Page 1 of Only in Moonlight (The Moonlit Court #1)

Valen

I ’d rather face an assassin than spend another minute at this party.

The guests mingling in the garden showed off their finest eveningwear: gowns studded with precious stones, gold-embroidered doublets, and rings with gems the size of olives.

Sadly, none of them seemed to be hiding a knife up their sleeve.

I scanned the neatly trimmed flower bushes and silvery green trees, but no murderers lurked in the shadows, just luminescent moths fluttering among the leaves.

It was a shame, but I suppose I should be grateful.

I didn’t need murderous complications when I had a mission to complete.

Since I couldn’t get violently attacked (at least not yet; the night was young), I resigned myself to continuing my current conversation.

“Your family is well, I hope?” I asked Felina.

Or was that Florina? I could remember the names of every suspected spy, assassin, and saboteur in the kingdom, but I always mixed up the two sisters. Both of them stood in front of me, fluttering their eyelashes so much you’d think they were trying to shake them off.

“Oh, yes,” she said breathlessly. “Mother is insanely busy, but she thrives on hectic schedules. And Father just returned from Earth. My brothers went with him, and they’ve brought back all these horrid hunting trophies.

My aunts are fighting over who gets to host the family party for the feast day, but Uncle Andeolus says he’d rather burn down the manor than have us all over again. ”

Florina elbowed her, and Felina snapped her mouth shut, cheeks reddening as she realized she’d shared too much.

“Preposterous,” I said. “Why, for the honor of hosting two lovely ladies like yourselves, I’d build a manor myself.”

It was a weak attempt at charm, but they giggled anyway.

“It is a small ordeal,” Felina said. “There are seven siblings in Mother’s generation. We have sixteen cousins along with all our brothers.”

“It’s true. I come from a long line of fertile women.” Florina met my eyes with all the subtlety of a war hammer to the skull. “We don’t have trouble producing heirs.”

I coughed. “Yes, well, luckily, knighthoods aren’t a hereditary title. I don’t have to worry about an heir.”

Florina’s mouth hung open for a moment. “Right,” she squeaked. “Of course. How lucky. Children are such a bother, don’t you think?”

She gave me a wide and completely unconvincing smile.

I needed an excuse to leave—and not just to escape their flirtations. The party was winding down, and I had to locate the documents before it ended.

Felina pounced on her sister’s awkward silence. “Do you like plays?” she asked me. “Would you like to see The Tale of Helvia ? The troupe is from the Dark Moon Court. It’s supposed to be quite scandalous.”

“I wanted to ask him,” Florina hissed at her.

Felina’s gaze darted from me to her sister. “Then ask.”

“It’s too late now that you already did. It was my idea, remember? How could you—?”

“I’ve already seen the play,” I lied. “It was entertaining enough.”

The sisters pouted before glaring at each other.

“And pardon me.” I took a step back. “I need another drink.”

I raced away before they could stop me, feeling like I’d barely escaped getting torn apart by starving tigers.

The sisters were normally pleasant, but their mother was pressuring them to make advantageous marriages.

And the Court lacked eligible bachelors with a title, which painted a target on my back.

My looks didn’t exactly help the situation either.

The stubble along my jaw and shoulder-length hair gave me what Aurea used to call a “roguish charm,” and years of training had left me with the kind of physique that made women take notice.

In a court full of soft, pampered lords, I stood out like a sword among butter knives.

I snatched a glass of wine from a nearby refreshment table and slipped behind a large shrub before Felina, Florina, or anyone else could spot me.

As soon as I’d escaped everyone’s sight, it felt like a heavy weight had fallen from my shoulders.

The wineglass felt cool in my palm, the chatter of the party swirling around me.

I threw back my head and took a long drink.

Sir Valen Corvanos: charming party guest, handsome but shallow, more skilled at dancing than swordplay.

I played the part for good reason, but stars, it was hard sometimes.

A moment later, I realized I wasn’t alone behind the shrub.

“Pardon me, my lady,” I said, dipping into a quick bow.

Lady Celestine. Minor nobility. Too shy and reclusive to wield any political influence. She wore a subdued gray dress trimmed with pearls that seemed designed to help her blend into the background.

She lifted her own wineglass in greeting. “This hiding spot is taken.”

“I’m not hiding,” I replied—perhaps a little too quickly.

Her lips twitched. “You’re like a rabbit cowering from a pack of hounds.”

I wasn’t sure who should be more offended: me or my female admirers.

“A brave, handsome rabbit who’s merely taking a quick rest before leading the hounds on a merry chase again,” I said.

She laughed. Well, it was more of a snort, really.

Entirely unladylike and incredibly intriguing.

I gave her a closer look. She was older than I, her brown hair pulled back modestly into a beaded netting.

