Page 168 of Blood & Betrayals

“Because, Con. Sometimes I will have to stay late, or I’ll go to the gym or to the coffee place, and I need to be able to do that without informing you first.” I have no idea if I’m being unreasonable or not. All I know is that I need to keep a nuggetof my independence, and while I know he’s worried about me, I can’t spend my life hiding in his shadow.

Connor’s fists clench on the edge of the desk, the wood creaking. “You want to go places without telling me?”

“I want to nothaveto tell you.” I tilt my head, searching his face. “Is the only reason that you want to keep me safe? Or is there something else?”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you not trust me?” I ask plainly.

Connor places his hands on my arms and pulls me in closer. “I do! I just… they were both fae, Sum.” He swallows hard. He has obviously put the puzzle pieces together on his own. “And you’re fae, and I love you, and…” He hesitates. “When angels lose the person they love…” The fear in his eyes makes my heart clench. I wrap my arms around his neck.

“You’re not going to lose me, big guy.” I press my forehead to his, and Connor closes his eyes, relaxing into me.

“I’m sorry. I know I’m being… intense.”

“Shhh.” I tilt my head and press my lips to his, kissing him.

“I’m sorry. I just… I love you so much.”

I kiss him again, letting him feel and taste me. “I love you.”

69

Summer

“Didn’t think you’d be back,” Max grunts. He drops one of the heavy dummies into the middle of the room.

I notice that he’s prepared the room for our session, so he’s obviously a liar as well as a dick. “Sorry to burst your bubble,” I grumble.

He smirks. “Ready to fight me, then?”

I nod and pull my gloves on.

“If I land a hit, it will break a bone. I’m not going to hold back.”

I roll my eyes, but there’s something weirdly refreshing about training with a berserker who won't go out of his way to protect me when we’re training. There is something almost liberating about it. “Let’s just do this.”

Max barely waits for me to get into position before he swings, and I barely dodge it. I nearly lose my balance, stumbling when he throws the next punch. His fist just misses my face, and I can feel the force of his swing. Max throws another punch, and this time, not only do I dodge it, but I also run away from him.

“Stop aiming at my face, dick.”

He gives me a bemused look. “You think your opponent won’t go for your head and face just cause you’re hot?”

I blink, caught off guard by the almost compliment. “Well… maybe.”

Max snorts. “Come on, try to hit me back.”

I get into position and swing for him. He easily dodges, and his fist collides with my ribs. The air rushes from my lungs, and my stomach tries to follow it with the sharp pain from his jab.

“Fuck.” I cough, bracing my hands on my thighs and trying to breathe through the pain and nausea.

“I told you I would break a bone if I landed a hit. You’ll heal in a few minutes,” Max quips, crossing his arms over his chest. “Maybe actually try this time.”

With every inhale, it feels like a hot poker is stabbing my lung, and when I try to straighten, the pain is excruciating.

“And that was just my normal strength, not even touching the berserker.”

“You’re a cunt,” I wheeze out, my chest burning as my bone starts to fuse back together.

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