Page 108 of Haunting the Hunter
A sharp pulse radiates down to my chest, searing but familiar. The dull ache starts to melt, though it takes my breath with it.
Jack watches in the mirror. “What are you doing to him?” he asks sharply.
“I’m accelerating his metabolic rate—stimulating the healing response,” she says, voice flat, eyes red from crying.
Jack’s eyebrows lift, looking incredulous. “What, like cell regeneration?”
“Yes. But the body wasn’t meant to heal this fast. Too much heat for too long will kill him.”
“It’s fucking hot,” I mutter, my head dropping back to rest against the seat.
She pulls her hands away immediately. “That’s enough for now.”
I let out a breath, wiping the sweat from my brow.
Jack huffs, shooting a look at me. “Useful. Wonder if Calli could do that.”
“She told you,” I comment, unsurprised.
“More like nearly killed me,” he grumbles under his breath. “Fried my rig, too. But… she found you. So that makes us even or whatever.” He glances at Genevieve in the mirror. “I’m Jack, by the way.” He gives her one of his soft smiles.
“Gen,” she mumbles back without emotion.
We fall into silence, just the hum of the engine and the ever-present ache between my ribs.
I let her calm down for a few moments before I look back at her again. “Rosa’s not going to stay there,” I say to Jack. “If Calli found me—maybe she can find Rosa.”
Jack’s mouth tightens. “Calli said it was too much—she didn’t look good.” He winces, shooting me an apologetic look. “I’ll find her,” he adds quickly. “Eventually.”
I don’t respond. Instead, I turn—my voice lower now, steel buried under exhaustion.
“Genevieve.”
She doesn’t look up, just stares blankly out the window.
“You said you’d help me if I got you out,” I remind her, my eyes locked on her face. She still won’t look at me, but now the avoidance is pointed, her lips drawn tight.
“So, tell me—who the fuck is Alabaster?”
CHAPTER 31
CALLISTO
Ican’t stand this. I’ve been sitting in the library, staring at my phone, waiting for it to ring for over an hour. Alabaster is Gods know where. I’ve been trying to find ways to reconnect with the spirit that won’tkillme. But I haven’t found anything useful thus far. An entire library full of books, and I can’t even find a damn locator spell that works. I can’t deal with this: the not knowing. I spent years in the dark, only now finally getting Cade to open up to me. Finding common ground, just for him to be taken. There is no way this is how it ends. He’s too capable, too stubborn to die.
I rub my face and allow myself to crumple to the ground. Everything he has done to keep me safe just for me to go behind his back. He was right. I’ve been selfish. He isn’t just protecting me—he’s preventing them from ever being able to hurtanyone else. I drop my head, my hands running through my hair. I’ve been an asshole. He deserved better and now I may never have the chance to make it up to him.
I refuse to accept it. I can’t accept it. I won’t.
I stand and head over to the bookcase, trying to find anything I can. A locator spell would work. Anything… Just one shred of hope. The thought comes to me in an instant—
My tarot cards! I hurry to my room and go to my nightstand. They’re there, nestled right next to… the grimoire. I can’t use it. I shouldn’t. I haven’t touched it since I read Rholand’s journal entry… I accept that it is out of my depth right now. Dangerous.
So I sit, pull out the cards from their pouch, and begin shuffling. Questions fill my mind:Is he alive? How can I help? Will he forgive me?
I can’t fixate on just one question. Frustrated, I shake my head and put the cards in front of me. Splay them out. I take a deep breath and think of Cade, choosing a card in my mind.The king of swords.If I choose that card, he is alive, but if I pullthe devil… he’s not.
I slowly hover my hand over the deck. I have no idea if this is going to work but it’s worth a shot, even just for peace of mind. I close my eyes and pick a card.
