Page 115 of Haunting the Hunter

“I’m coming—fuck—I’m—” Her voice cuts off as she groans through it, legs shaking.

Her body goes limp as she moans beneath me. I don’t stop. I can’t.

The pressure coils tight in my gut, and I feel my dick pulsing inside her as I come. I stay there, savoring the feeling. I drag out slowly, relishing the way her body clenches—every ridge catching, making her twitch and tense until I’m fully out. Her back arches like she’s still trying to keep me in, but I’m already looking down, staring at the mess I made. My cum slipping from the hole I stretched. Dripping. Ruined. Marked.

My fingers trail down the arch of her spine as she trembles beneath me. I grip her hair, tilt her head, and kiss her forehead. I drop beside her and drag her onto my chest.

She’s still gasping when she looks up at me—her dark eyes glossy.

“I think… I love you, too.”

I close my eyes, and I feel it. The urge to keep her. To break her. To ruin her sweet little mind until she only seesme.

Instead, I kiss her softly.

As though that’s enough.

It won’t be.

She quickly falls asleep in my arms.

It’s past one in the morning when I feel a shift in the air. Heavy and electric.

I scan the dark room, my eyes locking on the balcony. The glass doors are shut, but I see those glowing white eyes, clear as day through the dark. Alok.

I slip out of bed carefully, keeping quiet so I don’t wake Calli. The floorboards creak beneath me as I move toward the door. I open it and step outside, the wood cool beneath my feet as I lean against the railing.

“Haven’t seen you in a while,” I say, my voice calm. “What happened to keeping watch?”

He steps forward, materializing beside me like a shadow finally choosing form.

“I’ve been here and there,” he says. “Watching. From where I’m not seen.”

He turns to me, eyes still glowing. “I warned you, Kai. You know the risks of falling for a mortal.”

“I know,” I say, rubbing my jaw. “I just don’t care.”

I pause, staring out into the dark beyond the trees, then continue. “She’s like her ancestor. Strong blood. Powerful. They always seem to be drawn to the grimoire.”

He hums low. “Humans tend to be drawn to it.”

“No,” I say, slower this time. “Itcallsto them. It speaks. I’ve watched her use it. It doesn’t resist her—it serves her. As if it knows exactly what she wants, and gives it willingly.”

I turn to meet his eyes. “Her ancestor found it buried beneath an old church. No telling how long it had been there. But I’m starting to believe it didn’t end up there by accident.”

He narrows his gaze, sensing where I’m going.

“There’s only one being it could’ve belonged to.”

The name tastes bitter in my mouth.

“Ashur.”

Alok’s posture shifts. Just slightly.

“He was the only titan known to have crossed into this realm after the war. The place it was buried… It was too intentional. A prison. A warning.” I exhale slowly. “It’s just a guess. But it’s the only one that makes sense. He’s the only one who was never recovered. No remains. No relics. Just… silence.”

Alok looks at me, something unreadable behind his eyes. “Funny thatyouwould be the one to find it. Considering you follow in his footsteps.”