Page 71 of Haunting the Hunter

Calli walks up to the door, not meeting Jack’s eyes. “Please, excuse me.”

He moves over as she turns the knob, walking inside. Karma runs up to her, rubbing herself on Calli’s ankles. Reaching down, she cradles the cat in her arms and walks upstairs and into her room.

“Rule number one, you don’t sleep with your best friend’s little sister. I’m just sorry I didn’t get to hit him myself.”

She sighs.

“He’s right. We did lie to him, and he has every reason to be upset.”

“He’ll get over it.”

“In my defense, I was eighteen. I had no idea how close they were at the time.”

“No need to explain yourself to me.”

I hate to admit it, but I fucked up. I can’t get out of her.

This is a bit awkward. It’s never comfortable being in someone else’s skin—a ghost in flesh without any control is maddening, despite how much I like the idea of being inside hers.

In all my years on this Gods-forsaken planet, I’ve possessed and hijacked plenty of bodies—witches included. I’m utterly perturbed and would almost be impressed with her if I wasn’t so frustrated.

It’s about ten in the morning and she’s still sleeping. I can’t sayI’m surprised, since she spent half the night arguing with me. This one is so stubborn—it’s infuriating, and I can’t help but like it. I can feel the soft satin sheets beneath her, her heart beating in a gentle rhythm, her scent filling the air around me. This is the only time I’ve felt her so peaceful.

Her dreams, on the other hand, are dark, filled with symbolism I’m sure she doesn’t understand yet. A dark figure standing before a table with an old journal—next to it, a white rose. I’ve kept the dreams at bay all night. I had no idea she was cursed with the sight.

Her premonitions should not be ignored.

I find myself in quite the conundrum—this woman frustrates and inspires me in all the best and worst ways.

This wasnotthe plan.

I was drawn to all of this by the grimoire and the question of why, oh why, do these humans have a celestial artifact?

I’ve been trying to figure out how they got it. I’ve played my part well, and I believe this beautiful creature will provide the answers I seek. There is just that one lingering issue…

“Are you still in there?” she says softly as I feel her slowly come back to a conscious state of mind, stretching her arms and rubbing her eyes.

“Good morning, beautiful,”I purr into her mind.

She sighs—I can feel her annoyance with me and it only causes me to want to push her buttons further.

“Look—I’m tired,” she groans. “Cade is leaving and I am in no mood. If you could please get out of my body, I would appreciate that,” she says, voice calm yet stern.

“No can do. It pains me to say I appear to be trapped in you,”I admit, mentally shrugging.

“What do you meantrapped? You can get out,right? I saw you do it before,” she demands, sitting up and leaning against the headboard.

“You saw me possess a human. You, my dear, are no human.”

“Wait…” She trails off and I can feel the spike of anxiety in her chest. “So you genuinely can’t get out? Are you fucking kidding me?”

I laugh softly.“Sorry, little human. You gotta put up with me in here—for now at least.”

I can hear her thoughts racing. She’s flustered—but not angry.

How very curious.

She gets up and follows her typical morning routine like a ritual and all I can do is watch the world through her eyes, feeling what she feels. It’s almost sensual how delicately she takes care of herself. I notice the way she is careful to brush her hair, observe her obsess over what to wear and defaulting on a comfortable sweater anyway.