Page 43 of Blood & Betrayals

Connor

Oh, I already have a plan.

I give Alice a knowing look, and her chair screeches as she moves it closer to read over my shoulder.

Summer

Can I know the plan?

Connor

Dinner.

And then something else.

“Oooh, cryptic, I love it. Maybe he’ll take you to a virginal shifter sacrificial ritual.” Alice pats my arm excitedly.

“You know, for someone who is supposed to hate shifters, you sure were sucking the face off one of them the other night.”

Alice gives me an affronted look. “You dream of angel dick. I sometimes make out with shifter scum. We all have our flaws.”

Summer

Just tell me what I should wear.

Connor

Um… Nice clothes. Warm.

There is absolutely no way I will cover myself up on a beautiful summer day like today. If he’s planning to realm hop with me so we can fuck against an iceberg or some shit, I’ll simply refuse.

“Nice clothes, but warm? Why are guys so thick? That could mean anything,” Alice protests.

Summer

Okay, see you at seven. I’ll be the one in a snowsuit.

Alice chuckles at my reply and then tugs at my arm. “Eat faster. I want to shop.”

I laugh and finish up my pancakes. Alice holds up her hand when I go to pull up my card on my phone. “I got this.” She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small solid gold rectangle.HRH ELVIRA ALICE LEGOSIis engraved on the front in small letters. The waiter swipes the card, and I barely manage to snatch up my phone before Alice grabs my hand and pulls me out of my seat.

“Alice?” I ask as she drags me across the quad.

“Hm?”

“Your card… HRH?” I didn’t even know there were cards you could use across realms, but apparently, Alice has one.

She glances at me, nodding. “Her Royal Highness.” She rolls her eyes. “Pain in my ass.”

I’m about to ask more, but from her body language, I can tell she doesn’t want to tell me anymore about it. Considering she has been so supportive of my hang-ups and not delving into my past, she deserves her boundaries to be respected as well. There is more to Alice than meets the eye.

18

Summer

Alice and I shop for hours, and by the end of the day, I swear there isn’t a single bralette or crop top I haven’t tried on in all of Camelot. Alice put everything we bought on her gold card, even though I protested heavily every time she brought it out. Unfortunately for her bank account and me, she seemed to come down with temporary deafness when we reached the checkouts. At first, I thought it might be pity that made her so eager to pay for my things, but every time she used the card, a malicious gleam sparked in her eyes. She definitely had other motives for pulling out the card, which hadn’t been present when she used her phone credits earlier in the week.

When we arrive home, it doesn’t stop there. Alice makes me try on everything at least twice before we settle on the white co-ord, with the long-sleeved cropped top, matching miniskirt, and black chunky heels. It’s not exactly the warmest option, but it’s got sleeves. I stare at my reflection in the mirror, unease churning in my stomach. It’s not because I’m not looking forward to the date. I’ve just never done something so…formal.

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