Page 57 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

Most conversations are about class, and a few bolder students even flirt with each other. It’s a normal gathering. Jun and I don’t have a problem blending in, but with his wings and horns on display, the students keep a wide berth from us.

His wings feel surprisingly comfortable curling around my back, like a shield between the rest of the party and me.

Jun leans in close, his lips brushing against my ear. “Are you eavesdropping?”

I turn my head to look at him. “Perhaps.”

“What are they saying? Anything interesting?”

“They’re mingling. We’ll need to keep attending these mixers if we want to get anything important out of them.”

“And we should talk to your father. I think making an impression on him is a good idea. How embarrassing would it be if your father didn’t pick you for his club?”

I narrow my eyes. “What is your problem?”

There’s a grin on his face as he leans away. “I don’t have a problem—and you shouldn’t look at me with so much hatred in your pretty brown eyes,mate.”

“How should I look at you, then?”

“Come on. I know you didn’t lose your ability to act.”

“Acting alongside you is impossible.”

But I’ve done it before, countless times. As much as I fight it, it’s always Jun and me at the top. We’re always side-by-side, however begrudging it may be.

“We both know that’s not the case.” His hand slips closer to mine, and with ease, our fingers intertwine.

I think he may be right—thisfeelseasy. I decide to let him take the lead, and he does, tugging me toward the group of professors. None of the others has been bold enough toapproach them, but thanks to my ties to my father, I don’t question it.

The students watch us with shock and awe as the older group offers polite smiles.

“Margaux!” My father’s smile is the biggest of all. “And Jun. How happy I am to see you could both make it.”

There’s a pin on his jacket—the very one that was on the most recent victim. My mouth goes dry. It takes several seconds for me to respond.

My father is involved in the murders. My father may be involved. My father is… probably involved.

I don’t know anymore.

“It’s a pleasure to be here.” Putting on my manners seems like the best course of action. “Is this a…mixer? For the Order?”

“Yes. It’s an opportunity for the students to get to know one another,” Professor Stark says. “But many of these students will not receive an invitation to join the Order at all. We are highly exclusive.”

I have a feeling it’s more, though. Between supplying drinks and my father’s impeccable hearing, they’re probably trying to get to know the students while remaining as detached as possible.

“And is there anything else on the agenda this evening?” I ask.

“I will give a speech shortly,” my father says. “Answers will come then, so be sure to stick around. Otherwise, you may mingle with the others. Enjoy yourselves. Relax. Drink. That is all we expect of you this evening.”

That’s all they wantthisevening… but they may expect more from us atsomepoint. How many of these students will get sucked into what he has planned next?

“Thank you for putting this together.” I tug on Jun’s hand as I back away.

Everything about the evening is innocent.

Jun and I stand off to the side, listening in on the others.

My father stands at the front of the room, clinking against his half-empty champagne glass. “If you’re here today, we handpicked you because of your excellent grades and interest in uplifting our community—both the community of Strode and the supernatural community at large.”