Chapter Fifty-Four

Summary

• Hunt avoids Sandriel and goes to see Micah, who is upset that Hunt has been allegedly running Fae tests on old evidence and drinking with Bryce instead of focusing on their investigation.
• Micah tells Hunt that Sandriel has been asking about him and Bryce, and has made him generous offers. He also mentions that Sabine Fendyr has complained about being a suspect. Micah instructs Hunt to get the job done and hands him a file.
• Hunt understands from the file that he is being punished, and knows that he has to kill someone as retribution. He takes his helmet and weapons, dons his black battle-suit, and prepares to undertake the mission.
• He receives texts from Bryce, asking if everything is okay and if he wants to join her for lunch. He ignores her calls and messages, not wanting her to know what he's up to.
• Bryce is worried when Hunt doesn't respond. She becomes even more concerned when he sends her a vague response that gives no insight into his activities. She tries to reach out to him with various messages, but finally just answers "Okay."
• In a state of worry, Bryce contacts her brother Ruhn to ask if he's seen Hunt. As she's talking to Ruhn, Hunt walks into her apartment covered in blood. Bryce is horrified, offers to clean Hunt up, and helps him bathe and settle in bed.
• Hunt is seen sitting in the shower, scalding water pounding on his back. Bryce finds him there, turns the temperature down, and begins to clean him off. After the shower, she helps him get into bed.
• Hunt doesn’t sleep, tormented by how Bryce reacted to the sight of him covered in blood. He doesn't want Bryce to see him as a murderer, fears that she's finally seen him for what he truly is, and it’s too much for him.
• Later, Hunt awakens to find himself lying across Bryce's lap. He's been sleeping for hours. Realizing that Bryce has also fallen asleep, he carries her to her own bed.
• Despite everything, Hunt feels closer to Bryce. He realizes that he prefers this - being cared for and comforting her - over his violent profession.