Page 253 of Trick or Stalk

I turn my head and study Hades, who is wearing a blank expression.

Then I turn back to Wilder. “You said little bookworm.”

Wilder shrugs. “You work in a bookstore.”

My heart gives one hard, painful beat.

It's a perfectly reasonable explanation. Except Masked Man called me that.

But so did Hades.

And now Wilder⁠—

I stare at him.

Tall. Broad shoulders. Not exactly Hades's size, but close enough.

My skin goes cold.

“Were you at the festival the other night?”

Wilder's eyes flick toward Hades before locking with mine again.

Before he answers, Hades interrupts, “Presley.”

I put my drink down on the nearest table. “I need some air.”

“Presley.”

I walk briskly away.

I don’t run. Because if I do, he'll follow.

And suddenly that thought scares me.

Cold air hits my face the second I step outside.

I suck in a breath, then another.

Music pulses faintly through the walls behind me. Fog drifts across Greycourt's lawn. Pumpkins flicker along the walkway.

But my mind won't stop.

Little bookworm.

Good girl.

The familiar scent of cedar, woodsmoke, and soap.

The package with the special edition and Penny's sweater.

Masked Man knew where I lived.

Hades knew what book I'd recommended.

I keep walking.

No. My stomach twists. Masked Man asked me about Hades.