Page 101 of A Hunter for Luna

The crackling of the fire filled the silence between me and Benedetto, the flames casting flickering shadows across our faces. I stared into the dancing light, my mind racing with a thousand fears and doubts. What kind of mother would I be, dark as my world had always been?

The thought was a knife twisting with every breath. But beneath the fear, a tiny spark of something else kindled to life. A fierce, protective love, a determination to fight for the future I wanted. For the family I might one day have.

Benedetto's hand tightened around mine, his calloused fingers interlacing with my own. I glanced up at him, searching for any hint of the turmoil churning inside me. But his expression remained unreadable, his jaw set in a hard line as he stared into the fire.

"Benedetto," I said. "About earlier... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have?—"

He shook his head, cutting me off.

"Don't." He met my gaze, the intensity in his expression stealing my breath. "We both said things we didn't mean. But none of that matters now."

I swallowed hard, nodding. He was right. Our petty arguments seemed so insignificant in the face of what lay ahead. "Do you think we're ready for this? For Moonshifter?"

Benedetto was silent for a long moment, the muscles in his jaw working. "We have to be," he said at last. "For Francesco. For everyone he's hurt."

I squeezed his hand tighter, my chest aching for him. For the pain and guilt he carried, the weight of his brother's fate resting squarely on his shoulders.

And what of the weight I carried? The thought whispered through my mind, my free hand drifting to my stomach. The secret that could change everything? But I couldn't bring myselfto speak it. Not yet. Not when the future was so uncertain, the path ahead shrouded in danger and darkness.

"We'll face him together," I said instead.

Benedetto's lips curved into a small smile, the sight of it warming me from the inside out.

And there, in the flickering light of the campfire, I caught a flicker of hope. A hope that somehow, someway, we would find a way through the darkness.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

BENEDETTO

Nightmares woke me.Luna, dead, or worse, a defiled puppet of a faceless sorcerer stalked through my dreams.

Before dawn, the nameless forest was cloaked in shadows, the thick twisted trees looming like sentinels in the darkness. I sat by the banked campfire, methodically sharpening my blade. My gaze drifted to Luna, visible through the tent flap.

For a moment, I watched her sleep. The hurried breath, a faint smile on her lips. Even dozing, she was still beautiful.

She shouldn't be here. This was too dangerous.

Sofia had given me a very pointed look earlier. That combined with Luna throwing up after the evening meal, led me to the obvious conclusion.

Though Luna hadn’t said anything to me yet.

We were about to head for Moonshifter’s tower. Even with her power from the dark moon, she was at risk. Even weighing in the benefit of her magic, the risk to her was too great. And if I failed, she’d be safe under my family’s care.

Steeling myself, I took a deep breath and set my sword aside. I put on porridge, and Sofia walked to the campfire and spread her hands.

"Sofia," I said quietly. "You need to leave with Luna. Take her back to Legnali. This isn't a place for her."

“Take Luna to Legnali so you can die here alone?” Sofia responded in a normal volume as she poked the fire and added some twigs to it.

Luna's head snapped up, her gray eyes wide with shock. "What?"

She stood up. "You want to send me away? Now?"

In that moment, I wanted to strike Sofia harder than any person before in my life.

I met Luna’s gaze steadily, forcing my voice to remain firm despite the ache in my chest. "Yes."

She was strong, but this was different. I couldn't risk her life—or the life of our unborn child. The thought of losing them to Moonshifter was unbearable.

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