Page 41 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

Jun stays perfectly still as Caldwell stands and draws the blade close to the other man’s hand.

“Inhale slowly,” Caldwell says.

“How much blood do you need?” I whisper.

Caldwell lifts a brow and jerks his head to the vial of blood. It’s smaller than my pinky. “About that much.”

“That’s not so?—”

Before I can finish my thought, Caldwell cuts into Jun’s hand. Rather than collecting the blood in a vial, it falls directly onto the blazing fire. Jun winces and hisses, his eyes closing as the blood drips from his hand. The scent hits me, powerful and spiced, like cinnamon. It’s the same scent I’ve always smelled around Jun, and…

My fangs throb. Hunger replaces my nerves, and my lips part. I haven’t had a fresh meal in a month, and…

Hell, Jun looks good. His eyes meet mine, flashing red, and there’s a soft pulse between my thighs. Slowly, a smirk creeps onto his lips, as if he can hear my treacherous thoughts. As if he can feel my hunger.

It’s over before I can blink.

Caldwell drops the blade to the ground with a clattering sound, and Jun presses a clean cloth against his wound.

I step closer, holding my hand out. “Let me see.”

“What?” He snorts. “You thirsty, or something?”

I roll my eyes. “No.” Well,yes, but there’s another reason for my request. “I can stop the bleeding.”

With painstakingly slow movements, Jun offers me his hand.

I lift it to my mouth. My eyes close as I run my tongue over the minor cut. His blood collects in my mouth—rich and hot like fire, like spiced hot chocolate—but it’s not enough. A taste leaves me longing for more.

A soft moan escapes me, and Jun’s mouth opens, his gaze searing as our eyes lock. My fangs throb, but I don’t pierce. I don’t drink, no matter how much Iwantto.

My saliva coats the wound, and it closes.

This is closer than we’ve ever been. I’m dizzy.

Tobey’s stare is on me, and it’s as sharp as the dagger on the ground. Their gaze forces me to pry myself from Jun, leaving his warmth behind.

I lick my lips, savoring the remaining drops of his essence. Damn him. Why does he taste likethat?

Jun smirks. “You liked that, didn’t you?”

His words are low enough that the others may not hear. I hope they can’t—a terrible little secret, just for us.

My stomach flips. I’m hot, I realize—a rare feeling for my kind. It must be the demon blood. The warmth spreads to my cheeks, leaving me flushed and flustered.

“You wish,” I mutter. “We’re teammates now. Nothing more.”

And I’ll go back to hating him as soon as this is all over—assuming that we both live through it.

“That’s all I need,” Caldwell says. “I can begin.”

The words break me out of whatever frustrating, bloodlust spell Jun has put me under.

I tear my attention from him, focusing on where Caldwell kneels on the ground. His pants are spattered with blood, but I suppose we’re all beyond caring about the gore. Tobey takes a tentative step closer, but Caldwell holds a hand up.

“I have to light the herbs,” he says. “Don’t come too close.”

Tobey nods, remaining in place.