12. Benedetto
CHAPTER TWELVE
BENEDETTO
The cool stone floor pressed against my back, still damp from steam. My breathing came fast and ragged. Luna's sweet scent wrapped around me, like saffron and some other exotic flower I couldn’t name
Why did I do this without thinking? Unwanted emotions tightened my chest at the thought. This was not part of any plan.
For over a decade, since Francesco went mad, revenge and the quest for a cure had consumed me. No distractions, no room for anything else. Least of all a wife who stirred up feelings I'd long buried. Women were fleeting amusement, a momentary escape, not...this. Whatever this might be.
I pushed myself up abruptly and stood. Luna glanced at me, brow arched in question. I forced a smirk and a mocking expression, looked down at her with manufactured contempt.
"That's enough," I said. "I need to clean up properly. The last thing I need is a woman's scent clinging to me."
Luna laughed, a low, throaty sound that caught me off guard. She propped herself up on one elbow and gave me a wry smile.
"Given your charm, Benedetto, I don't think that's something you need to worry about."
Her words sparked a flash of irritation mixed with reluctant amusement. I watched as she stood and tied her robe securely around her waist. She was quick with her tongue, which made me harden again.
It had been a while…,
No. I couldn't let this continue. Not least because she was a pawn in a game she couldn’t hope to win.
"Charm is irrelevant," I said flatly. "I have more important matters to focus on."
Luna's smile didn't waver but did gain an edge like a dagger’s. "Of course you do. The great Benedetto d'Alvarez, consumed by his grand quest."
I narrowed my eyes at her. "Mock all you want, but it's the only thing that matters. I won't be distracted from my purpose."
"Even by your wife ?" She raised a brow.
"Especially by my wife," I said. My purpose was revenge, not hearth and home. Especially not at my family’s whim.
Luna shook her head, auburn waves tumbling over her shoulders, a few strands clinging to her damp throat and forehead. "You're a fool, Benedetto. Revenge won't bring you peace."
"I'm not looking for peace," I said. "I'm looking for justice. For my brother."
She met my gaze and searched mine. For a moment, something flickered there, pity, perhaps, or understanding. But it vanished as quickly as it came.
"Justice," she said. "Is that truly all you want?"
I turned away from her, jaw clenched. Yes . It was all I'd ever wanted. All I'd ever need.
But even as the thought formed, I knew it was a lie. Because deep down, in a place I rarely acknowledged, there was a part of me that yearned for something more. Something I could never have, not while the ghosts of my past still haunted me.
Enough. Focus on what matters. Revenge. Justice. Nothing else .
I strode toward the door for the men’s hot baths, not looking back at Luna.
"Get cleaned up," I said over my shoulder. "We have work to do."
Her laughter followed me out, mocking and strangely alluring all at once. Damned woman . I turned and stalked toward the house. She'll be the death of me yet.
The warm water enveloped me as I stepped into the bath. I scrubbed at my skin, trying to wash away the lingering sensations and scents from my encounter with Luna. Despite my best efforts, my thoughts kept wandering back to her.
I remembered how she'd kept her robe on, never fully disrobing. It was a small detail, but it nagged at me. Why didn't she take off the robe? Probably just a woman thing, a mole or a scar on her back. It didn't matter.
Still, it was curious. What was she hiding?
I shook my head, forcing the thought aside. I couldn't afford distractions.
Anxious to be on my way, I finished bathing quickly. As I dressed, I strapped my sword to my hip, the familiar weight grounding me. For a moment, I considered returning to the merchant's house where I'd been staying. But I hesitated.
Competent assassins would have already marked that place. And killing a bunch of people tonight would only delay me.
Instead, I decided to spend the night at the family home. It was safer there, and I could use the time to rest and gather information at breakfast. My mother always had her ear to the ground when it came to court gossip and political maneuverings.
I exited the bathhouse, the cool night air a welcome respite from the lingering heat within. Luna scrolled ahead of me, her arms full of clothing, heading toward the main house. She didn't turn around, but I could hear laughter in her voice as she said, "Running back to hide behind your mother's skirts?"
I snorted at the absurdity of the statement. "I'd rather deal with her than with a group of idiots sent to kill me. Unless you've done something to anger her?"
She threw a smirk over her shoulder. "I'm not that suicidal."
