Page 29 of To Hunt a Demon King

I laughed. “Agreed,” I said. “I’ll even go first in a show of good faith.”

“Fine,” he agreed, continuing to hike at a pace that was slower than he could move, but still quick for me. “But make it a good one.”

“Hmm,” I said, making a show of thinking. I felt myself flush at what I had settled on, but I was feeling oddly reckless, and I was curious what Hunt would say. Vera would tell me I was fishing, and maybe I was a little. “I have never kissed a man.”

Hunt snorted. “This isn’t ‘a lie for a lie,’ Red,” he said, looking me up and down appraisingly.

I flushed. “What’s that supposed to mean?” I asked indignantly.

“I mean, look at you,” he said, gesturing to, well, all of me. “You’re…fine looking.”

“Thanks,” I said dryly, an eyebrow raised at him.

He rolled his eyes. “I mean, are you really telling me that no mortal boy ever looked at you and thought ‘there’s a witch I’d like to tumble’?” I wrinkled my nose in a show of distaste, but I felt secretly thrilled that he was surprised.

“I can’t speak for the mortal boys,” I said, cheeks flushing under his stare, “but I have never found one I was interested in.”

“Are you blushing?” he asked, laughing. “Regretting your suggestion that we play this game?”

“Not at all,” I said firmly. “It’s your turn.”

“Fine,” he said. “I’m fabulously wealthy and important.”

“Now who's lying?” I asked irritably.

Hunt laughed. “I swear it on the Horned God himself,” he replied, lifting a hand over his heart. “You cannot fathom the level of wealth I possess.”

“If we’re playing the lying game,” I said angrily, berating myself for trusting him, “then I should tell you that I find you extremely charming.”

Hunt barked a laugh, his eyes flashing brightly at me. “And you’re a peach, yourself,” he replied, giving me a smirk.

“I hate you,” I grumbled. Akela whined as if unhappy that we were arguing.

“Now that one for sure was a lie,” Hunt said smugly, raising a mocking brow at me.

I spent the rest of the day stomping and tripping through the Bloodwood in irritable silence, cursing myself for telling him anything true at all.

Chapter 12

Even though my supplies had been lost to the river, Hunt still had a flint on him, and I was able to draw a pentagram in the soft ground to cast a fire. He seemed fascinated by my magic, but I supposed he had rarely seen a witch work a spell, other than the Hag.

“You’re going to have to talk to me at some point,” Hunt said, pushing a skewer of rabbit toward me.

I scowled at him, biting into the meat and imagining it was his arm instead.

He laughed. “You’re a violent little witch, aren’t you?” he asked, leaning back and stretching out his long legs. “What if I tell you a real secret then? Will you forgive me?”

“Maybe,” I said, trying to look haughty as I wiped the grease from my face.

He smiled faintly. “I have never been in love,” he said somberly. “There, is that sufficient repayment for your truth?”

I shrugged. “I suppose,” I said. “Although it’s really not much of a surprise. You’re fairly young and very annoying.”

He laughed. "I’m older than I look,” he said, raising a sardonic brow.

“How old?” I asked, curious. He looked to be maybe in his mid- to late twenties, not much older than I was.

“You first,” Hunt said, swigging from his water skin before passing it to me. I took a drink, feeling like there wasn’t enough water in the world to quench my thirst from all the hiking.

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