Page 36 of A Hunter for Luna

"Would the vixen care to go to ground?" he asked with a mocking bow.

I rolled my eyes but didn't hesitate, ducking to step through the opening. "What, you thought I’d stop? Try to keep up with me, husband," I said as I disappeared into the darkness.

Benedetto chuckled behind me. I heard the metallic clang as he yanked the grate closed and wedged it just as our pursuers' footsteps rounded the corner.

A rough circle of stones cemented together with hard baked tiles above and below us. Unknown dried matter, the origin of which I did not wish to know, covered the lower tiles. In the dry season, at least, the smell wasn’t terribly bad. Vala had made me use the system in the rainy season, when it was worth your life to enter the sewers.

My mother-in-law was not a patient teacher.

Shoes clattering on the tile, I led the way through the dank labyrinth of tunnels designed to channel rainwater to the sea.The air hung heavy around us, the sound of people wrenching at the grate a distance behind us. Dim moonlight filtered through intermittent grates just above my head, barely illuminating our path.

Benedetto ran just behind me, our footsteps loud in the stillness. Far behind us, the shriek of iron rang out as our pursuers forced the grate open again. Several voices bounced off the walls, growing louder as they gained followed the sounds of out flight.

Teaming up with Benedetto was a terrible idea. He enjoyed risk, and I did not. In a strange way, his company was also exhilarating. Years ago, when I ran with Rose and Sofia, I'd been scared to death for all of us. Now, my heart thrummed but I wasn’t afraid. I'd never felt like this with anyone before.

Thank the absent gods it hadn't rained in the past few weeks. The water only reached our ankles in lower areas, instead of sloshing around our knees.

Benedetto took the lead from me, guiding us through the twists and turns with surprising familiarity. I struggled to keep up, my gown pulled up above my knees, but I refused to fall behind.

"You've been down here before," I said, a hint of accusation in my tone.

He glanced back with a grin that flashed white in the gloom. "Of course. It's a good place to hide when you've pissed off the wrong people or want to avoid a determined parent."

His or someone else’s?

I shook my head, a wry smile tugging at my lips despite the danger. Of course he’d be familiar with this route. It fit his methods perfectly.

We rounded a corner and Benedetto skidded to a halt, holding up a hand. I nearly crashed into him. He cocked his head, listening intently. The sounds of pursuit had faded, but I knew better than to believe we'd lost them so easily.

"What now?" I said, my breath coming easily, despite the run.

Benedetto's eyes gleamed in the faint light, a mix of mischief and calculation. "Now we outsmart them. Follow my lead, little vixen."

He took off down a side tunnel, his movements swift and silent as a shadow. I raced after him, praying to the absent gods might yet be listening that his plan, whatever it was, would work.

If we got out of this alive. I was going to have a long talk with him about planning, and letting others know about those plans. Right after I slapped him for being overconfident.

The splashing of our pursuers' footsteps grew louder. I risked a glance over my shoulder and my blood ran cold. A glint of metal flashed in the dim light, a knife, wielded by one of the men hot on our heels.

"They're faster than I thought," Benedetto cursed under his breath, his usual bravado tinged with genuine concern.

"Split up? This tunnel leads toward the d’Alvarez estate. I know these passages like the back of my hand."

Benedetto hesitated for a beat, his gaze locking with mine. In that moment, a flicker of something, worry, admiration, or perhaps both, crossed his face before he nodded curtly. "Don't get yourself killed, Lunetta. I want to enjoy our discussion on whose hand is firmer."

I flashed him a grin. "I look forward to it, husband. Try to survive as well."

With that, I ducked into the side tunnel, my shoes clattering as I disappeared from view. I plunged deeper into the labyrinthine sewers.

Absent gods, let this work.

Time seemed to blur as I navigated the twists and turns. I’d trained long and hard, but even so, it became difficult to keep my breath from coming in ragged gasps. This had been an even longer run than the one I normally took. The sounds of pursuit faded behind me, but I didn't dare slow down.

After what seemed like an eternity, my chest burning with strain, I spotted the exit I'd used countless times before. With a final burst of speed, I swung the oiled grate open and tumbled into the cool night air, stumbling to a halt on the well-trimmed grass behind the d'Alvarez estate.

The rolling lawn was dotted with structures and a few small groves of trees. The tiny, worn chapel to my left, and further on and closer to the house, the baths. Steam rose from the interior like a beacon of sanctuary.

The fires always burned there, costing a fortune but permitting bathing at any hour, day or night. And I desperately needed one at the moment.

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