Page 99 of A Hunter for Luna

Sofia emerged into the firelight, her expression unusually serious. She’d braided her hair but left it down and wore a subdued leather tunic and trousers. It was the first time I’d seen her dressed in anything but what a nanny in a conservative household would wear.

There was even a blade in a worn sheath at her belt. What would she use it for? Sofia was terrible in a fight.

A jolt of unease passed through me. Why was she here?

"Hail the camp," Sofia said. "May I join you?"

Benedetto raised an eyebrow but lowered his blade. Surprise and annoyance mingled in his voice. "Sofia. To what do we owe the dubious honor?"

"You." Sofia regarded the damp logs we’d been using for seating with misgiving, then settled herself on one. "It seems the charade of seeking a master caught unintended attention."

A chill ran down my spine as Sofia continued. "Soulrider came to Kalion for unrelated reasons. While he was there, he heard that you were interested in training. He's currently keeping visiting with Rose while I came here to find out if it was true."

My breath caught. "Soulrider? He's here? I mean, in Kalion? With Rose? Is she safe? You know Bene's not interested in training, why didn’t you tell your master?"

Sofia smiled faintly. "Rose is safe. But Ialsoknew you probably needed me soon, since you’d be close to Ygris pass. Soulrider didn’t ask me what I knew, hetoldme to come here and ask. So I did. I do need an answer from you."

Benedetto laughed bitterly. "Of course he did. Give him this answer. No, it wasn’t true. I was lying. I'm good at that, you know. People believe lies they want to hear."

He shot me a pointed, icy look.

I sneered back at him, a sharp stab of anger piercing through me. "I didn’t believe it. But it made bedding you easier if you thought I was a fool."

Let him think I was as cold as he was. I ignored the hurt spreading through me. It was better this way. I wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he had hurt me.

Sofia sighed and rubbed her temples as if dealing with squabbling children. "Wonderful. Are you two sure you want to storm the tower of a dangerous sorcerer when you’re fighting like this? It seems like a recipe for disaster."

Benedetto’s jaw clenched, but he didn’t respond, just glared at Sofia.

Wait. “Sofia, is there a spell on us, influencing our minds? One to cause discord?”

She paused, staring from me to Benedetto. A long time passed, enough for me to shift from foot to foot and Benedetto to wince and settle back down on a log, stretching his leg out.

Sofia’s mouth tightened. “Yes. It’s subtle, and it digs up insecurities that are already there. And unfortunately, there’s little I can do to dislodge it. I don’t have the strength. They’re sunk deep, as if they were put on you both some time ago. And I missed it.”

“Good to know you can make mistakes,” Benedetto murmured.

Sofia settled on one of the other logs, her expression grim. "With that in mind, let me tell you more about your opponent. Since we’re now in a position where helping you is in line with my contract. Luna dying would cause permanent damage to Rose emotionally."

Her contract. Always about contracts and obligations with Sofia. Did she ever do anything simply out of care or loyalty? Or did she mask loyalty by claiming it was her contract?

Benedetto waved a hand dismissively. "Do you do everything to comply with your contract? Are you a slave? Or is it just a talent you have for ruining every good thing in your life?"

Sofia regarded him as she had me and Rose when we were young and misbehaving. "Do you try to ruin everything good in your life, or is it just a gift you were born with? This information might keep you from dying, so be silent and listen."

I jumped slightly at the acid note in Sofia’s usually calm and collected voice. I had never heard her speak like that. What weren’t we seeing here?

Benedetto opened his mouth to retort, and I kicked him in his bad leg. He gasped but closed his mouth.

Flickers of red and orange glowed in Sofia's eyes as she leaned forward intently. I hoped those lights were from the campfire. "Moonshifter’s greatest power allows him to alter his form, becoming any creature he desires. He could be a wolf stalking you in the shadows, or a bird watching from above."

I swallowed hard, a chill dancing down my spine at the thought. I’d thought he only changed to a wolf, as the stories said.

Benedetto remained still as a statue, but I caught the muscle ticking in his clenched jaw.

"What is not as commonly known is that Moonshifter can also influence minds," Sofia said, her attention on Benedetto. "Drive a sane man to madness or restore clarity to a broken psyche. This mental manipulation is perhaps his greatest weapon. As has been demonstrated on you, I think. Now that you’re aware of it, the influence will be less effective."

My husband let out a long slow breath as his hands clenched. The pain in his face made my stomach churn. In that moment, I saw past Benedetto’s icy facade to the anguish beneath it. The heavy weight of it settled inside me.

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