Heartless Hunter

Some people are determined to live out their own personal tragedies.

The hunted had fallen for the hunter.

You are not the things that happened to you, Gideon.

But which character was she—the heroine, the villain, or the fool? The fool.

Your laugh is like a fuse,” he said. “It lights you up.” Rune’s heart thudded. No one had ever told her that before.

To play by the rules when everyone else disregards them—that is foolishness.

She was like a deer making eyes at the wolf that wanted to eat her for lunch. Stupid deer.

One of us thinks ourself too good for the other. But it’s not me.

Every time Gideon looked at the young heiress, she reminded him of the sea: steal-your-breath beautiful on the surface, with the promise of untold depths beneath.

You are not the things that happened to you.

The point is to let me give you this one small thing, because I couldn’t give you the rest.

In forgiving him, a strange thing happened: Rune found forgiveness for herself, too. For what she’d done to Nan. The thing she’d needed all this time was right there inside her.

I hate you, Gideon Sharpe. I hate you so much, it hurts. And if you don’t open this door, i”ll go on hating you forever...

Gideon was her perfect rival; a deadly enemy to outwit. Without him, Rune could only be half of her full potential. It was why, deep down, she wanted him to come for her. She ached for the challenge of him. She needed to finish what lay unfinished between them.

I’m in love with him. Instead of getting Gideon Sharpe out of her system tonight, Rune had gone and gotten herself addicted. The hunted had fallen for the hunter.

Just remember: a great leader weighs the consequences of every decision, and must bear the weight of those consequences. So ask yourself: which consequences can you live with?

Sparing the life of someone you hate doesn't make you weak, it makes you better than the rest of us.

And after we’re done fighting, I’ll take you to bed, and we’ll reconcile. In fact, I think we should fight every day just so we can make up every night.

I remember the sound of your laugh,” he said as the back door of the house came into view. “It pulled me like a magnet toward the beach, where I found the most beautiful girl in the world standing on the shore.” Rune’s footsteps slowed as they approached the door. His stopped altogether. “When I saw Alex at your side, I knew exactly who you were: Rune Winters. The girl Alex never shut up about. A girl who was entirely off-limits, because my little brother found her first.

It was almost as if he were a weapon specifically designed to compromise her.

I’d rather fight with you than do most other things.

You have never been more beautiful than this moment.

Rune was a deer, and he was a hunter. Taking her measure, noting every detail and flaw, trying to decide if she would be worth the hunt.

But it wasn’t only her physical attributes that had him spinning. It was her kindness. Her thoughtfulness. Her wildness. It was her willingness to argue with him. If he wasn’t careful, he might fall in love with her.

His gentleness snuck past her defenses, unlocking the deadbolts inside her. Letting the enemy in.

Are you so determined to misunderstand me?

Isn’t that the point of art—to tame the monsters in us?

They see us as a contamination of what is natural and good. They fear our magic the way they fear disease.

The way you make me feel is …” She hugged the bundle of clothes tighter. “I’m afraid it’s something I could get used to. Something I could need.