Entering through the front door at this hour would wake the household and invite an inquisition from my mother, and I caught up with Luna as she approached the old oak tree that grew beside one of the second-story windows.
That tree had aided Francesco and me on a number of late-night adventures.
The tension between me and my wife was almost palpable, an uneasy truce with neither of us willing to speak first. As we paused at the base of the tree, Luna prepared to climb, trying to ensure she was covered with the robe as she clambered up.
She shot me a look under her lashes and frowned.
Unable to resist, I said lightly, "You look like you're thinking too hard. Regretting your life choices already, or just sulking because you can't keep up?"
Luna's eyes narrowed. "Oh, absolutely. I lie awake every night worrying how I might fall behind the great Benedetto d'Alvarez. It's a deep, consuming fear."
She was sharper than I gave her credit for. I almost wished…no. Better not to think about it.
As she climbed, it was obvious that she’d taken this route before. Her movements were graceful and practiced. A flicker of curiosity sparking within me. There was much more to Luna than what she let others see, and despite my best efforts, I found myself wanting to unravel all her secrets.
Focus, Benedetto. You have a mission, a purpose. You can't afford distractions, especially not in the form of a young woman with a sharp tongue and haunting eyes.
I followed her up the tree, the rough bark biting into my palms as I pulled myself onto the window ledge. Luna had already slipped inside, and I could hear her soft footsteps padding on the floorboards within.
This night had changed something between us. The banter, the shared experience, the fleeting moments of understanding... it was a dangerous path for me to tread.
But then again, I'd never been one to shy away from danger. And it had been a long time since any woman piqued my curiosity.
Safely in the room, Luna ghosted to the door and flicked a stray strand of hair out of her face. Her voice was softer than the hush of morning rain. "Tell me, Benedetto, do you always have this effect on people, or is it just me who finds your company so utterly exhausting?"
I raised a brow and kept my tone casual but with an edge, matching her quietness. "Only on people who are too weak to handle a challenge. If you find me exhausting, Luna, maybe you're simply out of your depth."
Luna snorted. "Out of my depth? I was out of my depth when I was fourteen, forced into a marriage with a man who couldn't even recognize his own wife when she was standing right in front of him. Now I know exactly what I’m doing."
My smirk faltered for a split second. "Well, you were a child then. You’ve done well."
Scald the moon, why did I say that? I shouldn't be engaging with her like this, letting her get under my skin.
Luna's eyes blazed with anger, her whisper-soft voice sharp. "Don't patronize me, Benedetto. I've survived things you can't even imagine."
She was right. I didn't know the full extent of what she'd been through. Nor did she know my scars, so we were even in that.
I forced a smirk back onto my face. "Is that so? Well, why don't you enlighten me then, Luna? What great trials have you endured that make you so strong?"
Keep pushing her away. It's better for both of us. I can't afford to let anyone close, not now, not ever.
I leaned slightly closer, my eyes gleaming with challenge. "Careful, Luna. You're starting to sound like you think you can handle me. That's a dangerous thought."
She met my gaze head-on, not backing down an inch. "Maybe I'm not just thinking it. Maybe I know I can."
For a heartbeat, the air between us crackled with unspoken tension. The words were biting, but there was an undercurrent of something else, something neither of us wanted to acknowledge. It was a moment of raw, electric attraction, hidden beneath layers of animosity.
Void eat you, woman. Why did she have to be so damn stubborn, so infuriatingly alluring?
I forced a lopsided smile, shaking my head. "You know, it's almost charming how fiercely you fight back. Like a fox pup barking at a wolf."
Luna rolled her eyes, but the ghost of a smile flitted across her lips. "And it's almost charming how you keep underestimating me. Almost."
Damn it, she was impossible. Maybe that was why I couldn't seem to look away.
I glanced at Luna, catching the determined set of her jaw in the faint moonlight streaming through the window. She was tougher than I gave her credit for.
She slipped out the door, heading for the opposite wing of the house. The rooms kept for me on the rare occasions I visited were only a few steps away. Down the hall, Luna turned. For a moment, I paused, watching her silhouette disappear into the shadows. What are you hiding, Luna? What secrets do you carry beneath that sharp tongue and fierce spirit?