People always said she was more timid than a mouse, but perhaps she had them fooled just like I did.

“And who are you hiding from?“ I asked.

She gestured to the entire party. “Everyone. If I have to hear one more person brag about their enormous estates or priceless family heirlooms, I…” She shook her head. “I might just snap and beat someone to death with an appetizer tray.”

“Really? You don’t want to hear a rich lord boast about swindling an old widow out of her lands?”

“Ugh.” She gulped her drink. “At least the wine is good.”

“It is, isn’t it?” I gazed appreciatively at the glass. “A nicely complex palate. Not too dry. The notes of tropical fruit and honey aren’t overpowering. It’s surprisingly refreshing.”

“Very eloquent. I was just going to say it tastes good and is giving me a smooth buzz.”

I smirked. “That’s true, too.”

She took another slow sip from her glass, closing her eyes and savoring it. I didn’t mean to stare, but I couldn’t stop myself.

“Huh.” She opened her eyes and gazed at the glass. “I thought your little speech was bullshit, but you actually described it perfectly.”

I raised my glass in acknowledgement. Women had been flattering me all night, but Lady Celestine’s “not full of bullshit” was my favorite compliment.

“You’re not a wine connoisseur, I take it,” I said.

“I like wine. Good wine, anyway. It goes well with cheese.”

“Cheese?”

“Nothing’s better than cheese,” she said with a glowing smile. “It’s mankind’s greatest invention.”

I suddenly wanted to enjoy a bottle of wine and charcuterie board with her—but not here at this awful party. Someplace quiet. Private. Like the balcony of my chateau.

“Well, if you think this is good, just wait for the dessert wine.”

“Oh?” she asked.

“It’s decadent. Tullus is a filthy lecher, but he has an amazing wine cellar.”

I froze. Apparently, the wine had loosened my tongue.

“My apologies,” I said stiffly. “I shouldn’t have insulted our host.”

Lady Celestine just grinned. “The drunken, mud-sucking pig currently creeping on a woman less than half his age? A lecher? How shocking.”

I followed her gaze and found that Tullus had cornered none other than Florina. She leaned away from him, eyes desperately scanning the crowd for someone to come to her aid. Her sister was nowhere in sight.

I’d be a poor knight if I didn’t rescue the maiden.

“Excuse me,” I said to Lady Celestine.

I cut through the crowd, wineglass in hand.

Tullus was eyeing Florina’s décolletage as he blustered about something or another, invading her personal space.

I couldn’t afford a conflict with him, not tonight of all nights, but I couldn’t leave Florina in his clutches either. This would take finesse.

“Florina!” I called, hoping I hadn’t mixed up the sisters’ names.

Her gaze snapped in my direction, face shining with hope.

“Have you seen your sister?” I asked. “She’s so drunk she’s about to fall face-first into the grass. Come help her.”

“Oh no,” she said. “Please excuse me, Lord Tullus.”

“Yes, my apologies,” I added.

Tullus’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Since it’s you, Sir Valen, I’ll forgive you for stealing her away.”

I clapped him on the shoulder. “Never fear, milord. The night is young, and there’s no shortage of ladies in want of your charms.”

Tullus let out a booming laugh, his wine-reeking breath hitting me full in the face. “Sir Valen, you rascal. You remind me of myself when I was younger.”

That was the worst insult I’d ever received. My smile almost turned to a grimace, but I caught myself just in time. I couldn’t let my facade slip in front of him.

I bid him good evening and led Florina away—or tried to.

She moved so fast that she passed me within moments, and I had to hurry to catch up with her.

Once we’d left Tullus’s sight, I admitted my lie and the reason for it.

Florina gazed at me with stars in her eyes, and it took me fifteen minutes to get away from the besotted girl. Once I did…

My gaze went back to the shrubs, but Lady Celestine must have found another hideout. It was a shame. She was refreshingly free of pretentiousness, and I’d enjoyed our conversation. I could find her later…

No. Hadn’t I learned my lesson with Aurea? I had no place in my life for romance. Pursuing someone I cared for would only hurt us both when they learned the truth about me. That’s why I only allowed myself meaningless flings.

I shook my head. Enough pathetic self-pity. Time to get to work.

I drifted through the courtyard toward Tullus’s sizable manor house, handing my empty wineglass to a passing waiter.

The building’s white stone gleamed in the lantern light, pointed roofs stretching toward the starry sky.

Its windows were dark. Besides the servants rushing to and from the kitchens, the whole place should be empty.

The grand main doors were too visible, the kitchen door too busy. I strolled casually across the grounds, the chatter and music of the party fading behind me, until I reached a small side door close to the stables. The lock was sturdy but straightforward; it took less than a minute to pick.

I slipped inside, leaving behind the simpering knight and becoming someone far more dangerous.