“Thorne, knowing me, would I ever orchestrate such a foolish errand?” Matteo asked with confusion. “I only found out a day after it happened. The ringleader informed me they had received an anonymous tip claiming you were holding my wife… my Luna… hostage.”
Thorne c****d a brow, unimpressed.
“See? I was just as surprised,” Matteo continued. “I knew you would never do that, so I reprimanded all involved, but I couldn’t get to the bottom of it.”
He tapped his leg absentmindedly. “Serene and I had a little lover’s argument, so I wasn’t surprised when she stormed off on ‘business’ and didn’t return. I knew she was doing it to spite me, and out of pride I didn’t care to reach out.”
Thorne leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk.
“Are you saying you never sent her to negotiate a land l
