Chapter 287
Chapter 287
“I’m just curious about the landscape,” I said with a shrug. “It had to have been quite a hike, getting you there. I’m assuming they had you in those awful chains the whole time p>
Deirdre flushed faintly. “I… I don’t know. I was blindfolded most of the time. And they carried me.” The waiter returned and uncorked our bottle. I thanked him and took it, filling her cup to the brim. Added a little more to my cup just to make it appear like I was drinking more.
She licked her lips greedily and took a long gulp. “Wow, this wine is good p>
“Only the best for you, my love p>
She blushed deeper, then pushed a strand of hair out of her face. “I do remember crossing a creek p>
Dead Man’s Gully. So the camp was indeed beyond that. But I already knew that.
“And the camp itself?” I pressed. “Was it big? Small p>
“Big.” Deirdre waved her hand. “Huge, actually. Hundreds of rogues. They had tents everywhere. And guards. So many guards p>
I nodded, filing the information away. “Interesting. I didn’t expect rogues to have such detailed patrols p>
“Oh, they’re quite organized. Asher makes sure of that p>
“Asher p>
“The Rogue King.” She didn’t seem to notice her blunder. “He picks only the strongest and smartest rogues to be his warriors. I used to watch them run in the forest every morning. When they would run drills down in Matthew’s Gulch right by the border of the camp, it made me tired just watching them p>
Matthew’s Gulch,
I froze. I knew that gulch. I’d been so close to it when I’d been searching for Avery, but I never passed through it. Deirdre had found me before I could.
“So the camp… It’s beyond Matthew’s Gulch p>
Deirdre giggled and reached for her wine glass again. It seemed my luck had run out. The wine could only do so much.
“You’re not going after her, are you?” she asked. Her words were slurred now, her
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eyes glassy. “Because she’s not worth it, Gideon. She’s a traitor. A whore. You deserve better p>
“I know.” I leaned back in my
chair. “You’re right p>
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Deirdre smiled. “Good. I’m glad you finally see it p>
She drained her glass and set it down with a thunk. Then, she slumped forward, her head resting on her arms.
“I think I need to go home,” she mumbled.
“I think you do, too p>
I paid the bill and helped her out to the car. She could barely walk, so I had to half- carry her. Once she was in the passenger seat, I shut the door and pulled out my phone.
I sent a quick text to Tegan. “Prepare a holding cell. I’m bringing Deirdre in p>
His response came a moment later. “Understood p>
I got in the car and started the engine. Deirdre was already half asleep.
When we got back to the estate, Tegan was waiting outside with two guards. I got out of the car and opened Deirdre’s door. She woke up as I pulled her out, blinking groggily.
“Gideon? What’s happening p>
“Thank you for telling me what I needed to know,” I said.
Her eyes widened. “What p>
“You told me where the rogue camp is. Beyond Matthew’s Gulch. And to think I’d been so close, and I hadn’t thought to cross it. I guess I assumed it was too full of water at this time of year to be a viable option, but I was wrong p>
Deirdre’s face went white. She tried to pull away, but I held her firm. “No, I—I didn’t
“You did.” I handed her off to the guards. “Take her to the holding cell. Keep her there until I return p>
“You bastard!” Deirdre shrieked. She thrashed against the guards, but they held her tight. “You tricked me! You lied to me p>
“Funny. That’s exactly what you did to me.” I turned away from her and walked
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toward Tegan. Behind me, Deirdre was still screaming, but I didn’t look at her again. Her shouts faded into the distance.
Tegan fell into step beside me. “So it’s true? You know where Avery is p>
“Yes.” I stopped and looked at him. “I need you to arrange thirty of our best warriors. We’re leaving at dawn p>
Tegan nodded. “I’ll have them ready p>
“Good.” I looked out at the forest beyond the estate. Somewhere out there, Avery was waiting.
Hopefully, she wouldn’t have to wait much longer.
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