Page 54 of Haunting the Hunter

“How long will it take for him to get better? What can I get for him that will help?”

“I typically don’t concern myself with the host once I’m done.I’m also not completely familiar with the inner workings of humans. Our anatomy is different.”

“So, you don’t know?” I say dryly.

“He’s most likely just dehydrated. His body’s feeling the aftereffects of trying to reject a foreign entity. He should recover in a day or so.”

We sit in silence for a beat. That’s actually helpful. He just needs electrolytes and rest—and I need to make sure this thing doesn’t hijack his body again. I’m going to roll with this. I’ll play this monster’s little game. I need to understand his intentions, and I don’t think he’s just going to outright tell me if I ask. I can only assume he wants my soul, but if what he said is true, and he isn’t a demon—maybe he has other plans. I need to find out.

I’ll act as casual as possible, continue my studies—and figure out how to rid myself of this parasite. I can’t let this scare me. I may not have been prepared for him to show up when I called—but now I have to clean up my mess.

I arrive in town and stop at the corner store, Alabaster trailing close behind. He is huge and seeing him walk into a store so casually is almost funny. He looks around, appearing confused. I chuckle to myself as I grab the essentials and make my way to the register. The young man rings up the items quickly, bags them, and I pay.

“Have a nice day, ma’am,” the clerk says in a monotone voice.

“Thank you, you as well.” As I leave, I notice my favorite chocolate bar staring back at me. I want to buy it, but there are now people in line behind me and I’m far too socially awkward to keep anyone waiting, so I walk away with a sigh.

Settling myself back into the truck, I look over the items: electrolyte drinks, Tylenol, vitamin C packets, and some chicken soup. This should be good. Alabaster appears in the passenger seat beside me, suspiciously quiet.

Back home, I grab a bottle of water, pour the vitamin C packet into it, and shake it as I make my way to Jack, who is lying on the couch watching a horror movie.

“Here, this will help.”

“Aww, you take such good care of me. Thank you, Nurse Callisto.”

I roll my eyes and smile at him while tossing the drink onto his stomach. He reacts with a grunt and a laugh.

“Hey, about yesterday…” Jack says, his tone turning serious, his eyes darting away from mine.

“Don’t mention it. It was nothing.”

“I don’t remember pulling you toward me and maybe it was the fever… but I’m sorry.”

“Like I said, Jack, you’re sick. Don’t mention it,” I all but plead with him.

Seriously. Drop it.

“All right. I just wanted to make sure you knew I wasn’t trying to seduce you,” he says with a crooked smile, finally relaxing again.

“No, of course not. You would never dare try anything with Cade’s little sister,” I say in a joking tone, my eyes narrowed. His smile drops when he notices the boundary I’m placing. Jack and I have always made jokes, but Cade isn’t something to joke about. I’m trying to threaten him with the only thing he’ll believe. The jokes need to stop—he isn’t safe. Neither am I.

“No. I wouldn’t.” He sounds… disappointed? It doesn’t matter. Nope. I can’t begin to overthink whatever the hellthatreaction was.

I need to study.

“I’ll be in the library if you need me,” I say as I walk away with a wave, not looking back.

I open the door to my favorite room in the house. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and stacked cases with my parents’ artifacts line the large room. I grab a book titledAncient Beings and Folkloreand make myway to the chair in the corner while skimming its pages. I sit down and notice something on the table beside me.

A single chocolate bar. The one I wanted to buy at the store. Did… did he get this for me?

“That’s the one you wanted, correct?” I hear his voice coming from the ether as he materializes in front of me.

“Did you steal this?”

“Of course not. I took money from your wallet and left it on the counter.” His voice is serious, and I snort.

“A demon with morals? You’re joking, right?”