Page 64 of A Hunter for Luna

She laughed, a light, genuine sound that made something in my chest tighten. "Thank you for the compliment."

Pip chirped and leaned into Luna’s side as we moved through the buzzing streets of Kalion. The scent of freshly baked bread mingled with exotic spices wafting from the markets. Vendors yelled thief! while skinny children darted away through the alleys, heading for the concealing shadows.

I put my arm around her, and Pip moved, grumbling. My gaze swept over the sea of faces. My enemies could be hiding anywhere. Glancing back at Luna, I realized she too was watching and noting faces, as wary as I. A sense of comradeship welled inside me, one I hadn't felt in all the lonely years since my brother was driven mad.

I’d never wanted a wife. Luna took the role of wife and twisted and changed it until she became an equal. And I liked it.

"You seem lost in thought." Luna leaned into me. "Care to share?"

I raised an eyebrow, lips twitching. "Since when do you care what's on my mind?"

"Since you started looking like a man chewing on a lemon and about to drink vinegar," she said. "What do you think this summons is about?"

I hesitated, then sighed heavily. "Vala. Mother. She's building a political faction in my name, behind my back. The emperoreither found out or knew from the beginning, and now I'm being dragged into a pointless game I don’t want to play."

Luna's face softened. She reached out, resting a hand on my arm. "We'll handle this together, then get back to tracking down Moonshifter."

Perhaps that was what I'd been needing all this time. A true partner, someone to stand with me through the battles to come.

"After we hear what his Imperial Majesty has to say." I brushed my lips against her temple. "And find out what precisely my dear mother has been plotting."

As if sensing the tension, Pip swooped down to land on Luna's shoulder, opalescent scales glinting in the sun. She absently stroked his sleek neck, lost in thought.

The streets were packed, as usual, and the pace of our journey incredibly slow. The de Metteil home was on the outskirts of the fashionable district as well, at some distance from the hill where the palace was located.

After an hour, the palace loomed before us, a grand marble edifice glinting under the midday sun. The Volonta River sparkled in the distance, deceptively serene. With each step closer, the bustling sounds of the city softened, replaced by the whispers of leaves and plants, courtesy of spells laid down to deaden the noise.

I turned to Luna as we approached the gates, my expression grim. "Once we're inside, mind your words carefully. The emperor excels at finding hidden meanings, even in something as simple as ‘good morning’."

She winked at me. "Don't fret about me; I’ve dealt with your mother for years. Just try not to look like murder."

She had a point. I grimaced, and then settled my expression to stillness.

The palace gates swung open at our approach. A pair of guards in crisp uniforms snapped to attention.

I descended from the sedan chair, then turned to help Luna out. She slid into my arms with effortless grace, her nearness sending a jolt through me. For a fleeting instant, the world narrowed to just us two.

Then she stepped away, smoothing her skirts, and the moment shattered. I shook off the distraction, turning to face the palace doors with squared shoulders.

The guards ushering us through with practiced efficiency. The servants and chair settled into wait.

Pip shifted uneasily on Luna's shoulder, beady eyes darting.

Every visit to this place was like visiting a gorgeous and deadly museum. The place was littered with magics old and new, rooms that unveiled themselves to new visitors, and deadly courtiers awaiting their chance for promotion. And today, the stakes were higher than ever.

Luna reached up, trying to coax Pip to wait outside, but the creature just clung tightly to her hair, letting out an indignant hiss. She sighed, relenting. "Fine, you can come. But you'd better behave."

I couldn't help but snort. "Not sure which one of us you're instructing there."

She shot me a wry look. "Both. Definitely both."

A quiet servant bowed to us and gestured for us to follow. Step by step, we made our way down the cavernous main hall, our footfalls echoing softly off the gleaming marble floor. Everywhere I looked, wealth and power were on elegant or gaudy display. Intricate tapestries, gleaming statues, long halls.

I loved and hated to visit it. It was a wonder and a prison for the one who ruled, and I was smart enough to know it.

At last we reached the receiving room. Before the door opened, I knew its contents, a fountain that jetted fire in ever changing colors that shed no heat. It was a lovely creation, one of the wonders of the palace, that had been there since the first emperor, Reaver the sorcerer.

A few chairs and divans would be scattered through the room.

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