Page 89 of When He Hunts

“He decided to go on the offensive,” Tyler added as he continued to be an immovable object in front of the door. “He is going straight for Marcus. Going to try and find the trophies and evidence that will put Marcus away for life. He’s ending the threat to you.”

By putting an even bigger target on himself?

“He left a message for me to give you,” Tyler revealed. “Want to hear it?”

“No,” she snapped. “I want to go around for the rest of my days filled with burning curiosity.”

He frowned.

Luna lifted her hands into the air. “Of course, I want to hear it!” Had the question even needed to be asked? Her hands fell to her sides.

Tyler nodded. “Ronan said…he said that he wouldn’t forget you.”

That was something, she supposed. Not like she would ever—not in a million years—be able to forget him. His memory would haunt her far too much.

“He said that, uh, you should go on any adventure you want. Not real sure what kind of adventures he meant, but you should have them.”

Her lower lip began to tremble.

“I do enjoy adventures,” Esme murmured. “Perhaps I can have some of those with you.”

Tyler cut a quick glance at his wife, then focused on Luna. “Ronan wanted you to know that you’re gonna be safe.”

Because he’d left her with two guards. Check. Her lips pressed together. The better to stop the trembling.

“You won’t have to worry about the darkness much longer,” Tyler added. “Because Ronan is gonna take it out of your life.”

Her heart thudded hard in her chest. She wasn’t sure exactly—was Ronan the darkness? She knew he saw himself as the bad guy. But he wasn’t. That was certainly not how she saw him.

When he referred to the darkness, had Ronan been talking about himself or…

He’s talking about Marcus.He must have been referring to Marcus. But had he been talking about getting Marcus locked away in prison—or killing him? Her heartbeat was way too hard as Luna inched a bit closer to Tyler. “He didn’t just…leave me, did he? There’s more involved.”

“He’s gone. He won’t be coming back.” Final. Then, gruff, “I’m sorry.”

She would not cry. She would not break down. Mostly because fear was pushing too hard inside of her. “He went after Marcus.”

Tyler’s jaw hardened the faintest bit.

“He’s out there now, hunting.” A stark pause from Luna. “Isn’t he?” That must have been what Ronan meant when he said he was taking the darkness out of her life. If he wanted her to have her adventures, then he thought she’d be safe soon.

The only way for her to be truly safe? It would be for Marcus to be gone.Dead?

But Tyler wasn’t answering her.

Her shoulders slumped. “May I have some time alone?” Did she sound suitably forlorn? She certainly felt freaking forlorn.

“Ronan was never going to stay as your permanent guard. That’s not how it works.” Again, Tyler’s voice was gruff. Incredibly uncomfortable. As if he hated to tell her the cold, hard facts. Or maybe, as if he hated to break her heart. The big guy had a soft spot inside of him.

“Don’t be ridiculous, darling,” Esme admonished. “You are my permanent guard. That is certainly how it happened for us. Why can’t it happen that way for her, too?”

Luna’s gaze whipped to Esme.

She found Esme staring straight at her.

“If you want something badly enough,” Esme said as she deadeye stared at Luna, “you fight for it.”

Luna caught herself mid-nod.

---