Page 158 of Blood & Betrayals

He nods. “Study the book I gave you, Miss Tuatha De Daanan.”

My phone rings again, and I glance at it, seeing Connor’s face on the screen.

“Thank you again, sir.”

He nods and walks around his desk. He sits down behind it and continues with his work. I leave his office before answering the phone.

64

Summer

“Con?”

“Babe?” He sounds frantic, and I can hear the panic in his voice. “Are you okay? Where are you?”

Leaning against the wall, I close my eyes. “I’m fine, big guy. I lost my phone.”

“Where are you? Alice and I are coming.”

“I’ll meet you at my dorm.”

Connor exhales. “Babe? You’re… all right?”

It takes work to keep my voice even. “I’m okay, Con.” I don’t know how much longer I can keep this from him, and I don’t know how I’m going to explain why I’m covered in cuts and bruises. Would it be kinder to lie to him rather than put him through the worry he’ll feel knowing the truth?

“She’s okay?” I hear Alice ask him.

“She’s okay. She’s going to meet us at the dorm. We’re almost there, babe.”

My muscles groan as I push off the wall. “I’ll be there soon, big guy.” I end the call and start the hike across campus.

The gray sky is heavy with clouds. It’s as if the weather is reflecting the grimness of the day. I round the corner of Kelpie Hall and slam into a solid wall of muscle. Connor’s scent surrounds me at the same time as his arms enfold me in warmth. I inhale deeply and melt against him, dismissing the discomfort of the cuts and bruises as he squeezes me.

“Fuck, you scared me,” he whispers into my ear. He cups my thighs and lifts me against him. I wrap myself around him and bury my face into his neck, plunging my fingers into his golden hair.

“I’m okay, big guy.”

He nuzzles his face into my hair and inhales. “Where were you?”

“It’s a long story.”

Connor carries me up to the dorm, and Alice is on me the second he steps through the door. She wraps her arms around me from behind. “Fuck, Summer.”

I untangle myself from Connor and turn in his arms, pulling Alice into a proper hug. Connor keeps his arms around me as if scared to let me go.

“Where did you go, Summer? And why are you covered in blood?” Alice asks, obviously still very anxious.

Connor pulls back and really looks me over. “Fuck, Summer. What happened?”

I pull away from them, feeling selfish but also needing a little space. I try to cover myself, but my uniform is so ruined it doesn’t do much.

Connor follows me, refusing to let me put distance between us. Alice and Connor share a grave look before she nods once. Her eyes soften when they meet mine, and I can feel her love and concern permeate me. She holds my gaze a moment longer, before turning and disappearing into her room. Connor brushesmy hands away and crouches to look closer at my wounds. “Babe.”

“Con, it’s fine.”

He tenses, feeling my withdrawal, but he continues to look over the thousands of cuts and gashes that decorate my skin. “What happened?” he asks.

“It was wild magic. It’ll be fine in a week or so.”

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