Page 44 of Blood & Betrayals

Alice claps from where she is sitting on my bed. “You look perfect. That outfit was an excellent find!”

I glance at her over my shoulder. She’s the picture of calm, laying in my bed wearing a gray onesie. The graphic on it makes it look like it’s covered in blood splatter. When she picked it up at the store earlier, she insisted she needed it so that when it’s actually drenched in blood, no one will notice. She rolls out of bed and stands next to me. I smile at our reflections in the mirror as she snaps a photo of us.

I look at the photo and laugh. “That’s honestly the perfect picture.”

Alice opens the Nexus app and posts the picture.

Alice looks me over in the mirror again. “Damn. You know, if I weren’t cursed with heterosexuality, I’d snatch you up.”

I snicker, nudging her shoulder.

Connor knocks on the door at precisely seven, and I answer, my stomach doing somersaults.

“Woah.” The word escapes him on a whoosh of air as he takes in my outfit, and I take a moment to appreciate the effort he has made. His black jeans fit him perfectly, and the white button-up shirt must be tailored to him. He’s clean-shaven, and his eyes are glowing slightly.

“You don’t look so bad yourself.”

Connor blinks, still staring at me. “Woah.”

“Hello?” I wave my hand in front of his face. “Are you still in there?”

Connor blinks and slowly shakes his head. He clears his throat. “Sorry, just… damn.” He clears his throat again and holds out his elbow. “Shall we?”

I roll my eyes, but a smile teases at my lips as I slide my hand through his arm.

“Have her home by midnight, Morningstar!” Alice shouts from inside, having made a nest on the couch.

“Will do.”

“And use protec?—”

I close the door before she can finish her sentence and sigh. “Sorry, she’s?—”

“She’s Alice. Yeah.”

I laugh and shake my head as we leave Kelpie Hall. I can almost feel Connor’s gaze on my face, just taking me in.

“I’m trying to get my brain going again, but it’s taking a minute,” Connor admits, clearing his throat again. I sigh and stop walking. Connor turns and looks down at me, concern creasing his brow. “Summer? Are you?—”

Grabbing his face, I pull him down and kiss him deeply. Connor groans and backs me against the wall of Ammit Hall, crushing me between it and his body. Suddenly, the wall behind me vanishes, and I fall back. Connor’s arm wraps around me, keeping me from landing on my ass. I glance over my shoulder to find a student standing there, blinking at me. I blush when I realize Connor hasn’t backed me into a wall but up against a door to the building.

Connor grins at the guy. “Sorry, couldn’t help myself.”

I bite the inside of my cheek to stop my laugh and grab his hand, pulling him away from the dorm. The laugh bubbles up my throat, and I can’t hold it back anymore.

“You’re laughing at me?” Connor squeezes my hand, his mouth pulled into a broad smile.

“With you, big guy. I’m laughing with you.” The pet name seems so familiar, and it leaves me almost instinctively. It fits him so well, and my chest warms a little when I use it.

Connor smiles bigger and drapes his arm along the back of my shoulders while still holding my hand as if he has to have me as close as possible. That does not make some of the knots in my stomach ease. It doesnot.

“Where are we going for dinner?” I ask as we wander toward the gate. The sun is only just starting to set, and the orange light stretches over the grounds, casting everything in a warm, romantic glow. The mist that normally lingers at the edge of campus is absent.

“I thought we’d go to Magnolia Bistro. There’s a not-so-secret space in the back that is quiet and intimate.” He brushes his lips over the top of my head. “Let’s hope we don’t run into the doom master again, or he might invite himself on our date.”

My lips twitch, hearing the fear lacing his voice. The headmaster seems to terrify other people, too, not just me. Thank gods.

“I have to say, I was a little shocked you came over.”

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