Page 174 of Blood & Betrayals

Alice, Brett, and I wait outside the stadium, but I can tell they are eager to get to the party, so I tell them to go ahead. Alice practically dances away, talking to Brett about her next shifter victim. No sooner have they left than I feel an unnatural wind ruffling my hair. The stranger materializes in front of me.

I lean back against the wall, putting a little more distance between us. “Hi,” I say a little shortly. I am still unhappy with how he left last time, though I’m not as pissed as I was earlier. I’m not sure why I’m so forgiving when it comes to him. Usually, I have very little tolerance for assholish behavior.

He reaches forward, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear again, acting like nothing happened. “Behave this weekend.” His voice brushes past my ears in that whispery way that makes tingles erupt down my spine. “I’ll be gone.”

“Gone?” Why does that make my stomach tug in disappointment?

His chuckle is edged as if he knows. “Just for the weekend, little fae.”

I look away, tugging at the edge of Connor’s jersey.

“He’s a lucky boy,” he says, and I feel his gaze drift down my body.

“Friends,” I say, crossing my arms.

He leans in, pressing his lips to my forehead. “Behave.”

I place my hand on his arm, ready to push him away. His muscles flex beneath my palm, and I exhale at the feeling.

He pulls back, looking down at me. “No messes, promise me.”

I look up at him. “I don’t make messes, Stranger. They just seem to find me.”

“Little liar,” he scoffs, but I hear the smirk in his voice. “Goodbye, little fae.” He breaks the spell, leaving my hand hovering where I was touching his arm. I frown and drop it to my side, making a mental note to keep firmer boundaries.

71

Summer

Connor and his brothers emerge from the stadium, and I launch at him. Connor catches me easily and spins me around.

“Hi, babe.”

Connor grins and smothers my face in kisses. I giggle, my heart full of joy. The darkness that rose in response to being in such close proximity to the stranger calms. It falls back into its box like grains of sand sifting through an hourglass, collecting in the bottom until it’s disrupted again.

The calming effect Connor has on me reminds me of the Almighty and her words regarding my peace. He is my peace.

“Ready to go?” he asks, holding me against him. I nod, reluctantly unraveling myself from him. He sets me on my feet but immediately slings his arm around my shoulders. I take a moment to ponder the person I used to be. Once, I would have rejected his touch, but now I find comfort in it. This is what I wanted. It is what I asked for, but something is missing. But what could be missing?

“I love you,” Connor says into my hair as he kisses the top of my head.

I smile. “Let’s go,” I say, pushing the bad thoughts away.

“I hope you know I’m going to kill your roommate,” Zach says, coming up beside me. I can hear Zane snickering behind us.

I roll my eyes. “I highly doubt you’ll want to kill her after you’ve reaped the rewards of her efforts.”

There is a glint of intrigue in his eyes, but his voice is still angry. “How the fuck am I doing that?”

I look off into the distance and let my eyes glaze over, slowly waving my hand toward the heavens. “I foresee a blowjob in your future, Zachariah.”

Zach’s eyes darken a little, but he flinches. “Don’t call me that.”

I throw another eye roll at him. “So ungrateful. I’ll get Alice to stop.”

Zach looks away. “Listen, it’s… whatever.” He speeds up, his shoulders hunched. Connor looks at me reproachfully.

I grumble under my breath and sigh heavily before stepping out from under Connor’s arm and hurrying to catch up with him. I link my arm through his. “What’s wrong, Zachy?”

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