Page 197 of Blood & Betrayals

I can feel the waves of anger still flowing from me, but I know I am not really angry with him. My rage is directed inward.

Fuck. Anyone else you want to alienate today, Summer? I exhale heavily before replying to him.

He doesn’t respond,and I know he won’t message back. Sadness replaces anger, and I am more disappointed than I should be.

Alice looks up from the couch when I enter. “I’m studying at Cons. Want to come?” I ask her, gathering my books.

“Actually studying? Or studying his dick?”

I sigh. “No sex until after finals. So actual studying.” I shove my books in my bag and grin at her. “And if it were the latter, I wouldn’t be inviting you.”

“Wait. You without sex?” Alice gapes at me, her eyes wide.

“For three and a half weeks. Yup.”

“Welp. This is going to be hell for both of us. You are… not the most rational when you’re not getting any.”

I flip her off. “It’ll be fine. Let’s go. I need to pick up sandwiches on the way.”

Alice links her arm through mine as we walk to the sandwich place. “So why no sex?”

“Con says it’s too distracting. And he’s a senior, so these results are even more important.”

“Fuck. How much sex were you having?”

I lift an eyebrow, looking at her.

She shrugs. “Like ballpark.”

“Maybe a couple of times a day.”

Alice looks at me skeptically. “It’s definitely more than that.”

“It’s an average, Al. Sometimes it’s more. Sometimes it’s less.”

“Damn. I feel like a nun,” Alice ponders as we walk into the deli.

“Why?”

“Because I’m good if I get it three times a week. Maybe you are part succubus.”

I laugh and order the sandwiches.

79

Summer

The next ten days drag on, and I see Connor occasionally, but it’s usually just to study. We’ve barely kissed in all of that time. Maybe a chaste kiss as I leave his place or pass him in the corridor. He’s been working hard, and I can tell he’s burning himself out. We all are. Alice has hardly opened a textbook, yet she’s bored because everyone else is busy. I’ve not minded the studying, and I’ve actually enjoyed some of it. However, my mood has soured exponentially since we all knuckled down.

I settle into my seat in Realms, a vibrating ball of tension. My knee bounces, and I’m so on edge that I yelp a little when Connor drops into the seat next to me. He slides his arm along the back of my chair, and I look up at him with wide eyes.

“Hi,” he says, smiling brightly. “My morning class got canceled.”

I smile, kissing his jaw.

“Mister Morningstar, might I ask why you have decided to join first-year Realms? I don’t recall requesting an assistant,” Professor Ambrose asks, disapproval thick in his voice.

“Well, I could always use a refresher!” Connor replies, completely at ease.

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