Page 98 of A Hunter for Luna

I ducked into the shelter at dusk as the rain began to fall, a steady drumming against the tent shielding us. I shivered in a draft of the damp then stretched out beside Benedetto. His warmth was a comfort, and I hoped mine was to him.

We lay together as the storm raged above us. Bright lightning etched the canvas in light, followed by a roar of thunder.

Finally, Benedetto rolled onto his good side to face me and put an arm around me. "I'm…worried, Luna. That I might lose you, fail Francesco. I don't know what I'd do if something happened to either of you."

I cupped his cheek. "I'm scared too. But we can't let that fear control us. We have to trust in each other, work together. That's the only way we'll make it through this."

He leaned into my touch, his eyes fluttering closed. "I trust you as much as I can. More than I trusted anyone else. But I'm not used to relying on others."

I leaned in, pressing my forehead against his. "I know. Sleep, Bene. It’ll help."

He let out a shuddering breath, his arm pulling me closer. I melted into his embrace, feeling the tension drain from my body. This was where I wanted to be. Right here, in his arms.

The storm raged on, and I watched him sleep. Even as lightning lit the sky, a sense of calm settled over me. I pressed a gentle kiss to Benedetto's jaw.

Tomorrow would be better for us.

I woke at dawn with a wave of nausea rolling over me. I staggered out of the tent, slipping on the muddy ground and wet plants and vomited into the bushes.

Benedetto sat up more easily than he had yesterday. "What's wrong? Are you sick?"

I wiped my mouth, taking a shaky breath. "Just the stew I made last night. I shouldn't have had a second helping."

Straightening up, I moved to the fire. No coal would have survived that storm, so I set about kindling a new one. While I had enough marigold wash to cleanse his wound this morning, I wanted to make some to carry with us. Also, I wanted hot tea to soothe my stomach.

“Come out and I’ll change the dressing. Then breakfast. Then if your wound looks better, we can try to reach the pass before nightfall," I said lightly.

Moving slowly, he emerged from the tent and regarded me with his brow furrowed with concern. "Are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine." I put the iron pot on to heat water. "Let's take a look at that wound."

From nowhere, a bitter thought intruded. I was useful now. Once he achieved his goal, he would cast me aside like everyone else had.

But even as the thought crossed my mind, I couldn't ignore the other part of me that said I was wrong. That the connection we had forged was real, that it meant something more than just a temporary alliance.

Scald the moon,I cursed silently, shaking my head as I finished bandaging. I should stop thinking like that. Not now, not ever.

So many thoughts, all of them forcing themselves in my mind. And perhaps the same was happening to Benedetto.

Moonshifter influenced minds. Could a Sorcerer create a magic so subtle we couldn’t easily detect it? I’d perceived no spell on us. But that didn’t mean it wasn’t there.

I wished with all my heart Sofia was here so I could ask.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

LUNA

We didn’t makegood time, even though Benedetto was better able to ride. Both the horses were skittish, needing to be coaxed as we travelled closer to the pass. We were still a few miles from the mountain when the time came to set up camp.

Even with the fire crackling between us, a chill stayed in the air. Benedetto had been brooding all day, grunting the few times I’d tried to talk. He’d made the evening meal, but with no time to gather or hunt it was barely edible.

Still, hunger made me eat all of it.

We sat in silence, neither of us willing to break it.

I stared into the flames, thoughts running in circles. What did Benedetto’s moodiness mean now? Every time I thought we were getting closer, he pulled away again. There were moments when I wasn't sure how much I trusted him, or if he trusted me.

Footsteps squishing in mud brought both of us to our feet, my fan and his sword at the ready.

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