Page 152 of Magical Melee
His smile faltered, just for a second, before returning with a sharper edge.
“Ah, yes. Your little band of misfits. They’re quite the loyal bunch, aren’t they? But loyalty can be such a fragile thing.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I demanded, my heart pounding.
Gideon sighed as if disappointed by my lack of understanding.
“It means that alliances shift, Maeve. People change. Trust is a luxury that can vanish in an instant.”
“I trust my friends,” I said firmly. “And they trust me.”
He nodded slowly as if considering my words.
“For now. But trust can be a double-edged sword. One betrayal, one moment of doubt, and everything you’ve built can come crashing down.”
I refused to let his words sink in, refused to let him plant seeds of doubt.
“You’re wasting your time. Whatever game you’re playing, it won’t work.”
Gideon’s smile widened, a glint of something darker flashing in his eyes. “We’ll see about that.”
He took another step forward, and instinctively, I raised my wand.
The air between us crackled with tension, but he made no move to attack. Instead, he studied me with a curious, almost admiring expression.
“You’re a fascinating woman, Maeve,” he said softly. “So much potential, so much fire. It’s a shame you’ve tied yourself to a sinking ship.”
“Stonewick isn’t sinking,” I said through gritted teeth. “We’re stronger than you think.”
“Are you?” he asked, his voice low and dangerous. “Or are you simply delaying the inevitable?”
For a moment, the alley seemed to close in around us, the walls pressing tighter, the shadows growing darker. But I refused to let him see my fear.
“We’ll see,” I said, forcing my voice to remain steady. “Now get out of my way.”
“Tell me, Maeve. Have they ever told you what happened to your father?”
“Leave me be.”
Gideon held my gaze for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, with a slow, deliberate bow, he stepped aside. “As you wish.”
I didn’t lower my wand as I backed away, but he vanished.
My heart raced. He knew what I craved more than most things was answers.
My hands trembled as the snow continued to fall, soft and silent.
When I emerged from the alley and back onto the main street, I glanced over my shoulder, half-expecting him to reappear.
By the time I got back to the tea shop, Frank was waiting for me. His wagging tail sped up as I stepped inside, but Gideon’s words echoed in my mind, each one a carefully planted thorn.
He wanted me to doubt, to question.
But I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.
I couldn’t.
However, I knew the one place that held the answers was the one place that might not accept me after my decision, but I knew I had to try.
