Page 116 of Haunting the Hunter

My expression darkens. I look down at him, my voice steady and measured.

“I know she will die. I accept that. But I can love her while I have her. I don’t have delusions.”

Silence stretches between us. Heavy with everything that can’t be undone.

“I’m surprised you chose to don a human form.” His voice is calm, but the air between us is thick. “I’ve never known you to willingly weaken yourself.”

He doesn’t look at me, just stares out at the night with that detached stillness I’ve come to hate.

“It’s necessary,” I say. “I need to understand what’s happening here. Too many things don’t add up.”

He finally turns his head, and the shadows shift across his face.

“Her ancestor called on me,” I say. “Begged for help. He couldn’t control the power inside him, and in his desperation, he created the Covenant. Usedmysigil to channel divine magic. It consumed him.”

He speaks calmly. “You’ve been busy.”

He leans forward against the railing, his eyes glinting with starlight, like he’s amused by how small everything is. “They called your true name,” he continues. “They used your sigil against your will. You should have razed the earth beneath them.”

I shrug, unconcerned. “It’s fascinating, really. The way humans scrape at power they were never meant to wield. I underestimated them.”

A sharp sound cuts through the tension. A doorknob turning downstairs. Both of us go still. Our ears twitch.

“Looks like they’re back,” I mutter.

I turn toward him, keeping my voice low and clipped. “You need to go. They brought a witch with them—she’ll sense you.”

But he doesn’t move. Doesn’t even blink.

“Oh no,” he says. “I think I’ll be staying.”

My stomach drops.

“I’m well-versed in possession,” he continues, his voice smooth like oiled metal. “And I believe I’ve found aprime subjectto host.”

My face hardens. “No. You can’t.”

He raises a brow.

“Her brother is essential to all of this. You know that. Youknowwhat’s at stake.”

“Not the brother.” His head tilts, the grin creeping up again. “I’m well aware of his little ghost. I imagine it would take issue if I possessed him.”

The grin widens. “I’m talking about the new addition.”

He says it like it’s nothing. Like it may not cost useverything.

“You take no issue with that, do you?”

Fuck.

He’s cornering me. Putting me in a position where any move I make is the wrong one. If I stop him, I risk losing my only link to the truth. If I let him—Calli will know. She’ll feel it. She’ll know I let it happen.

“You can’t,” I say quietly. “She’ll know.”

He hums, unbothered. “They’ve been estranged. How would she know? She won’t be able to sense me in a host. The witch is perfect. Strong. Gifted.Isolated.Your girl doesn’t need to know. And you…” He glances at me, a gleam in his eyes. “You won’t tell her.”

I hear doors opening. Footsteps. Voices drifting in from downstairs. They’re all settling in.