Page 84 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

He presses a hand to his broad chest. “That’s the nicest thing you’ve ever said to me.”

“Don’t let it get to your head.”

“We still have an actual murder to solve. Don’t get too comfortable. I may have saved your ass in the game, but I can’t promise I’ll do the same when a real killer is chasing us.”

“But I think you will.”

It’s more trust than I should have in him, and it’s real. If it came down to it, I know Jun would keep me safe. Tonight proves it. We were a team, and it wasn’t all that bad to work together.

We stop outside my dormitory, and I turn to face him, my expression softening as I take him in. The argument on the way to the event has long since been forgotten, and I don’t want to focus on that anymore.

He lifts his hand, pushing a curl behind my ear, and his irises flash red. “I forgot to do something.”

I lift a brow. “What’s that?”

“I forgot to tell you how perfect you look tonight.”

“I’m sorry… am I mishearing you?” Butterflies fill my stomach as I let out a soft laugh. “Is that a compliment? Coming from you?”

He lifts a shoulder. “What if it is?”

“Then I won’t know how to take it…”

It may not be the answer he’s looking for. His hand falls away, and he steps back, the desire in his eyes fading into nothing.

Perhaps I imagined it all along.

“Get some rest,” he says. “Two more trials to go… and we still have a play to put on.”

“Youhave a play to put on. I have three lines.” I ascend the small staircase to my dormitory, turning my back on him. “The play has been the last thing on my mind, to be honest.”

“Lucky you.”

“I don’tfeelvery lucky. I would rather not have to focus on these things.”

“I get it.”

“I don’t know why you’re so worried. You’ll do great.”

“Thanks.” He sounds faint and tired.

I turn to face him at the top of the staircase, but he’s already gone, leaving a puff of smoke behind him.

“You always do,” I murmur into the safety of the night, with no one to hear me.

Chapter Twenty

Tragically, Charlotte is alive and well on the opening night of the play.

All right, it isn’tthatsad, but I’m still sour about my minuscule part in it all. My three lines are done after the first act, and I’m left on the sidelines while Charlotte and Jun blow the audience away. I would even say it’s Jun’s best performance yet. How did he practice so much when he was busy sneaking into the Order with me?

There’s a good reason Jun is the one I enjoy competing with. He’s an inspiration, and knowing I may be the same for him is all the flattery I need to keep my acting career moving.

Charlotte is wonderful, too, and their onstage chemistry is undeniable.

No one can blame me for the nagging, twisting feeling in my guts. It’s been there all along. For some time, I ruled it off as envy of the part. Charlotte is doing what I want to do, and she’s doing it to perfection.

But I envy her for another reason, too, and it hits me when she and Jun share their kiss. The kiss is nothing, a fleeting embrace for the stage, but it’s as if someone jabs a stake into my frigid heart.