Page 112 of Haunting the Hunter

“She’s going to know you’re here. There’s no way she won’t. So we need a plan to hide you in plain sight—seeing as I’m stuck with you,” she says with a half smile.

My clever little witch. Perfect in every way.

“What did you have in mind?” I lift my head, just slightly.

She turns to face me fully—and grabs both of my horns.

“Can you hide these?” she asks, eyes flicking over them. “I mean…Canyou look normal?”

“Normal towhosestandards?” I grin, clapping back with a devious smile.

She shoves me, laughing.

“Are you able to suppress your presence?” she asks with a giggle.

I stand up straighter and smile down at her, cupping her chin as I pull her into a deep kiss. I guide her hands to my neck, keeping them occupied while I begin the shift.

My horns retract slowly, clipping through my scalp with a tingling pressure. My hair and skin dull with pigment, the sigils carved into my flesh fading into nothing. My fangs begin to reshape as I kiss her deep—tongue sliding between her lips, tracing the inside of her mouth while it rounds and softens into something more… human.

She freezes. Pulls back. Stares.

“Whoa,” she whispers, wide-eyed.

I let out a deep, rumbling chuckle.

“Other than the fact that you still look like a God… you almost pass for human,” she murmurs, fingers combing through my now-black hair.

She quirks a brow. “Can I cut this? It’s beautiful, but we should try and make you look asnormalas possible.”

“Whatever you want, pretty girl,” I say, smiling.

She does a little dance and darts to the hallway closet. Pulls out a small box and carries it to the kitchen table.

She’s so fucking cute.

“Please—take a seat.” She bows, dramatically gesturing to the chair.

I roll my eyes, smiling as I sit. She immediately starts shifting my head around like a damn rag doll.

“We’re going to have to give you a different name,” she says, pulling out a pair of scissors and lopping off a massive chunk of hair.

“How exactly do you see this working?” I ask, turning my head—only for her to grab it and snap it back into place.

“Stay still,” she mutters, focused. “I’ve been sneaking into town to see you. Jack’s already met you, so that helps.”

Snip.

“So what’s the excuse for me living here now?” I say.

“Right…” She pauses. “You lost your job at the corner store and got evicted?”

I slowly turn and give her a flat, unimpressed look.

“It’s good enough. Cade will already be suspicious. Oh fuck—Cade,” she says, the realization hitting her. “He’s gonna kill you. Or me. Or both.”

She has a point. That little fucker is wildly protective of her. Watching his big brother complex kick in will be hilarious. My connection with his sister is going towreckhim—especially once he realizes I understand her in a way he never will.

Oh, that’s perfect.