Page 24 of Haunted

“Whatever it takes to ensure my friend doesn’t end up...” I trail off, not wanting to finish that thought.

Xavier stares at me blankly for what feels like an eternity, his expression unreadable. The silence stretches so long that I begin to think he’s simply waiting for me to break under it.

Finally, he shifts his attention to Cora. “Congratulations, Ms. Pike. You’ve become the first-ever sixth female competitor in the Hunt.”

Cora’s face brightens instantly, but Xavier isn’t finished.

“You will sign the same non-disclosure agreement as your friend here.” His tone makes it clear this isn’t negotiable. “Break it, and neither your father’s position nor your family name will protect you from the consequences.”

He steps back, breaking contact with my hand. “I suggest you both leave now. I have work to attend to.”

“Thank you,” I manage to say to Xavier, my voice barely above a whisper. His eyes remain cold, calculating, fixed on me with an intensity that makes my skin crawl. I grab Cora’s arm, my fingers digging in harder than necessary. “We’ll be going now.”

I practically drag her down the hallway, not daring to breathe properly until we’re back in the main club area. Even with the pulsing music and flashing lights, I can still feel Xavier’s presence behind us, like a shadow that refuses to fade.

“What the hell were you thinking?” I hiss once we’re a safe distance away, spinning to face her. “Do you have any idea who you just threatened?”

Cora adjusts her designer blouse, looking more annoyed than concerned. “Relax, Mira. It worked, didn’t it? I got my invitation.”

“No,Igot your invitation and fuck knows what I’ll have to do to pay for it. You got lucky. Xavier Blackwood isn’t someone you threaten. He’s dangerous, Cora. More dangerous than you can possibly imagine.”

She rolls her eyes. “Please. Men like him are all the same—they respect power and confidence. I just showed him I have both.”

I grab her shoulders, forcing her to look at me. “This isn’t a game. The Hunt isn’t some exclusive society party. It’s...” I lower my voice, glancing around. “It’s something else entirely. Something you shouldn’t be involved in.”

“Well, too late now.” Cora beams, completely missing my point. “We should celebrate! There’s this amazing little bar two blocks over that makes the most divine dirty martinis.”

“Are you even listening to me?” I can’t believe her nonchalance. “In three days, we’ll be in the Hallows Hunt, and from what I understand, we will be trapped in the Hunt for seventy-two hours. This isn’t something to celebrate.”

“Seventy-two hours? That sounds like a good party to me.” She pulls out her phone, already scrolling through messages. “Come on, just one drink. We can talk about outfits!”

I stare at her in disbelief, wondering how I can make her understand the gravity of what she’s gotten herself into—what I’ve now inadvertently dragged her into.

My phone dings, cutting through the tension between us. I pull it out and nearly drop it when I see the notification – an email from Xavier with a PDF attachment labeled “NDA_C.Pike.”

“That was fast,” I mutter. There it is, the same legal nightmare I signed, now with Cora’s name inserted in the appropriate places.

“What is it?” Cora leans over, trying to see my screen.

“Your NDA.” I turn the phone to show her. “Xavier works quickly when he wants to.”

Cora’s eyes light up. “Perfect! I’ll just sign it now, and then we can?—”

I pull my phone back. “No. Absolutely not. You need to read it first. Every single word.”

“It’s just standard confidentiality stuff,” she dismisses with a wave of her hand. “I’ve signed a million NDAs for Dad’s political events.”

“This isn’t a political event, Cora, something you don’t seem to understand.” My voice hardens. “We will grab one drink, but only if you promise to read this entire document before signing it.”

Her brow furrows at my insistence. “You’re being weird about this.”

“Cora, do you have any idea what you just got yourself into? What you just made me help you get into?” I lower my voice, aware of the other staff moving aroundus. “This isn’t a normal party. The document spells it out clearly. Read it.”

She sighs dramatically. “Fine, I’ll read your precious NDA. Now, can we please go get that drink? I need something strong after that little confrontation.”

I forward the email to her phone, watching as she checks the notification. “You read that before signing. Promise me.”

“Yes, yes, I promise.” She rolls her eyes again, but her expression softens slightly when she sees my genuine concern. “It really means that much to you?”