Page 68 of Haunting the Hunter

He continues to hold me there, pinned, as his tongue makes its way to the deep gash. I cringe at the sight, my body jerking from the pain.

“Please sto—”

He removes his hand from my chest to cover my mouth and all I can do is sit there and watch him bent down on his knees, his tongue tracing the curve of my ankle. I close my eyes tight, unable to watch any longer, when the pain begins to subside. I slowly peek down and see him—looking up at me with my blood covering his mouth.

My wound is gone.

He releases my ankle slowly, with an almost innocent look on his face, those golden eyes blinking at me.

Hehealedme?

“You need to be more careful,” he says as he leans over to kiss my ankle.

“I didn’t know you could do that,” I say, reaching for the spot he kissed.

“There are many things I am capable of, pretty girl.”

I shift on the unstable ground and lean toward him.

“I would love another lesson,” I say, smirking.

“I think I can manage that, if you’re up to the task,” he says, kissing me softly at first, then crawling on top, grinding himself against me. I feel heat pool in my gut just as… I hear Cade in the distancecalling for me.Fuck. Alabaster glares in his general direction at the interruption and collapses back into smoke in my lap. I watch in horror as the smokeseeps into my skinand disappears.

“Calli! Where the fuck are you? Answer me now!” Cade calls out, his voice rough with worry.

“What did you do to me?” I ask in a desperate tone, speaking out loud.

Then I hear a voice in my head, as if it were my own thoughts.

“Relax. I can’t affect you the way I did your little friend.”

“Why can I hear you in my head?” My voice is high with panic.

“I told you I would get under your skin,”he says, sounding pleased with himself.

“Not literally! I think I’m going to be sick… This is what you did to Jack…”

“I can’t hurt you like this. I’m not very good at possession, definitely not skilled enough to possess a witch. Think of me more like a hitchhiker. Now stop talking to yourself before they think you’ve gone mad.”

“Haven’t I though…?” I say in a low tone. It’s rhetorical. Of course I have… This is madness, all of it.

“I like you crazy.”

I roll my eyes and stand, anticipating pain. I wiggle my foot, surprised.

Thanks, I guess?

Cade comes storming through the forest with rage in his eyes as I brush myself off.

He grabs my shoulders. “Where the fuck have you been? Why didn’t you respond? What the fuck, Calli?” he says through gritted teeth, shaking me slightly. “I had no idea what happened! We could hear you screaming from inside the house!”

“Quit yelling at me!” I snap. “I tripped. I’m fine. I’m sorry I made you worry.”

“What is going on with you? I can tell you’re lying to me. I can’tfucking help you if you don’t speak up.” There’s worry in his tone and something inside me breaks.

“YOU CAN’T HELP ME IF I DO!” I scream up at him, pulling free of his hands.

Cade straightens, clearly surprised at my outburst. I continue with as calm a tone as I’m able to muster, despite my voice cracking.