Page 25 of Demon Hunter

There’s a moment of silence while Gabe and Connor do that thing I’ve seen Matt and Ian do, where they look at each other and seem to talk with their eyes. It’s both super cool and super weird. But I guess when you’ve been that close for so long, you learn how to tell what the other is thinking.

“Let’s proceed as though it’s humans,” Gabe says finally. “Unless something comes up to suggest otherwise. That seems like the most likely scenario.”

“Okay,” Ian agrees, “but that still doesn’t answer any of Matt’s questions: why, who, and how.”

My gaze drifts back to my laptop screen. I’m itching to get stuck into all that code and see what clues I can find, but here isn’t the place, and honestly, I’m not ready to leave Matt’s side yet. He’s been awake less than a day, and even though I know that in just a few days, he’ll be completely back to normal, part of me feels like we’re on borrowed time.

“For the Collective to be hacked, whoever did it has to know the Collective exists,” Matt points out. “That’s new information all by itself. How many humans who aren’t hunters or otherwisepartof the Collective even know it’s a thing?”

“The policy hasn’t changed, right?” Gabe checks. “If we’re called out to assist with a demon-related incident, wherever possible, conceal the reality of what’s happening from the norms.”

“If it’s already too late for that, make it sound like you’re a vigilante with paranormal powers, not part of a worldwide organization dedicated to the protection of humanity,” Connor adds. “I always sucked at that part.”

“Like when you told everyone at Mannix Estate about the Collective, the otherworld”—Marc cringes, but Matt ignores it—“and basically everything else?”

Connor seesaws a hand. “That was a one-time thing, and they’d already dealt with a demon and a spirit, plus they had an open gateway on the property.AndJosh is a medium and Skye a conduit. It was kind of overwhelming. Mostly, I would just tell people that I worked for a branch of the government.”

I snicker. I went poking around in the government’s pitiful paranormal department once, just to see what they knew, and the answer is nothing. They seemed more focused on the idea of aliens than anything else—which is stupid, since aliens wouldn’t evenbeparanormal in the context the department was created for.

“The point is,” Gabe says, his voice a little louder than usual, “the policy hasn’t changed. So the people who should know the Collective exists would fall into the outlier category, right? Like the ones at Mannix.”

Ian nods. “Right. And we’re supposed to report when we disclose that kind of information, so we should be able to track down some names.”

“I bet not all those reports get made, though.” I add a note to my planner to get into those files and poke around. If there’s someone in the know who lives in Reno or has wicked computer smarts—or, best of all, both—they’re going to the top of the list, and we can check them out. I mention my thought process to the group, since this isn’t a solo project and they probably won’t appreciate me going rogue.

“That makes sense. Thanks, Dylan. Keep us up to date on what you find.” Gabe gives me a grateful smile.

“You seem to be overlooking the most obvious options,” Marc says in that silky tone that usually precedes something that makes me want to hurl—or hurt him.

Connor rolls his eyes. “What’s that?”

“The first is humans who aren’t in the Collective, but used to be.”

Ian’s spine snaps straight. “The Highetts,” he hisses. “They were all assholes. Coming after our family for being part of the reason they got kicked out is something they’d do.”

“This could still be random, not specific to me,” Matt reminds him. “There are other hunters who’ve been made to leave the Collective. I remember there was one guy when I was little who kept opening gateways just so he could enjoy the power.”

Connor grunts, and Gabe nods. “I remember him too. Jed Whiting. His power was locked down before he got kicked out, so I’d bet he holds a grudge.”

I look at Marc, my stomach sinking. “You said that was the first option.”

For once, his smirk is missing, his face completely serious. “I did. The other option is that this is, indeed, personal. Somebody has a grudge against Matt and is targeting him. That person may be an active member of the Collective.”

I knew it was coming, but hearing it still sends shockwaves through me. “Nobody would betray a fellow hunter that way… would they?” Even as I ask it, I know they would. I wastherenearly seven years ago when a group of hunters betrayed not only the Collective, but humanity as a whole. Having one guy you hate killed? Doesn’t even compare.

Except to me. If Matt died, it would feel like my world was shattering again, just like it did so many times back then.

Judging by the expressions around the room, I’m not the only one who feels that way.

The door opens, startling us all, and the doctor hesitates. “Goodness, I didn’t mean to scare you,” he says. We met him yesterday—he’s in charge of Matt’s care now that he’s no longer an ICU patient—but right this second, I can’t remember his name.

“They scare easy,” Matt jokes, but it sounds weak. “Got any news for me?”

The doctor enters the room properly, trailed by two junior doctors, and they start discussing Matt’s progress. I try to look focused and attentive, even though none of it matters. In a few days, he’ll be fine.

And I’m going to do everything I can to keep him that way.

Chapter 11

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