Page 46 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

“So what? You’re jumping through hoops.” I sigh, stepping around him to continue walking.

“So… I’m right.”

“Why am I constantly stuck with nosy, irrational sleuths? You’re just like Tobey.”

“They’re your best friend, but you sound like you’re complaining.”

“I’m afraid you don’t have the same spunk and charm.”

He’s still here, which is surprising. I’ve never known Jun to seek my company outside of the theater—and even then, I know he would prefer to work alongside anyone else.

“Don’t let your father hear that,” he says. “We’re supposed to like each other. You should find meverycharming.”

There’s laughter in Jun’s voice, but none in mine. I don’t find it amusing in the least, certainly not when he’s bringing it up now that we’re alone. My stomach aches.

I groan. “Oh, right. My father thinks we’re mates.”

“He does.”

“This is all your fault.”

“How is it my fault? You’re the one who told him we’re mates. I was playing by the rules of improv…”

“Don’t bring improv into this.” Though, as always, his performance is admirable. “What was I supposed to do? If you hadn’t come in, I wouldn’t need to lie.”

“And you would have joined the Order alone.” Jun’s voice is stern—more serious than I’ve ever heard. “I can’t let that happen. You know that.”

“Why not?” I lift a brow, holding his elbow to keep him from walking.

His eyes narrow as he turns to face me, and my cool hand rests on his arm.

“You think I’m going to leave you alone in there? Wow. You think the fucking worst of me, don’t you?”

“You’ve given me no reason to think otherwise.”

He leans in, his face close to mine. The faintest hint of his scent—cinnamon, warmth, burning logs—envelops me, and my eyelids flutter.

“You’d better get used to pretending you like me, Cruz.” His voice is a whisper, and although harsh, it sounds like a siren song. “We’re mates now. Don’t forget it. We’re a team. For better, or for worse.”

He leans away, and a frigid wave hits me.

I shiver, immobilized as he takes backward steps away from me.“Where are you going?”

To my surprise, I miss his heat, internally cursing him for taking it from me.

“I’ll see you around,” he says, turning his back to me. “Unlike you, I have an important play to practice for.”

And we both have other things to worry about, but when Jun strides off, I know he’s not lying. He’s dedicated to his craft, and he’ll undoubtedly spend the afternoon practicing his lines. Envy curls around me, but it feels like nostalgia, a comfort in the frigid air he left me with.

With everything changing faster than I would like, my old feelings for Jun remain the same.

He’s still infuriating.

Chapter Thirteen

When night falls, the four of us meet in the dormitory again. It’s a small enough space that Jun has to put his wings away before coming in, but it’s the most private place on campus.

Knowing the Order is real makes everything difficult to navigate. There’s a chance the Order doesn’t have to do with the murders, but I’m beginning to believe it may after all.