Page 176 of Blood & Betrayals

I quirk a brow. “I’m going to keep you on your toes until you ask me. More fun that way.”

Connor laughs, and the sound wraps me in joy. “All right, future Mrs. Morningstar.”

I lean in and kiss him deeply, my lips pulled into a smile.

72

Summer

“You sure you don’t want to go home with that guy?” I stumble into Alice as we walk through the quad, the moon shining down on us.

“Please, he had the weirdest-looking dick,” Alice scoffs, her words just as slurred as mine.

I burst out laughing and bump into her again, wrapping my arm around her shoulders as we walk. “I love you, my Alicey.”

“I love you, my wife!” She practically screams the last word. We both stumble and almost fall into a bush.

When we get back to our dorm room, we fall through the door and collide with the floor.

Alice pushes me. “You’re drunk!”

“I am not!” I protest though the room spins as I try to sit up. Laying back down, I stare up at the ceiling. Alice shifts closer, her arm touching mine.

“Fuck, how did I get this drunk?” I ask, focusing on a small crack in the ceiling.

“Probably when you challenged Zane to a shot competition,” she replies thoughtfully.

“Well, at least I won.”

Alice exhales deeply. “I… may have a confession.”

I quirk a brow, glancing at her.

“I might have drugged his drink.”

I blink and then burst out laughing, thinking about how Zane went from being semi-drunk to completely hammered in the blink of an eye.

“In my defense, he was being a prick.”

“So that’s why Connor had to carry him home.”

Alice snickers. “Maybe. He’s been hogging you, anyway. It’s my turn.”

I laugh and shift so I can rest my head on her shoulder.

We stare up at the ceiling, and there is a small flare of magic as Alice slices into her finger. Suddenly, the most ethereal sky I’ve ever seen takes the place of the ceiling. Stars twinkle in their constellations, replacing the overhead light. They swirl soothingly on an indigo background in a symphony of blues, greens, and purples.

“You and your attempts at runes are turning my hair gray, Legosi. Though, nice work on this one.”

Alice flips me off, still staring up at the ceiling. “This one I knew from before Avalon. I like sleeping beneath the stars.”

I nod, curling into her more, feeling the pull of exhaustion. “I’m spending Yule with you, by the way. Hope that’s cool.”

“You are?” Alice asks, surprised. “What about Connor?”

“We’ll all spend the day before Yule together, and then I’ll come home with you. That is if you’re still going to Drãculea. If not, we’ll stay here.”

Alice sighs heavily. “I have to go home, but now it won’t suck so much.”

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