Page 60 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

I narrow my eyes. “Then you lied about the dream?”

“Yeah, okay. There was no dream. We’re even now. We both lied.”

I nod. For once, I can bite back the urge to argue with him. Jun has information, and I want to hear it.

“Amelia was doing the trials herself last year. She wanted me to join too, but I wouldn’t.”

“That’s what you were keeping from me—aside from, well, everything else.”

I don’t care about the lies anymore. How can I? It makes sense now. Jun wouldn’t share his source, but I should have known better. Tobey was right, for once. Ameliawasinvolved.

“I wasn’t keeping anything from you.”

“Then why didn’t you tell me about this sooner?” I ask evenly. “I wouldn’t have judged you for being involved with her, and this is more evidence that the Order is involved in the murders.”

“I’m sorry. It’s fucking hard to talk about her. I thought you would get that.”

I hesitate, my defenses lowering as quickly as they came back up. “I do. Trust me, I do.”

“It’s more than just talking about my dead girlfriend. It’s fucking embarrassing. We were together. I loved her. But I didn’t know that she was the killer, and what the Order was really up to. She was trying to get me to join them, and now…”

“What is it?” I soften my voice.

“Did she ever love me, or was she trying to trap me in her cult?” He shakes his head. “It’s stupid. Forget it.”

“It’s not.”

But I don’t have an answer for him. He’s right. Knowing what little I know of Amelia, I’m unsure if she could have loved anyone—at least, considering who she was by the end of it all.

“I told you now, and it doesn’t change anything.”

“Not really, but…” I glance up at the dormitory, gaze drawn to my dormitory window. “It may convince the others to see the merit of our plan.”

“I guess that’s something.”

“And it makes me trust you more.” I return my attention to him. “That’s something, and I intend to be worthy of your trust as well.”

I don’t find it in myself to thank him for telling me the truth. But when we part ways, it feels like we’re closer.

Chapter Sixteen

“They day has come,” I say.

Tobey watches me warily as we prance through the courtyard, basking in the crisp autumn air.

“What day?”

“The day where I haveproof.”

“Poof of what, exactly?” Exasperation drips from Caldwell’s voice.

I press my lips together to keep from telling them, ‘I told you so,’ but the words long to come out. I’m on cloud nine.

There’s no reason for me to be this happy, considering our lives are still in danger, but I can’t help it. Even the bright, morning sun can’t bring down my jolly mood.

My sunglasses are probably helping, too.

Tobey doesn’t match my mood. They’ve been considerably damp for the last day or so, but I’m sure the news Jun shared will uplift their spirit.