dust and debris billowed out in a deafening crescendo, the screams cutting off all at once as the world fell silent.
Gideon and Jocelyn stared in shock as Sin fell to her knees, gasping for air as if she’d been holding it. His fingers tightened around the dress fabric for a heartbeat too long, the rage bubbling until it almost choked him.
“Here,” Gideon said, holding out the tattered woven dress for her to cover up, not trusting Jocelyn anywhere near her. Sin could barely lift her head. And though there was a fury struggling to break free, anger at Sin for killing the woman he loved, to the woman he loved being a lie…
He gritted his teeth before reaching for Sin’s shoulder. “At least lift your arms. I’ll help you.”
Sin choked down air like someone on their last breath, but she nodded.
Gideon pulled the dress down her frame, and then lifted her up by her armpits, still struggling to look her in the eyes.
“I’m sorry,” she croaked.
Gideon froze as he stared at her. Gone was the cold demeanor. She meant that apology, or at least seemed to. After Audrira, he might always view himself as the easily swayed fool.
“Out of respect for my mate’s brother, I’m giving you one last chance.
Let us go now.” She had sounded like a queen, and that reminded him what her future might hold when Max takes the throne.
She’d be the first witch queen in centuries.
The opportunities for growth this continent might face if that happened.
And deep in his heart, he knew it would be for the better.
It was several moments later, until they were close to the horses, that he responded. “Me too.”
Jocelyn leaned against the tree the horses were tied to, surprising Gideon that she hadn’t tried to run away.
She looked Sin over in her tattered dress, and did not like what she saw.
Gideon felt his balls shrivel up into his abdomen at the sight and tension of their stare-off.
“We can have it out later,” Sin finally said. “Surely you understand by now that if you mean any more harm, your death will make theirs seem like a fucking picnic?”
Jocelyn smiled. “As far as I can see, your magic is useless out in the open.”
To Gideon’s horror, the faintest smile curved Sin’s lips.
Something told him there would be powerful beings in his future that would chastise him for not killing them while he had the chance.
“We need to return to the castle now.”
Jocelyn nodded, making Gideon swallow hard before he replied, “We can’t yet. We have to head further north first.”
Sin gave him a withering look that made Jocelyn chuckle, clearly at his expense.
“War is coming to the castle, faster than we expected, and we can’t go back without our future queen.”
“Then you go get her. I’m going to save my mate.”
“No,” Gideon ordered. Sin’s eyes widened at his nerve. He shook his head. “I’m not going to pretend to understand the need to protect a mate—”
“Go get your fucking queen,” Sin snarled. “I’ll make sure the seat is empty and ready for her.”
Gideon’s eyes rounded, glancing down at her injured body. “You think to kill the King?”
Sin laughed, low and threatening. “I will kill anyone that gets between me and my mate, or anyone that thinks to hurt him.”
Gideon shook his head violently. “You may be powerful, but he will kill you, without hesitation. Worse, he might torture you in front of Max. How do you think Max would handle that?”
Sin inched closer, getting in his face before saying quietly. “I don’t think he’d let anyone waste his time while he broke free from his chains and came for me.”
That threat only had the chance to sink in for a moment, before Sin collapsed to the ground, Jocelyn right behind her, the earthy scent of magic in the air.
“She’s just sleeping,” she assured, slight panic in her tone. “That typically lasts several hours, but I wouldn’t count on it against her tempest. We need to hurry before she wakes up and tries to kill us both.”
Gideon didn’t give doubt time to settle before he tied the third horse to his, and then held Sin’s unconscious form against him as they rode north.
It was nighttime when they reached the rocky cliffs.
Riding ahead of Jocelyn, he allowed for the silent tears to fall, vowing to himself to never allow them again. He mourned the life he thought to have with Audrira, and mourned the betrayal, the lies.
He also mourned for the step-sister he never truly had, and wondered how many other witches in the castle were related to them and hiding it, what this might mean once they finally killed the king.
One thing was certain, the king coud live no longer. Not after his many atrocities.
The waves crashed violently against the rocks. Gideon’s hands shook as he clenched the reins, his mind replaying every lie, every scream before her death. He had to hold back the nausea that rose each time he thought of what he’d done.
When this was all over, Gideon wanted to leave. He didn’t care where, so long as his family was safe, his mother free, he would leave the place that held nothing but terrible memories for him.
The cold air whipped against his face, coming from the freezing ocean crashing against the stone beneath the small castle. Gideon snarled as he took in how much it looked like a prison.
He dismounted his horse, walking them to the small stable.
Immediately upon untying Sin, a vicious snarl left her as she tackled Gideon to the ground.
“Gods dammit, Sin!” Gideon snapped before attempting to hit her over the head with his fist.
Sin caught it instantly, ready for it. But her strength did not match Gideon’s, a trained warrior.
In a flash of light, Sin was knocked unconscious, but it wasn’t he who did it.
“Shit,” Jocelyn muttered, her footsteps sounding further and further away with each second.
A shadow fell over them—a silhouette framed by the pale moonlight. Gideon looked up, blinking through the haze of pain, and froze.
There she stood, her eyes glinting like steel that matched his, fury etched across her features. “This prison is taken. Cage your beast elsewhere.”
Her gaze dropped, locking on his face, recognition dawning with a mix of shock and something almost like sorrow.
With barely more than a whisper, Gideon breathed, “Mother.”