Chapter 43 'Rune': Summary, Analysis, and Study Notes

⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.

Summary

Rune arrives at Gideon's apartment, only to find him absent. Still wet from her swim and shivering from the cold, she quickly rummages through his cupboards, grabbing a sack of apples and a bag of hardtack. She intends to leave before he returns, but a creaking floorboard freezes her. Gideon appears in the doorway, still in uniform, and confronts her about stealing his gun and breaking into his apartment. He asks if she was going to leave without saying goodbye.

Rune's heart races as she wonders whether he will arrest her now or betray her later, expecting a cargo hold full of witches. She draws her casting knife, but Gideon moves like a predator, grabbing her wrist and holding it away. He tells her she is worse than a thorn in his side—she is a knife in his heart. His gloved fingers trace the arc of her throat, and she whispers that he is a wolf she can't outrun, even in her sleep. He asks how often she dreams of him, and she feels a deep longing.

Seeing her shiver, Gideon lets go of her wrist and drapes his jacket over her shoulders, buttoning it snugly. Rune glares at him, suspecting this kindness is a prelude to betrayal. She wonders if he is delaying her until the Blood Guard arrive, and decides the only way to escape is to play along with his game. She runs her hand up his chest, pressing her palm against the scar beneath his shirt. He links his fingers with hers, keeping her hand pressed to his heart.

Their conversation turns intimate. He asks if she will miss him, and she replies that she'll miss him the way a fox misses the wolf's snapping jaws. He slides a hand behind her neck and leans in for a kiss. She lifts her knife to his throat, warning him not to dare, but he calls her bluff and kisses her anyway. She drops her knife and kisses him back, her hands sliding up his bare chest. She presses her palm to his scar, which heats against her touch. He lifts her onto his hips, and she reminds herself this is a trick meant to keep her until the Blood Guard show up. But even that thought isn't enough to break her from the moment.

It is Gideon who pulls away, trembling from the pain of his curse. He lowers her to the floor, takes her hand, and presses his pistol into her palm. He makes her promise not to lose it, and tells her to shoot if someone tries to hurt her. He picks up her casting knife and sheathes it in his belt, as if they've made a trade. He steps aside, leaving her path to the door open. He gives her a twenty-minute head start, his unspoken words clear: And then I'm coming for you.

Rune grabs the stolen food and strides toward the door. She pauses in the frame, turning back to say something, but Gideon cuts her off, telling her to just go. She nods, swallows back tears, and runs.

Key Events

Rune breaks into Gideon's apartment to steal food and is caught by him.
Gideon confronts her about the stolen gun and the break-in.
Rune draws her knife, but Gideon grabs her wrist and makes an intimate advance.
Gideon gives Rune his jacket and asks about her dreams of him.
Rune suspects Gideon is delaying her for the Blood Guard and decides to play along.
They kiss; Rune drops her knife and reciprocates.
Gideon, trembling from his curse, gives Rune his pistol and takes her casting knife.
He grants her a twenty-minute head start before he will come after her.
Rune leaves, pauses at the door, but Gideon tells her to go, and she runs.

Character Development

Rune is torn between her duty to Aurelia and Meadow and her undeniable feelings for Gideon. Throughout the chapter, she repeatedly reminds herself that his kindness is a trap, yet she cannot resist him. Her internal conflict is palpable: she knows she should flee, but her longing for him makes her hesitate. When Gideon gives her his pistol and lets her go, she is stunned—his actions contradict her expectations of betrayal. This moment forces her to confront the possibility that he might genuinely care for her, complicating her mission and her sense of self.

Gideon reveals a surprising depth of sacrifice. Despite being a witch hunter and knowing Rune is his enemy, he chooses to let her escape. He gives her his own weapon for protection, takes her casting knife as a symbolic trade, and grants her a head start. His trembling from the curse underscores the physical cost of his choice, but he still prioritizes her safety over his duty. His final words—