Page 31 of Haunting the Hunter

I’m unable to hold back my rage as the air begins to vibrate around me. I quickly glide down the steps with the intention of doing… something. I don’t know what. When I approach Jack, Karma comes over to me. Mewing into the air, still purring.

Fuck.

I can’t be mad at a face like that.

Jack is unbothered, but Calli looks up. She notices Karma trying to get my attention, batting at empty air. I hear her heart begin to pick up.

Can she see me?

No. But her eyes… alwaysfeellike they’re staring straight at me.

A smirk plays on my lips—Jack doesn’t do that to her, but I do. I’m gonna make sureI’mthe only thing that makes her heart race.

“You okay?” He waves a hand over her face. “You look like you’re spacing out.” He gives her an awkward laugh.

“Yeah,” she says, her attention back on him. “My bad. Listen, I really do appreciate everything. You seem to take my mind off things so easily.”

“Must be my charming personality and rugged good looks.” He gives her an exaggerated bow.

She giggles. “I’m serious, Jack.” She nudges his shoulder. “You’ve always been there for me when I need it most. I don’t know what I would do without you right now.”

Oh, she’s gonna find out. Cuz I’m gonna fucking kill him.

He begins to lean in closer to her. “Calli, I need you to know—”

I put my hand out in front of me, forcing the temperature of her body to rise. I feel her heart skip a beat, and she pushes her hair behind her ear. Jerks away and stands up quickly.

“Sorry, I, um, I think I need to go to my room… Can we talk about it later?”

“Yeah, for sure.” The moment is broken, and Jack rubs the back of his neck, his face red.

Fuck you, dude.

I follow Calli up the stairs. Opening the door to her bedroom, she beelines to her balcony.

She leans over the railing, scanning the horizon.

I bring my body flush with hers again, and she inhales. Like she’s scenting the air.

“I know you’re here…” she says. “I can feel your hands on me.”

I smirk, but she can’t see it—it’s too soon to let her see me. I’m not done playing this game.

I angle my head down, my lips brushing her ear. “This view makes me miss my world.”

She surprises me by asking, “What does your world look like?” My hands completely wrap around her waist now, our bodies flush.

“It’s filled with vast forests and mountains that touch the clouds,” I say. “Much like this one, but bigger. Better.”

“Better?” she says, like she’s in awe at the prospect.

I grin. “The flora and fauna shift with every biome, evolving into strange and beautiful forms depending on the region. The flow of time feels… different there. The planet doesn’t spin like this one. Tidally locked, one side forever facing our star, about half the size ofthis one. Never moving across the sky. The side closest, nothing but scorched rock and lava in an endless day. A miserable place, but I do miss their mead. On the other side there is no sun, just three moons that push and pull the tides, the surface nearly uninhabitable. But below is one of my favorite places.”

She stares out at the horizon, almost like she’s in a trance at the prospect. “What is your favorite place?”

“The Underground.” The way her body tenses at that brings a low rumble up my chest. The Underground is a cavern the size of a continent. Bioluminescent algae coats the walls and ceiling like stars in an endless night sky. I don’t miss the war on resources. We are good at war. That’s probably why Alok is so dead set on bothering me, to avoid the chaos and meddle in my life. “Perhaps I’ll bring you there one day.”

“I think I’d like that.” Fuuuck, she’s perfect.