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“That’s impossible,” I said, throat tight. “He left me the first chance he got, Sloan.”

Despite my argument, something in my chest panged. I had no business feeling hope, but I did. Deep down, Sloan’s words revived the optimism that maybe I could reach Phillip again.

Maybe we stood a chance.

But then Sloan sighed and confirmed my unspoken fear. “I’d wondered if maybe you could reach him, but even I’m not sure now that he’s chosen to leave. He seems more determined than ever to do everything alone.”

Fuck.

I’d nearly done it again. Hoped.

Shit.

Moistening my lips, I picked up the pace and settled my gaze on the path ahead. “So, what about you? Why don’t you have anyone in your life? I take it you and Kris aren’t a thing.”

My question seemed to catch the quietly brooding Brit by surprise because his eyes swiftly shot over to me. “You wish to know why I don’t have a loved one? And you’d be correct in assuming there’s nothing between Kris and I, though I admire her greatly.”

Figured he wasn’t the type to date one and kiss another. I mean, not without communicated consent if that was the type of relationship they had. Kris gave me no-one-man vibes, and I admired that about her. Truth be told, I worshipped her.

Must ask her to teach me her ways.

I nearly lost my courage for a second, face to face with Sloan’s solemn stare, but I refused to back down. Not when I could finally ask questions and maybe get answers. With Sloan, it felt achievable.

I kept my gaze locked with the Brit’s. “Is there a reason why you don’t have someone?”

For the first time, Sloan visibly hesitated, unable to answer. But when he lifted his gaze back to mine, he no longer looked unsure. No, if anything, he looked super determined.

“Like Phillip, I lost someone I loved.”

I waited with bated breath, not sure why my heart hurt when Sloan said he’d loved someone. Of course he had. He wasn’t as old as Phillip, but he’d lived far longer than any human had. It’d be ridiculous to think that an immensely charming, unbelievably kind, and incredibly clever Hunter like Sloan wouldn’t fall in love at some stage.

He wasn’t Phil.

In the gleam of sunlight, Sloan was striking. It didn’t help that the last two nights I’d been plagued by dreams of kissing and doing shameless, sinful things with him. Dreams of sinking my fingers into his lush dark hair and mapping the contours of his muscles as they flexed and relaxed. And…I was drooling.

Hormones. I’m going to blame hormones.

“Oh?”

Sloan seemed to choose his next words carefully. “My sister.”

Relief hit, but then I realized how horrible it was to react the way I did when someone told you they lost their sister. “What happened to her?”

Branches and dry leaves crunched underfoot as we trekked deeper into the forest. The sunlight was sporadic and our surroundings grew darker with every step, but my senses were tuned into the way Sloan’s heart seemed to quicken at the mere thought of his sister. Uncomfortable didn’t express how I felt in that moment.

Sloan paused in his forward hike and turned to me. His jaw worked before he finally spoke. “The same fate as your parents.”

The Organization executed her?

“For what reason?” I asked, breathless.

His lips were downturned before he took a step my direction and lowered his voice. “Unlike your parents, she knew what she was doing. She betrayed everything she believed in and joined forces with a Dark Fae.” Closing his eyes, he sighed deeply. “She fell in love with him.”

Well, shit.

It made sense that love would leave a bad taste in your mouth if your own sister went and turned against you for the sake of being in love.

The other Hunter’s soft smile returned. “Don’t worry, love. It was a long time ago.”