Page 36 of Blood & Betrayals

The headmaster walks around to my side, glancing at me before returning that icy, malevolent stare to Connor. “It is happening on school property. Therefore, it is my business.”

I realize he’s not wearing his usual formal wear. Instead, he has on a long-sleeve, black t-shirt that pulls tight over his muscles and a pair of black sweatpants. He’s obviously been running, yet he looks completely perfect. He doesn’t have a hair out of place, the midnight black a beautiful contrast to the rich golden brown of his skin. My eyes catch on the black runes inscribed along his neck, several in languages I don’t recognize. Most sorcerers cover their runes. They intentionally hide the spells they are armed with, making them unknown weapons waiting to be launched, but not the headmaster. Is it arrogance or confidence?

I look up at the headmaster to see he has fixed his gaze on me again.

“Miss Tuatha De Daanan?”

I swallow. While his stare feels like a weight on my shoulders, perversely, it also feels like a feather’s caress against my skin. Oh fuck, this has already been an awful twenty-four hours. I can’t handle any more emotions to deny or sort through, and I definitely don’t need a lecture from the doom master right now.

“I’m all right, sir. Thank you.”

Without another word, he pushes his headphones back into his ears and continues on his run. I can’t help but stare after him as he sets off.

“Summer—”

“Goodbye, Connor. Enjoy whatever species is next on your creepy-ass list.”

“Summer, you are the only person I want on my list,” he says, shaking his head. I finally meet his gaze to find his eyes pleading harder than his words.

I roll my eyes and turn away from him, intending to resume my run. Connor grabs me again. “Nothing has changed for me. I still want to date you. I want you to be my girlfriend.”

I rip my hand away. “Leave me alone,” I snarl and stalk away, fully intending to get as far from him as possible. He catches me easily and pulls me against him, kissing me hard. It’s so difficult not to get lost in the kiss. Luckily, I have an eternal pit of hatefire inside me, and I tap into that, forcing myself to pull away. I push against his chest, even more furious now that his lips aren’t clouding my better judgment. It would help if he weren’t such a good kisser. Fuck.

Connor keeps his hold on me, his gaze locked on mine. “Last night was the best night of my life.” He brushes his thumbs along my arms. “My brothers are morons, especially when they’re drunk.”

I narrow my eyes on him. Connor carefully lifts his hand and cups my cheek as if he is afraid I will hit him. “I’m absolutely not making excuses for them. I just… really fucking like you.”

The rage within me dies a little, not completely, but enough that I don’t want to push him off a cliff. “Fine. I forgive you. Will you go away now?”

Connor smiles sadly. “I can taste lies, remember?”

I glare at him, unrelenting. “I’m not lying, but I’m also not dating you.”

“Why? If you have actually forgiven me.”

Men are so stupid, I swear.

“Because I don’t want to,” I reply simply. “What I want to do is finish my run. Alone.”

Connor looks so defeated that it extinguishes my remaining anger, but the hurt is still there, heavy and oily against my skin. He slowly drops his hands and pushes them into his pockets, his eyes dull. “I’m sorry.”

“See you.”

Connor turns on his heel and wanders sadly in the other direction. I take one last look at him before I start to run again. Something in my stomach is off, a feeling I’ve never felt before, not like this, anyway. I frown as I continue on my run, trying to figure out what I am feeling. Could it be guilt? No, it can’t be. I have done nothing wrong. Fuck.

My phone pings in my pocket, and I stop on the path to read the message. Alice’s name pops up, followed by a photo of Zach and Zane walking around campus wearing large signs with the wordSHAMEspelled out in bright red letters. My lips twitch at the image. My phone pings again with another text from Alice.

Alice

Brunch?

Summer

Student Union in 20?

Alice

Sounds good.

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