Page 45 of Scales and Seduction

We simply hold one another, inhaling each other’s breath, allowing ourselves to enjoy the bittersweet moment. Once Ruby has rested, we have to speak to the council. Avalon’s new position aside, they all must know Ruby is staying, and I will have no choice but to tell them about the app. I’m unsure what’s going to come for either of us, but as long as she’s safe and in my arms, it’s all that matters.

The sun filters through the bedroom windows, making me blink against the light. It’s so bright...and my limbs feel like lead. I’m exhausted despite how much rest I got last night.

The events of yesterday feel so distant, like they belong to someone else, someone who is not me. It’s almost as if I’ve watched a very long action movie. My body hurts, but the worst of the poison’s effects have passed. I don’t have throbbing in my shoulder, and I don’t feel like puking my guts up. Still, I feel so different.

There’s something that feels out of reach inside me, flickering beneath my skin. I know it’s magic coursing there, but I still don’t know what it even does. I guess that should feel exciting, but instead, there’s a thread of worry that worms around in my head. What will I become after this?

Shifting in the bed, my gaze drifts to Gideon, who’s sitting at the chess table with the chair turned toward the window. Glancing at him, my chest warms, and I feel happiness tug at me, reminding me what we said last night to one another. The promise still lingers on the tip of my tongue, a promise that I won’t leave the Vale or him. It’s not what I expected to say. Itcame out so easily, but deep inside my soul, I know I mean every word.

Gideon looks exhausted, his hand holding up his chin and his eyes slightly closed. I know he didn’t sleep in that chair; I faintly remember him holding me and how warm he felt as I drifted off. He must have been up a while now.

Suddenly, a sensation tugs at the edges of my consciousness. It’s a burning tingle at first, though it grows until I see flashes of images. “Gideon.” I sit upright. The blanket pools around my waist as a hum of awareness buzzes through my body.

The second I say his name, he turns toward me, his golden eyes locking onto mine with a mixture of concern and terror pulling his mouth into a frown. “Are you alright?” He immediately comes to my side, grasping hold of my hands.

“There’s someone coming,” I whisper. I don’t feel fear, but there’s a blooming awareness in my chest that grows stronger. “A woman, she’s human…she’s coming.”

Gideon’s eyes narrow, and his posture stiffens. “What do you mean? How do you know?”

“I can feel her.” I press a hand to my chest, feeling the erratic rhythm of my beating heart, hoping it might ground me again, but the vision of the woman takes over my senses. “She’s tall; there’s a really peaceful feeling to her.” I smile as I take in the image of a blonde woman standing in a shop filled with crystals. Incense is burning hazy smoke rings around her, and she’s playing with a deck of tarot cards. “She’s someone’s mate.”

“Mate?” Gideon’s eyes flare wide with shock, and he immediately grabs hold of my shoulders. “Whose?” He’s in the shop with me, standing there, but it’s like he’s the hazy part, not the vision. The entire room has become her shop, and I swear I even smell her perfume. She smells fruity, like peach rings.

I nod slowly, feeling a sense of complete certainty about her. “I can see the bond; it’s this long red and gold string, but I can’tsee who it’s connected to. Something’s off about her; she’s not just any human.” I pause as I choose my words carefully. “She’s doing spells, and…she does yoga?” The last bit comes out, and I almost chuckle.

Gideon’s expression hardens as he processes what I’m saying. “Do humans possess magic?”

I don’t have an answer for that, really. There are witches, but it’s allwoo-woo,and I can’t say I’ve ever really believed in tarot, astrology or spells. But I also didn’t expect that I would have magic given to me either. “I don’t know, but she does.”

“We’ll need to keep an eye out for her,” Gideon sighs, dragging his hand over his face. It’s as if he understands that this means the draugr attacks will increase and whoever is searching for the app will get another chance at it. “When is she coming?”

I try to push deeper into the hazy vision, searching for the thread that ties her here, but there’s nothing. It feels almost like there’s a block keeping me from seeing it, a dark cloud between her and whoever she’s meant to be with. Almost like it hasn’t been decided yet. “It won’t be long—that’s all I know. I can’t tell anything else.”

“I don’t love the sound of it.” Gideon rubs a circle on the top of my hand. “We aren’t ready for more attacks yet.”

I take a deep breath as the vision begins to fade, leaving behind a tugging feeling of fatigue in its wake. My limbs feel like weights have been tied to them, and my head feels like someone’s driving a spike behind my eyeball. Gideon wraps his arms around me, embracing me tightly. It comforts me and quiets the pain. “Are you still going to the council today?”

He nods with a wry smile. “I don’t have much of a choice. The Vale’s in chaos, and, unfortunately, I have to make sure the council sees reason. They’re the ones truly in control around here, not me. But, to get you the herbs for the antidote, Igave Avalon a seat on the council.” Gideon sighs heavily as he continues to explain, “I doubt they’ll agree to it.”

“Do you wish you hadn’t agreed to give it to her?” My question is muffled against his chest, though when I tilt my head up to look at him, his brows are knit together.

“I may not entirely trust that she doesn’t know who’s involved in this, but I know she wasn’t the person who poisoned you.” Gideon’s face turns solemn as he explains, “Using her Night Weavers to form an army to defend us against draugr would be beneficial, really. Loran’s father might have his hunters, but they’re not going to be enough. Orcs don’t possess magic unless you’re like Loran, a half-breed.”

“Do you think this is the right thing to do? Do you trust her?” I can’t help it— Avalon scares me. There’s something about her, and not just that she’s a creepy eight-eyed spider woman either.

“This is likely the only way to maintain political peace between the Underdark and us after dissolving the engagement,” Gideon says with a sigh. “It’s worth it in the end.”

My lips curl into a frown. I hate the position I’ve placed him in. I know he had to make the choice if he wanted to save me, but now he may have put his entire population in jeopardy. “I hope they listen.”

“They have to,” Gideon says with resolve. “This isn’t just about political marriages and trade. It’s about the safety of the Vale and the curse.”

Whoever that human woman is, she better be ready for what’s coming because I have a feeling things will get worse from here.

The walk to the council chamber is quiet, but eerily so, reminding me of the air before a storm. Ruby walks beside me, her footsteps soft, and I feel exhaustion radiating off her. She doesn’t complain, and even when I offer to carry her, she refuses. I can’t stop glancing at her, checking to see if I’ll need to force her to allow me to carry her over my shoulder.

“They’ll argue,” she murmurs, breaking our silence. “Do you think I should be here?”

“They always do.” I know the council will not agree to Avalon’s new position or my opinion on why the attacks happened. I know they will fight tooth and nail to change my mind. “This time they have no choice but to listen.”

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