The Rebel Witch
by Kristen Ciccarelli
Contents
Sixty-Two. Gideon
Overview
Gideon’s attempts to plan resistance are overshadowed by his fear that Rune has been deeply harmed, and Antonio pushes him to meet her pain with patience rather than control. The chapter then pulls several enemies into one room when Harrow asks Gideon to return to the Blood Guard just as Seraphine and Juniper arrive at Rune’s summons.
Harrow’s near-shooting of Juniper exposes old betrayals and a hidden debt, while Rune’s intervention prevents violence and reveals she once helped save Harrow. By the end, the house becomes a fragile meeting ground where witches, witch hunters, and would-be allies may have to cooperate against Cressida.
Summary
After Bart reluctantly starts listing possible aristocratic allies, Gideon cannot focus on strategy because he is preoccupied with Rune’s distress. He suspects Soren assaulted or traumatized her and fears she is carrying damage he cannot fix. When Antonio notices Gideon’s turmoil, Gideon admits he was too harsh with Rune and is afraid of losing her. Antonio tells him Rune must heal herself and urges Gideon to choose patience and trust instead of fear, then gives him a sleeping draught.
The next morning, Gideon wakes from vivid dreams of Rune slipping into his room and lying beside him, only to find the bed empty and cold. He reminds himself the intimacy could not have been real because Cressida’s curse still prevents him from touching Rune. After dressing, he comes downstairs and finds Harrow demanding to see him.
Harrow tells Gideon that the Blood Guard are leaderless after his defection and vulnerable to Cressida’s forces. She asks him to return because the soldiers need their captain, but Gideon refuses, saying Noah would kill him and that he will no longer devote himself to slaughtering witches. Gideon also notices Harrow’s bruised wrists and cheek, suggesting she has been mistreated.
The argument is interrupted when Seraphine Oakes arrives at the house, following Rune’s summoning spell. Juniper Huynh is with her, and Harrow instantly reacts with fury, seizing Gideon’s gun and aiming it at Juniper. Harrow reveals that Juniper’s parents once locked her in a cellar and left her to starve, and that Juniper let it happen. Gideon tries to stop Harrow, but Harrow insists Juniper deserves the same ruthless judgment Gideon would give Cressida.
Rune steps between Harrow and Juniper, shielding Juniper and forcing Gideon to hold back. Rune says Juniper was actually the reason Harrow survived, because Juniper pushed Rune to free Harrow from her prison cell. Faced with that claim, Harrow lowers both the gun and her knife. Bart then breaks the tension by inviting everyone to breakfast, and Antonio calmly takes Harrow’s weapons before the uneasy group moves toward the terrace. As Gideon follows, Rune still avoids him, and he notices a fresh scar-like red mark on the back of her neck.
Who Appears
- GideonWorries Rune is traumatized, rejects Harrow’s plea, and watches a dangerous meeting unfold.
- RuneAvoids Gideon, summons Seraphine, and shields Juniper by revealing Juniper once helped save Harrow.
- HarrowBruised Blood Guard soldier who asks Gideon to return, then nearly shoots Juniper over past betrayal.
- AntonioCounsels Gideon to be patient and trusting, then calmly disarms Harrow and steadies the gathering.
- Juniper HuynhWitch from Harrow’s past whose presence triggers the standoff; Rune says she helped secure Harrow’s rescue.
- Seraphine OakesArrives in response to Rune’s spell and brings Juniper to Bart’s cottage.
- Bart WentholtReluctantly begins planning allies and later diffuses tension by inviting everyone to breakfast.