Page 44 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

Jun was right.Damn it all.

“Does Maman know about this?” I ask, trying to keep the horror from my voice.

“She does.” He chuckles. “I could never keep a secret from your mother.”

But he can keep a secret from me. Is itonlya secret from me? Do my other siblings already know? They must, if they were granted immortality already. Why am I the one left in the dark?

I open my mouth to ask the questions aloud, but as I do, someone interrupts. It’s likely for the best, considering that the questions I have can build more suspicion between my father and me.

But I long to know. Why can he trust the others, but not me?

Typical Jun. He doesn’t even bother knocking, even though he was supposed to wait outside. I promised to bring him up in the conversation as well, but he didn’t give me a chance.

“I’d like to know more about the Order, too, sir,” Jun says, standing in the doorway. “Half-demons can join, right?”

Hell no. This is not part of the plan.

I glare at him, but my father’s smile never wavers.

“But, of course!” He gestures for Jun to join in on the conversation. “We’re still recruiting for the semester, and any supernatural being can join the Order. The ritual is available for all who make their way in.”

This is news to me—all of it is—but something tells me Jun already knows. Not only is my father keeping secrets, but Jun is, too. He’s supposed to be on my side.

Most people around school are unaware of this. Hell, most people in theworlddon’t know. I’ve only heard of a select few immortal beings: Turned vampires, demons, angels, and the like. I knew there was a way to grant dhampirs immortality, but it’s uncommon.

If my father is correct, this means anyone can be immortal—the witches, the merfolk.Anyone. This may be bigger than we were expecting. It stretches past Strode into the entire supernatural community.

How long has my father been keeping his secret?

“Count me in,” Jun says.

“And you two are…?” My father looks at us, his gaze ping-ponging back and forth from Jun to me.

This is getting worse by the moment.

My father and I never talk about dating, but with the way he looks at us, I can tell that’s his assumption. His eyes sparkle with interest, and a knowing smile tugs at the corner of his lips.

It’s the easiest thing to agree to, I realize. If he thinks we’re mates, as he and my mother are, he won’t second-guess my desire to seek immortality for Jun.

“Yes,” I say smoothly, not sparing Jun another glance. “We’ve recently discovered… he is my mate.”

I’ve played opposite Jun in countless plays, but this role is the hardest to step into. To his credit, Jun is perfectly serene as I lie to my father’s face. I’ve seen him in our improv classes. He knows what to do.

We can ‘yes, and…’our way through this.

“Excellent.” My father gives Jun an appraising nod. “Then we can move forward.”

“Great,” I say with a forced smile.

“You can’t join the Order right away, but we’ll begin the entrance procedures shortly.” My father’s eyes crinkle. “You don’t know how happy this makes me,cariño. The next phase of your existence will begin, and soon, you can join the rest of the family in our immortal lives.”

“Thank you, Papá.”

He makes it sound like a gift, but more than ever, it doesn’t feel like one.

The entry procedures sound ominous. What will this Order make me do to gain theblessingof immortality?

I emphasizeeach step as I, once again, storm from my father’s office. This time, it has little to do with my father and everything to do with the annoying demon trailing behind me.