Shaking my head, I entered my chamber, the familiar scent of leather and steel enveloping me. I stripped off my sword and boots, my thoughts still lingering on the woman down the hall. She's a distraction. A complication you can't afford.
The book I wrapped in a silk shirt. I’d left it here the last time I visited, just in case. It was enchanted to obscure scrying, so whatever was wrapped in it was almost impossible to find. Worn, it didn’t have the effect, since it didn't completely cover the wearer.
It had cost a pretty penny, but worth it now.
Task complete, even as I lay down on the bed, staring at the ceiling, I couldn't escape the memory of her eyes, the way they'd blazed with challenge and something else, something that made my pulse quicken. Scald the moon, I was in trouble. Real trouble.
Sleep eluded me, my mind churning with thoughts of Luna, of the quest ahead, of the revenge I'd sought for so long. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll focus. I'll put her out of my mind and do what needs to be done.
The lie I told myself left a burn in my chest. Luna had gotten under my skin, and there was no going back. A bsent gods keep you, Luna. Far away from me. Because I have a feeling we're both going to need all the help we can get.
The morning sun lit the dining room with a molten pale golden glow. I sat at one end of the table, the scents of herbal tea filling my nostrils and the taste of fresh bread in my mouth. Mother sat across from me, her sharp eyes assessing. Father slumped in his chair, his face grey and tired.
He’d been ill for many years, even before Francesco left to seek his apprenticeship. He dipped his bit of bread in the tea, watching me with hollow eyes.
Mother leaned forward, a sly smile playing at the corners of her mouth. "I heard something intriguing this morning from my maid. Tulliano Lucardi left town last night. Urgent business, apparently. Headed straight for Kalion."
I narrowed my eyes. "Did he say why?"
She shrugged. "I’ve no idea. It isn't technically my business. But it's obvious something spooked him. He left in a hurry, with only a small entourage."
Kalion? What could have dragged him there in such a rush? This could be the lead I'd been waiting for. Especially after we took the book.
"Interesting," I kept my voice neutral. "Very interesting."
Mother's smile widened, showing perfect teeth. "I thought you'd find it so."
I reached for a piece of flatbread, tearing off a chunk and dipping it in honey. Lucardi in Kalion. It might be connected to Francesco. To the curse.
"I suppose I should pay a visit to Kalion myself," I said, popping the bread into my mouth. "See what all the fuss is about."
Mother nodded, unsurprised. "Of course. It would be wise to investigate."
Father stirred, blinking at me as if just realizing I was there. "Benedetto," he said. "When did you arrive?"
A pang of sadness mixed with frustration shot through me. He's getting worse. "Last night, Father. I had some business to attend to."
He nodded vaguely, his attention already drifting. Mother's lips tightened, a flash of something crossing her face before she smoothed it away.
"Well," she said briskly, "if you're going to Kalion, you'll need supplies. I'll have the servants pack you a bag."
I inclined my head in thanks, my mind already racing ahead. Kalion. Lucardi. The book. It was all connected. Anticipation thrummed through me, the thrill of the hunt, the promise of answers.
My thoughts turned to Luna. Would she insist on coming? I pushed the thought away. Focus. She will do what she does, and you’ll react then.
But even as I finished my breakfast, my thoughts kept circling back to a pair of fierce gray eyes and a sharp tongue, to a body made for sin.
After breakfast, I strode into the courtyard, warmth and humidity already rising, promising another day of scorching heat. The grooms had my horse ready, a sleek black stallion named Biter, because he did. As I approached, I saw a bay gelding with a white blaze on his forehead already saddled, a familiar figure astride it.
Luna. She sat tall in the saddle, her auburn hair braided back, a long red veil twisted through it. She wore practical riding clothes, leather breeches and a linen shirt, but she still managed to look every inch the noblewoman.
I stopped, folding my arms across my chest. "What are you doing? How did you know I was leaving?"
She rolled her eyes. "It’s not like it wasn’t obvious how you and your mother get along. I figured you’d be gone before breakfast. As for knowing where you’re going, it's not like you ordered the grooms to keep it a secret."
I scowled. "You're useless in a fight, and you should stay here to see if you're pregnant. No point dragging you across the countryside."
Her smile was thin and sharp. "It'll be a week or two before I find out if your seed took, Benedetto," she said. "And if I'm not, I'd prefer to be in a position to try again before I turn forty."
