Page 68 of Hunted

‘So mysterious.’ I tap another key. ‘How does one get recruited? Is there an interview process? Or does he just bite you and hope for the best?’

His eyes flash, faint red threading through the dark. ‘Careful, bounty hunter. Or I’ll be doing some hunting of my own. Not today, or tomorrow. But soon enough.’

I smile sweetly. ‘Oh, come on. Don’t threaten a girl just because she’s curious.’

‘You’re not curious. You’re fishing in dangerous waters.’

‘Hierarchy fascinates me. So you filter candidates, manage invitations and enforce compliance. But you don’t know why he’s searching for her, do you?’

A muscle tics in his jaw. ‘You overestimate your insight.’

‘Do I? Because you stiffen every few minutes.’ I tilt my head. ‘Is that him checking in?’

His eyes sharpen. ‘You presume much.’

I grin.

Hit something.

Excellent.

‘You don’t like not knowing either,’ I say softly. ‘That must itch like a motherfucker.’

He steps closer, looming just enough to test whether I’ll flinch.

I don’t.

‘If the Master chooses to withhold information,’ he says, voice low and steady, ‘it is not our place to question.’

‘But you do. Somewhere in the quiet mind palace, you’re furiously questioning what the fuck is going on, right?’

A flicker. Gone almost instantly.

‘You are very bold,’ he says.

‘I’ve had to be.’

Because if I stop being bold, I’ll start shaking. Dissolve into a puddle of goo. And no one wants to see that.

I scroll again, pretending to focus while my mind spins. The trove Valentin has built is monstrous. Down to what kind of trauma might force Lyra Hannigan into survival work, underground employment or convent life.

He covered everything.

Everything except what actually happened.

Good.

After delivering my fabricated lead to Valentin with a confidence I don’t entirely feel, I close the database session and rise.

‘I’m heading out,’ I tell Malachi. ‘I’ll verify the housing intake anomaly and report tomorrow.’

His eyes narrow. ‘You expect me to accept that?’

‘Feel free to double-check with your boss.’ I smile sweetly. ‘I thought you eavesdropped.’

His nostrils flare.

‘Be careful,’ I add lightly. ‘Wouldn’t want him mistaking you for a threat again. That almost didn’t end well this morning.’