Page 102 of Saints & Sinners

As I turned in the other direction to find my next victim, I froze.

Hunter.

He emerged from behind a cluster of trees, his expression both amused and dangerous. “You know,” he teased. “I’d say you’ve gotten a bit too comfortable with those energy beams.”

I rolled my eyes. “What can I say? I’ve been training a lot lately.”

His eyes flashed playfully. “Really?”

I nodded. “Although the teacher isn’t that great, but I guess he will do in the meantime.”

His grin widened as he approached, his steps slow and predatory. “Are you saying you’re better than him at combat, Bambi?”

“Definitely, huntsman.”

He chuckled, taking that as his cue as he lunged, and we clashed in a series of blows. His strength was overwhelming, as if those chains had suppressed too much from him and he finally had an out. Still, I used my agility to duck and dodge. We traded hits, and for a moment, it felt like the rest of the world disappeared.

I laughed.

He smiled.

And soon enough, he had pinned me to the ground, his weight pressing me into the mud below as his hands caught my wrists. His grey eyes, dark and intense, searched mine as I stared up at him, utterly breathless.

“We need to be careful,” I whispered. If anyone saw us, if Azraelsaw...

His lips quirked up into a dangerous smile. “I agree.”

The tension between us crackled like a live wire, waiting for it to spark at any moment. I refused to let him win this time. As he lowered his lips against mine, I twisted my body, using a move he’d taught me, and managed to flip him, pinning him down with my knees on either side of him.

His head tilted back, exposing the curve of his throat as he exhaled sharply. “This gives me déjà vu. Have we done this before? I think you were even calling out my name during it.”

I leaned closer, smiling as the orb glowed faintly in my hand. “If I recall, the only difference was that I didn’t have the orb in my hand.”

He smirked, and I didn’t hesitate. I pressed the orb to his chest, watching as he glowed faintly blue.

“You’re out,” I whispered, unable to hide the grin on my face as I leaned inches away from his lips.

The sound of footsteps grew louder, and my head snapped up. Quickly, I scrambled away from Hunter, brushing leaves and mud from my hair in a hurried attempt to look composed. Hunter, however, stayed on the ground, unbothered, as Silas and a few of my teammates appeared through the trees. Their expressions lit up with laughter the moment they saw him.

Silas doubled over, practically wheezing, as he clapped me on the shoulder. “You beat Cain? Fucking finally.” He turned to Hunter with a wicked grin. “Gotta admit, this is a good look on you. I’m getting kinda turned on—should I go fetch Jerry?”

Hunter rolled his eyes, extending a hand to let one of my teammates haul him to his feet. His annoyance was there, but it was mild, like it always was around Silas.

“Nice work, Martin,” someone from my team called out, their tone genuine for the first time.

My eyes widened in surprise. Had I heard that right? Acongratulation? For me?

The disbelief didn’t last long. A few more teammates clapped my back in approval, and I couldn’t help it as my lips curved into a grin.

They began leading me out of the woods, chatter buzzing around us. Still, I found my gaze drifting back. Hunter stood there, lingering just for a moment longer than the rest as his eyes captured mine. There was no anger in his expression, no sign of frustration or bitterness. Instead, there was pride.

The look sent something sharp and unexpected through my chest. My steps faltered for half a heartbeat before I forced myself to look away, but the damage was already done, and the realization hit me with such clarity that I may as well have been hit with a Celestial beam straight to the heart.

I was in love with Hunter Cain.

Whatever you’re doing, Grace, whether it’s with an Ascendant or a Celestial themselves... I suggest you stop. I, for one, would hate to be killed at the hands of Riftkeeper over something mundane as falling in love with the person you weren’t supposed to.

Veronica’s words were there on the back of my mind in an instant like an alarm, trying to wake me up.

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