Page 40 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

“I’m fine.” They offer a tired smile. “Just ready to get this over with.”

“I bet you never thought you would find yourself watching a witch make such a weapon.”

“I definitely didn’t.” They turn away, peering at Caldwell as he makes a circle of herbs. “But as far as witches go, we have one of the best ones. He knows what he’s doing.”

I don’t want to say it aloud, but we’re lucky to have Caldwell on our side. His mother owns a witch shop, and I imagine he’s gathered more information than the rest of us. There are a few rude things I could say about Caldwell—a bit pompous, terrible eyesight—but I won’t doubt his intellect.

He’s quiet as he places the dagger in the middle of the ring of herbs, and there’s a wrinkle between his brows.

“What should we be doing?” Jun’s hands hang limply at his sides.

If he’s uncomfortable in our dorm, it’s nothing compared to how he looks now.

“Nothing,” Caldwell says without looking up from his work. “For now, stay there. I don’t need any help.”

“Whose blood is that?” I whisper to Tobey.

“Don’t tell me you’re freaked out by a little blood,” they say.

“Blood? No. Blood magic is another story. I’ve heard it’s chaotic. Maybe that makes me a hypocrite. I don’t know.”

“It doesn’t,” Caldwell says. “Blood magicispowerful, which means there is always an element of unpredictability.”

“You’re not exactly instilling confidence in me.”

Caldwell rolls his eyes. “This blood ismine, but the blood of any demon or half-demon would do. I’m giving the weapon instructions—to let it know what it’s meant for. Demon blood does just that.”

“You’re a half-demon?” Jun asks.

Caldwell nods. “My witch side is dominant, but there should be enough demon nature in my blood for the weapon to know what to do.”

When two supernatural beings procreate, one magic tends to be more dominant than the other, rather than an even blend ofthe two. While Caldwell has a demonic nature, it’s likely shown more subtly than his witchcraft.

Jun, on the other hand, is visibly demonic. He wears his horns and wings with pride, and his eyes flash red; Caldwell’s don’t, from what I’ve seen.

“Huh.” Jun hesitates. “Would more demon blood be useful?”

“I wasn’t going to ask, but…” Caldwell finally looks up, locking eyes with Jun. “Is that your way of making an offer?”

“Maybe. If you think it will help.”

“It may make the weapon stronger, especially with you being more demonic than I am.”

“You don’t have to do it,” I say. “Caldwell’s blood will probably suffice, and if you don’t want to get wrapped up in the whole blood magic thing… it would be understandable.”

Jun turns to face me, his head tilting to the side. “I would never offer to do anything I don’t want to do.”

I roll my eyes. “Lucky you.”

He’s smirking as he steps closer to Caldwell, offering his hand. “I’m willing to donate some blood if it means we have the most powerful weapon. We’re going up against a powerful demon, after all. We can’t be careful enough.”

And Jun shares blood with the very demon we’re taking down.

For so long, I considered Strode’s strength as the founder of our school a good thing. It was supposed to protect our school, and he provided us with funding. The red flags should have been more obvious. When you’re dealing with a demon, nothing is free.

What price is Strode holding over us? I shudder.

We still don’t know the demon is involved at all—there’s not a single sign pointing us to him—other than Jun’s word.