Page 79 of A Hunter for Luna

That was why, though it was stupid of his staff to have not informed her. Or he had given orders not to be disturbed and they were being obeyed to the letter.

There were people who flogged their servants for disobedience in Kalion.

I approached cautiously the room, fan half open and in hand. As I drew closer, I could make out a familiar voice humming, with the occasional snatches sung of a popular ballad.

A pleasant singing voice wasn’t something I would have associated with Vivaldo, but life was full of surprises. He sounded calm, almost bored, as if he hadn't just orchestrated the kidnapping of my sister and tutor and tried to force me to kill my husband.

Threatened by sister with death.

I pushed open the door. Vivaldo was seated at a large oak desk, a stack of papers spread out before him. He glanced up as I entered, a momentary surprised expression replaced by a superior smirk.

"Ah, Luna. You do credit to your mother-in-law's training," He rose to his feet. "I wondered how long it would take you to get here. Be aware that your sister will die if I don’t call off my dogs, and not all of them are in this house."

"Dead gods take you," I replied coldly.

Vivaldo chuckled, walking around the desk to face me. "Now, now, Luna. Is that any way for a well born woman to talk? Has Benedetto not schooled you, even if his mother failed? Perhaps I should take over your training. I’ll be head of the imperial clans soon, and even a distant relative like you should be a credit to the house."

My grip tightened on my fan. "I'm not here to discuss manners or training, Vivaldo."

He sneered, his eyes flashing with malice. "You're out of your depth, little girl. You’ve no idea of the forces you're meddling with."

Vivaldo raised his hands, darkness twisting and looping around them. Something to blind, or an illusions. He was taking his time, too, certain he could overcome me.

Absent gods take him. I couldn't let him win. Not this time.

Sofia had overcome me, yes, but she was the trained apprentice of a sorcerer, and I was surprised. Vivaldo might have talent, but my gift was strong, too. Sofia had told me that many times.

Instinctively, I reached for my own magic, feeling the familiar embrace of the dark moon's power as it surrounded me.

I focused on Vivaldo, willing the cloud to reach out, envelope him, and consume his magic.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, my magic surged out, a cloud around both of us.

He cursed, stumbling back next to the desk, but the greedy shreds of mist clung to him, siphoning away his power.

The spell shriveled and vanished.

Vivaldo's eyes showed the whites all around the iris, his face sweaty, grimacing with the pain of backlash from an uncompleted spell.

Before he could react, I lunged forward, my leg snapping out in a swift kick to his chest. His head snapped back, his body crashing into the desk and sending papers flying.

I followed up, the edge of my fan to his throat, my other elbow pinning his chest.

Staring down at him, my chest heaving, a grim sense of satisfaction washed over me. "Let’s discuss threats of death and maiming now, cousin."

Vivaldo glared up at me, his face contorted with rage. But beneath the anger, I could see a flicker of fear in his quick breathing and the way he lay very still. He knew, in that moment, that he had underestimated me. That I was more than just a pawn to be played with.

I leaned forward, my face inches from his. "You're going to leave Kalion, and never come back. Do you understand?"

Vivaldo's jaw clenched.

I let the pressure of the fan’s weight draw a line of blood across his throat.

Then he nodded, defeat etched across his features.

I straightened warily, keeping the fan close to his throat.

Winning for the moment, yes. But he’d be back. I’d bought us time that Benedetto couldn’t. Me, a woman, retrieving my sister had a justification and a perceived disadvantage that myhusband did not. If this story got out, Vivaldo would be mocked, and that would be deadly to his chance to rule.

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