Damn her. I bit back a laugh. "You'll slow me down. I'm not going to wait for you."
"Good," she said. "I’d prefer not to wait for you either."
I studied her for a long moment, weighing my options. I could try to force her to stay, but I had a feeling that would only make her more determined. And loathe as I was to admit it, having her along might not be the worst thing. She was clever and observant, and I could use an extra set of eyes.
It was not like I could even protect her. Maybe after learning how the world really worked, she’d head back here without argument.
I swung up into Biter’s saddle, the leather creaking beneath me. "Fine. But don't expect me to coddle you. We ride hard and fast."
Luna just smiled, a glint of challenge in her eyes. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
"You feel safe leaving your sister and nursemaid here?"
Luna's expression flickered, a hint of uncertainty passing over her features before she masked it. "They'll be fine. Your mother's household is secure, and Rose has Sofia to look after her."
I shrugged, not entirely convinced but unwilling to discuss the point further. If something happens, it's on Luna's head, not mine.
Clicking my tongue, I urged my steed forward. Luna fell in beside me as we rode out of the courtyard, the clattering of hooves against cobblestones echoing in the early morning air.
We rode in silence, cutting across the countryside, the only sound the steady rhythm of our horses' hooves against the earth. I kept my eyes forward, my mind already racing ahead to Kalion and what I might find there.
Lucardi was running scared. But from what? Or who?
It was a question that had been eating at me since I first heard the news of his abrupt departure. Lucardi was a cautious man, not prone to rash decisions. For him to leave so suddenly, without even a proper entourage... something had to have spooked him badly.
I glanced over at Luna, riding tall and proud beside me. The early morning light played across her face, casting her features in a soft glow. There was a determination in the set of her jaw, a fire in her eyes that I recognized all too well.
"You realize this isn't going to be a pleasure trip," I said abruptly, breaking the silence between us. "It’s not too late to go back."
Luna met my gaze, her chin lifted in that infuriatingly defiant way of hers. "I'm well aware. I'm not here for a pleasure trip."
"Then why are you here?" I said. "What do you hope to gain from this? There’s no guarantee you’ll get pregnant on this trip either."
For a moment, Luna was silent.
"I'm here because I refuse to wait anymore. I'm here because I'm tired of being treated like a pawn in everyone else's games. And I'm here because..." She hesitated, as if weighing her next words carefully. "Because I think there might be more to you than just a ruthless mercenary out for revenge."
I stared at her, caught off guard by her words. She thinks there's more to me? She has no idea who I really am, what I've done .
But there was a flicker of understanding in her gaze that unsettled me. It was as if she could see right through me, past all the layers of anger and bitterness and pain, to the man I used to be. A man long dead.
Dangerous thoughts for the girl. She’d learn.
I tore my gaze away from Luna's and focused on the road ahead. "Just try to keep up. And don't get in my way."
And with that, I spurred my horse forward, leaving Luna to follow in my wake as we rode down the road to Kalion. The way stretched ahead, dusty and sunlit, with the distant silhouette of the Renhos Mountains on the horizon. We rode in silence for the first few miles, the only sound the rhythmic thud of hooves and the occasional call of a bird overhead.
I kept my pace fast, pushing the horses but not enough to harm them. I glanced over occasionally, expecting to see Luna struggling, but she matched my speed, her face set in determined concentration. She's tough. But we'll see how long she can keep this up.
I urged my horse into a gallop. The wind whipped past my face, stinging my eyes, but I didn't slow down. I was curious what her reaction would be.
To my surprise, Luna kept pace, her horse's hooves pounding the earth in perfect sync with mine. Her auburn hair streamed behind her like a banner, and there was a fierce, exhilarated gleam in her eyes that I admired.
I slowed my horse to a canter, then a trot, and finally a walk. Luna pulled up beside me, her face flushed and her breathing slightly labored, but there was a triumphant smile on her lips.
"Had enough yet?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
She laughed, a bright, defiant sound. "No. You can rest if you need to, old man."
I shook my head, annoyance blending with amusement. "We'll see about that. There's still a long way to go."
There were dangers on this road. Bandits, thieves, wild animals... I'd probably have to protect her, whether she liked it or not.
And if I had to, back to Legnali she’d go.