Chapter 77
Chapter 77
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I tried to pull away from him to look for water in my pack, but he didn’t release me. Slowly, I turned back to meet that molten gaze. He was waiting for an answer.
“I got some… distressing news.” I said, truthfully.
“News? From where?” His eyebrows creased, like he was trying very hard to concentrate on my face.
“It doesn’t matter.” I shrugged, “It was upsetting. I was upset p>
“News about what?” He persisted.
“About you. About us.” I gestured with my free hand. “I didn’t know what to believe p>
Gideon clenched his jaw.
“Ask me p>
“What p>
“Ask me about whatever distressed you p>
“It’s not important.” I turned my face away, but he caught my chin and turned me back to face him.
“Your actions say otherwise.” He ground out. “It was serious enough that you chose to run instead of talking to me. So what was it that scared you p>
I stared, frozen, into his face. He looked so sincere when he said it, I almost wanted to believe him. He hadn’t lied to me, not yet.
But I didn’t want him to start either.
If I asked what I wanted to know, then I would have to accept his answer, or accept that I didn’t trust him.
I sighed.
“Did… did you… sleep with my sister?” I stammered, staring at the ground.
There was a long period of silence. It stretched.
Finally I raised my eyes to look back at Gideon. He was staring at me with a calm expression. His finger tra the tip of my chin.
“No.” He said, firmly. “Nor would I p>
“Oh.” Somehow, the truth sounded like truth when he said it.
He ducked his head to look at me with a pointed look, “She did offer p>
“Oh…” That did sting, and I found myself withdrawing into myself. I pulled my sleeves down over my hands and tucked my arms around my body.
“She’s not what I want.” He said, then winced.
1/2
Chapter 77
+25 Bonus
“Gideon!” I looked at his shoulder and saw the thick blood starting to drip down his wound. “Oh fuck p>
“Your bedside manner…” He ground out through gritted teeth, “needs some work p>
I barked a laugh but inside I was panicking. I scrambled over through my bag and started going through what I had brought. The medicinal supplies I had all seemed horribly inadequate for this sort of injury.
Around us, a thick mist was starting to roll through the trees, making the world hazy and indistinct. In this sort of condition, we could easily get lost trying to leave the woods. And it would make it difficult for any rescuers that Tegan brought to find us.
“Please Goddess,” I muttered, “Please help.” It was more of an indistinct prayer than a dedicated request, but Gideon’s head shot up.
“What did you say p>
“Just… Please, Goddess.” I repeated, and as I said her name, a beam of moonlight fell through the trees and brushed over Gideon’s wound.
We both gaped at the silver light as it illuminated the silver flecks embedded in his blood as it flowed forth.
“Say it again.” Gideon breathed softly. Then, “Avery, your hands p>
I looked down at my hands and saw that the same silver moonlight was glowing from my palms. I’d never seen anything like it. I met Gideon’s gaze incredulously.
The light felt warm, and soft. It was hard to explain, but the light felt tangible, like something I could bend and
move.
On instinct, I moved closer to Gideon and pressed my hands over his wound. Instantly, the light intensified and where the moonbeam landed on my skin and his, magic swirled like light reflected off a pool of water.
“That feels…” Gideon sighed, “Whatever you’re doing is helping p>
I bit my lip and tried to concentrate. The light was like silk, slippery but strong. I tried to channel it into his
wounds, trying not to think too hard about how weird all of this was.
I was using moonlight to heal him.
And it was working.
P
仙
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