Page 96 of Haunting the Hunter

A girl called to the fire. A life they never planned on letting her live.

“What can you tell me about the God they serve?” I ask her, and this time my voice is softer, the image of my sister strong in my mind.

“Why do you want to know such things?” She tilts her head, curious.

“I want to end him,” I tell her truthfully.

“He can’t be killed. Not by a mortal.” She lets out a quiet laugh—not mocking. Just… tired. “Do you know how absurd that sounds? You have no idea what’s really going on here, do you?”

“Enlighten me.”

“Ben wants to save me.” She sighs. “He may be rough around the edges, but he truly loves me. He’s convinced that you have the ability to end the Covenant. But… even if you do, that still won’t stop the thing they worship.” She pauses, watching me like she’s measuring whether I can take it.

“Ben knows that. Calli has been marked.” She says the words gently. “She will be claimed.”

I narrow my eyes at her, bristling at her words. “Why would you tell me that and risk me not helping you?”

“Because you need his help getting out.” She says it matter-of-factly. “And even though I just told you it’s impossible… I can feel it. You’re going to try anyway. You’d die for her.” There’s a wistfulness in her voice that softens me once again.

She’s not wrong.

“She deserves a chance at life.” It’s my turn to gentle my voice. “Both of you do. And these fuckers need to die.”

Genevieve gives me a look that’s both soft and scared, her fingers trembling around the book she still holds. “I hope you survive it,Cade Halloway. Because the path you’re now walking… it will cross with the being they serve.”

“I don’t need prophecy,” I tell her, barely containing the eye roll I desperately want to give her. She really does remind me of Calli. “And I don’t need magic to help me.”

“Bold words,” she whispers, eyes on my face, “coming from a man in love with a ghost.”

I freeze. Just for a second. The words dig deeper than they should.

In love with a ghost.

I hadn’t… I never thought about it like that.

I want to deny it.

I want to laugh.

I can’t.

She watches me carefully, letting my silence say enough.

“I know they’re here with us, and I can feel how bound you are to them. There is a way for you to reach them.” Her voice is low, like she’s telling me something she shouldn’t. I take a step closer. The air between us feels strange—charged.

“Tell me,” I say, dark and direct, my heart pounding, barely stopping myself from reaching for her.

“Get us out of this,” she says quickly, taking a step back like she can read my intentions. “Help Ben, and I promise I’ll tell you what I know.”

“I have absolutely no reason to trust you,” I growl, matching her step.

“You’re right. You don’t know me. But I know Calli.” I pause, head tilting. “We were kids. We played together before the Covenant pulled us in.”

Her voice wavers just enough to feel human. “I don’t want her to die, Cade,” she promises softly. “And I don’t want to die either. I gain nothing by lying to you.”

She’s right. She could be lying—but if she is, it’s not for gain. There’s nothing in this for her, nothing but survival. She must see the decision on my face because she takes a small step closer, voice urgent now.

“I brought you here to let you know that I’ll heal you, but you need to be ready. Ben can’t afford to go easy on you. He has to make Rosa believe you’re broken.”