Page 21 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

Jun, it appears, did not have a similar upbringing.

“Aren’t you half-human?” I ask.

“We didn’t come here to talk about the failings of my human mother, did we?” He peers into his cup of coffee before taking a sip.

It sounds like he has information on the things that matter—the countless deaths on our campus—but there’s a part of me longing to know more abouthim. Am I stealing Tobey’s nosy nature? Or perhaps it’s an urge to learn more about Jun, and dangle the information over his head.

He already knows too much about me, considering how connected my family is to the campus, and I don’t know anything about him.

“I don’tknowwhy we’re here,” I say. “You haven’t told me anything of substance.”

“Yes, I did. I fucking did. You’re the one getting distracted by petty bullshit.”

“You haven’t told me anything.”

And like that, we’re bickering again. How am I supposed to work with this infuriating man?

“Fine.” He presses his lips together. “I think I know what’s happening on campus, but you need to remember it’s a hypothesis. No one else will die because of me. Got it?”

What a relief; I’d rather work with someone who knows how to bide their time. Tobey is my best friend, but they aren’t my ideal partner in these situations. They run headfirst rather than sitting to the side and planning. It’s exhausting, even if it usually works out.

“And who, exactly, are you putting in danger with this information?”

“You.” He holds my gaze. “And if I’m right, the entire school.”

“Stop holding back on my account. I’ve lived through more in the last few months than you have in your life.”

“Somehow, I doubt it.”

“I don’t care if you believe me.”

“You’re interested in my family suddenly,” he says, “but do you know who my father is?”

“I know nothing about you.” I squirm in my seat before catching myself and sitting upright. A small vase of flowers rests in the center of our table, and I fight the urge to pluck each petal. “Until today, I would have considered it a blessing, but now…”

“What? You have a newfound interest in me?”

“No!”Yes. “And I’m revolted at the thought. But you’re scaring me, Jun-seong. Stop dangling the information over my head, or I’m leaving you alone with these humans.”

“You don’t have to resort to threats.”

“Apparently, I do.”

He leans closer, his jaw tightening as he grips the small, round table. “My father is the demon known as Strode.”

My lips part, and my eyes widen. Strode is a powerful demon known for having ties to our university. In fact, he’s supposed to be the founder—the namesake.

“Then you’re a nepotism baby?” I snort. “That would explain you always getting the best roles?—”

“I’m no more of a nepotism baby than you are. Your father is involved in this, too.”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t make me repeat myself, anddon’task me how I know.”

My words catch in my throat, and his eyes flash red. The din of the café—the clinking of forks, and laughter from a couple huddled in the corner—becomes nothing but buzzing.

Papá? The man with the watch that matches Caldwell’s. The man who raised me and was more present than my mother. How…