Page 121 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

“I’m going to text Professor Connolly,” I mutter, taking my phone from my pocket.

I send out a few short texts.

Margaux

Vampire club. Come fast.

I don’t know if I should say what’s happening over text, but if you want to Sacrifice your evening, you should come by!

Writing out the word sacrifice makes it feel all too real, but I can only hope she reads between the lines. A drop of blood falls from my eye to my phone, and I lock the screen.

Before I can say a thing, Jun’s arms wrap around me. He squeezes me against his chest, and cinnamon and musk take me in, comforting me. Pressed to him, where no one can hear or see, I break down—hyperventilating, barely able to breathe.

Jun rubs my back, his lips close to my ear. “It’s okay, baby. We’re together. I got you.”

Even more comforting than his warmth and words is the fact that I can break down around him. I’ve never been this comfortable around someone before.

Except Tobey. We must save Tobey.

Jun sneaksto the back door to let Caldwell in, and I run upstairs, disappearing in a blur before anyone can realize I’m gone. Desperation to have a moment alone with Tobey leads me there. It’s easy to find the room, considering it’s the same one I was staking out with them a month ago.

How could so much have changed in one measly month?

The door is unlocked. How peculiar. Why wouldn’t they try to break out alone? I slip inside with ease, and Tobey is still there, resting on the bed with a book propped in front of them.

“You’re reading at a time like this?” I ask.

They look up, shrugging. “Your father was kind enough to lend me some reading material. Such a generous man.”

I roll my eyes. “Why are you here? The door is unlocked, but there’s no way you’re here of your free will.”

Tobey looks up from their book, their sharp gaze fixed upon me. “What am I supposed to do? He’s a vampire, and the room downstairs is full of other vampires, demons… whatever. I’ve seen how fast you guys are. I don’t stand a chance.”

“I’m faster than him. Don’t worry.”

They give me a shaky smile. “I’mnotworried. I trust you. After everything, I won’t start playing games of mistrust again. If you’re here, I’ll make it out alive. I’d better.”

They’re puttingtoomuch trust in me. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, but I’m one person. How can I be responsible for Tobey… and the rest of the school? Hell, it sounds like I’m responsible for the rest of Castine.

We can’t keep letting the murders happen, but I don’t know how to make it stop if what my father says is true. Why are the sacrifices necessary?

I rub my eyes. They’re already a mess, between my bloody tears and streaming makeup. “I’m glad you trust me, but?—”

“What’s the plan? Let’s focus on that first.”

“I don’t know.” I let out a laugh, one soaking with exhaustion. “Jun has the witch weapon, but what good does that do?”

“It’s better than nothing.”

“Not if we can’t find the demon.”

“Hm…” Tobey presses their lips together. “It sounds like we’re going to have to improvise.”

“Wait…” I think of the badge in my pocket and pull it out, showing it to Tobey. “This will allow me to summon the demon, I think. Or Jun can, as a backup plan.”

“So…” Tobey tilts their head to the side. “You summon the demon, slay it, and in the mayhem, we get out of here.”

“A mildly hopeless plan, but it’s better than nothing.”