Page 85 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

I inhale harshly as I fight the monster springing to life in my chest. The surges of hatred and envy don’t leave until the play is over, and I can’t blame my small part for my lack of energy as I bow with the rest of the crew.

It’s something else. I’ve never been a jealous person, but now I am. It’s not as if I have a right to be. Jun isn’t mine, and I am certainly not his. I know better than to be jealous of something that happens on stage.

We’re actors. Professionals.

There is something severely wrong with me, and I don’t know what it is. I can’t find a word for it. I storm from the stage, desperate to leave.

Jun touches my elbow before I can escape, and I know it’s him by the warmth, even before I see his face.

I turn on my heel to look him in the eye, and…

He’s smiling. It’s a big, blown-out smile. Of course, he’s happy—he should be. He performed beautifully, and important professionals were here to see it. I try to smile back, but I’m afraid it doesn’t meet my eyes.

Oh, Jun is painfully beautiful, isn’t he? Frustrating, handsome, and… infuriating. His dark hair contrasts against his cool skin, and his eyes—I swear, they’re lit up, and it’s not for me. He’s buzzing and glowing from a job well done. For once, I won’t be the one to ruin his good mood.

“You delivered your three lines perfectly,” he says.

He’s teasing, but it can’t get past my armor, not eliciting the same anger it usually would.

“Thank you. Your performance was perfect too—but I don’t need to tell you. Professor Connolly will. Everyone will. Charlotte definitely will.”

He lets out a bark of laughter. “God, you’re so jealous.”

How does he know?

“I’m not.” My voice goes higher, and my eyes widen. “As if you can read my mind? Please. I’m over it. The next play will come, and I’ll get a better part than either of you.”

“Right. Then what’s the problem?”

“Who said there’s a problem?”

He lifts an eyebrow.

“You know what?” I say. “Thereisa problem. You and Charlotte could have kissed better. That’s my complaint. Everything else was show-stopping, but the kiss was juvenile and passionless.”

“Is that your only critique? Really?” A smirk twists on his lips. “This may be the first time you aren’t tearing into my whole performance.”

“Don’t get used to it.”

“I’ll consider your input for tomorrow’s show, then. We’ll make it a good kiss, just for you.”

My stomach flips. “Good. You’d better. I want to see you kiss her as if your life depends on it.”

He leans in closer, his voice dropping to a whisper. “I knew you were jealous, but I didn’t think it would be about the kiss.”

“I’m not?—”

“You’re fucking adorable.”

My brain stops working. For a moment, all I can do is blink. “I beg your pardon?”

“Is that all you want to beg for?”

My eyes widen. “Jun-seong Park, I don’t know what has gotten into y?—”

“You don’t have to beg for a kiss, princess. I’ll give you one right now, in front of everyone. Just say the word.”

We’ve already done more than kiss, by vampire and human standards. I’ve already felt him pressed against me. It doesn’t keep the butterflies, the harshness of my breath, and the embarrassed warmth from creeping up my cheeks.