Page 59 of Haunting the Hunter

I tug at the chain around my neck, breaking it away.

I can feel you, more than I’ve ever felt you before.

Maybe I’m fucked in the head, but I’m on a suicide mission regardless… So, what does it really matter?

I hold the pendulum in front of me, eyeing it. I remember learning about these things. They’re supposed to let you communicate beyond the veil. I always thought it was bullshit, even so…

“Are you here?”

I sit in the silence and almost feel disappointed. I go to lower it—until the obsidian stone begins to aggressively move in circles.

It isn’t me.

I’m not moving.

I can feel the weight of it being pulled by invisible hands. Chills shoot through my arms, and in this moment, I can’t deny it, can’t denyyou.

“You’re real,” I say into the silence. The words feel foreign coming from my numb lips.

This whole time.

You’rereallyhere.

I feel the gravity of my own earth-shattering realization hit me like a two-ton truck. For the first time in my life, I feel hope, warm and heavy. Like a part of the world I never knew just opened up to me and I’m fucking terrified that it will slip through my fingers.

Thisisreal.

And… so are you.

My little ghost.

CHAPTER 20

CALLISTO

The library is still, quiet in that sacred kind of way. It’s beautiful this time of night. Moonlight pours in through the tall bay windows on the far side of the room, casting silver patterns across the floor. The desk lamp hums softly, its warm glow wrapping around the space, just bright enough to read without straining. My eyes skim over the book I found on grounding techniques when the pages begin to flutter. I press my hand down immediately, holding them still.

“Could you not?” I say with a huff. “I need to figure this shit out.”

“You’re not going to learn what you need to from those books, little witch.”

I turn around in the chair to find Alabaster leaning over, our noses almost touching. I still, trying not to let him see how he’s affecting me.

“Pray tell, how do I learn, then?” I ask, cocking my head ever so slightly as I raise a brow.

He responds with a mischievous smile. “Hands-on learning is the best way I’ve found that works.”

He brushes my jaw with his fingertips. It’s light. Barely there. But my body reacts instantly, heat rushing to my cheeks before I can stop it.

Fuck him for making me feel this way.

I turn my head, roll my eyes, pretend I’m unfazed by the obvious flirtation. Like it didn’t land. Like it didn’t set off a fuse somewhere deep under my skin. I’m too busy to get distracted. Irefuseto be distracted.

Even if part of me wishes I could afford to be.

“Look. You can help me or not,” I say flatly, then return to my book. “If not, then leave.”

“Ask me, and I will.” His snide tone makes me want to say no. But I’m not in a position to refuse. He may be right about just doing. But it scares me…