Page 101 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

Thirty-five demons. Fifteen students. Then ten students. Twenty demons.

Several others are a good match for the little monsters. Timid Rosalie spears one with a sword and lets out a victory screech.

But Jun is the strongest of all. His moves are swift and decisive, slashing through the creatures with ease. It’s clear he’s trained with them before. I haven’t, but I keep up with him, diving on the floor to spear my dagger through the neck of a speedy one.

“Got it,” I call out.

Before long, the crowd thins. Five students, five demons. An even match, and we’re still standing.

Jun and I fight with our backs to each other, letting the little creatures come our way. Their numbers are low. Other students catch their breath, but I don’t dare let my guard down. One of the creatures runs at me, with its tongue lolling about.

I crush my boot into the demon’s skull and scan the area, relief pumping through me. The remaining few are circling three other students.

Good. They can take care of it themselves. My shoulders slump, and I let out a breath of relief.

From behind me, Jun yelps. I can hear his face, but it’s more—terror rushes through me as if it’s my own. Then there’s a flash of pain shooting through my calf.

I nearly double over, but I turn instead. He’s on the ground, with the little demon’s teeth sunken into his leg.

Two demons run in his direction, spotting his weakness.

No one in the room stops to help.

“Margaux,” my father calls. “Leave him.”

No!

His pain belongs to me. It’s poisoning me. I can barely inhale, my breaths as ragged as Jun’s.

Our eyes lock. Crimson flashes in his irises, and though no words come from his open mouth, I hear everything.

You have to win this, Margaux.

Damn it all. He’s my mate. Jun is my mate. This is the mating bond, the psychic link I’ve heard so much about.

And I have to save him.

I dive to the floor and stab my dagger into the demon at his knee first. Before the creature disappears, I move to the next, kicking it hard enough that it bounces against the wall, falls to the ground, and disappears in a puff.

One more remains. Even wounded, Jun is strong enough to take the dagger from me. He stabs it once in the skull, which is enough to get the job done.

Jun collapses with a sigh, his chest heaving as he lies on the floor.

We’ve taken care of the last demon. We made it through.

I don’t care. I move to Jun’s side, inspecting his wounded leg. Black tar oozes from the bite mark, and dark, prominent veins pulse around it.

“No.” I gasp. “Stay with me.”

The demon venom. We only have a few minutes to give him the antidote. I look around wildly, searching for anyone who may take pity and help.

I’ve known Jun for years, but I’ve only just found him. How can I lose my mate within moments of realizing—how could it have taken me so long to see him? Really see him?

My stubbornness. My competitiveness. So much of me got in the way of us.

“He’s immune,” my father says from behind me. His hand lands on my shoulder. “Jun is a demon, too. It will clear away soon.”

Jun nods, but his expression is still pained. “Been here before.”