Page 91 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

“It’s sweet. She’s always been a mentor to me, too.”

It’s different from a mother, but I don’t need a second mother. One is more than enough for me. Jun has lived a different life. He’s hardly spoken about his mother, which likely means they don’t have a good relationship.

There’s a reason his demonic father raised him—or attempted to.

“Then we’re on the same page,” he says.

We usually are, as of late, but I’m still wrapping my head around how much our relationship has changed. They’re wonderful changes, and they lead me to more allies and answers. It’s all so baffling.

“I thought she was going to lecture us about… you know.”

“Idon’tknow.” His lips tug up at the corners. “Elaborate for me.”

“You know.” I narrow my eyes. “The part where we hooked up in a classroom. I thought we were going to get in trouble.”

He laughs aloud. “Good thing you were wrong. That would have been fucking embarrassing.”

“Exactly. It made the actual topic feel like a relief.”

We stop outside my dormitory, but neither of us is in a hurry to rush off. Our hands are still together, his thumb brushing against my cool skin again and again.

“Are you sure you don’t want to come back to my place?” he asks. “I don’t mind sharing my bed.”

“I’m sure.” I look up at the building. “Areyousure you don’t want to stay the night?’

His eyes widen. “I’ve seen the size of your bed.”

“And?”

“And you have a roommate.”

“Their boyfriend stays over all the time.” I step forward. “If you don’t want to stay the night with me, say so. Stop making excuses.”

When he scoffs, such a familiar sound, it’s more playful than it usually is. “You know that’s not it.”

“I know. And I would come back to yours, but I should spend time with Tobey.”

“I get it.”

But there’s more. I need time to clear my head, which is bursting with thoughts, feelings, and general confusion. The way he looks at me now, with soft eyes, does nothing to help it. He’s closer, too, leaning in before I expect it.

And I accept it, my chin tilting up to meet him as he presses a tender kiss to my lips.

“Let me know if you change your mind,” he murmurs. “My bed is all yours, princess.”

I spent years wishing for Jun to disappear, to run off to another school and start a new life—anything to get him away from Strode and far away from me. I no longer relate to those feelings, even if they were present not too long ago.

Now, when he leaves, it’s too soon.

There’sa lot for me to tell Tobey about.

I’m fighting off a smile as I enter our shared space, my head ducked low, and I hope they don’t see the bliss on my face. Telling them about Jun is necessary, but I would rather avoid it. I don’t want to tell anyone about us yet. It might break the magic, and I don’t really know what Jun and I are. What is there to tell?

Tobey has already been grilling me about him, and the last thing I want is for them to know they were right.

“How was the play?” they ask.

It would be offensive that they didn’t come and see for themself, but their laptop is open, and they have several books strewn across the bed. Caldwell isn’t here either, which is rare these days. It means Tobey is buried in schoolwork.