Page 114 of Blood & Betrayals

I glance at Connor, thinking about the Almighty. There are so many questions. Why did she seek me out? Did she seek me out? Or was it just a coincidence that I was in the same place she was at the same time? I doubt that anything she does is acoincidence.

The rest of dinner is filled with more laughter and teasing. The food is delicious, and we all happily stuff ourselves. I relax into the feeling of safety and warmth. It is the perfect family dinner.

“Okay, who wants dessert?” Farrah asks, pushing her chair back. I stand to help her clear the table, but she shakes her head. “Absolutely not, Summer. I have five boys here to help me.” Luke is already collecting plates, and Farrah looks at her twin boys expectantly.

“You already have hel–”

“Boys. Now,” Uriel commands. He doesn’t raise his voice, but it does deepen, his tone making it clear that he will take absolutely no bullshit from his sons. Zach and Zane reluctantly spring into action, collecting the plates and taking them into the kitchen.

Farrah is looking at her husband, her eyes dark. Uriel winks at her, slowly sipping his wine.

I look away, feeling like I’m intruding on an extremely private and intimate moment between them.

“Hello, my love,” I hear Uriel croon as he pulls Farrah onto his lap.

Luke comes through with the dessert and rolls his eyes when he sees them. “Guys…”

Zach wraps his arms around Luke’s shoulders. “This is how you were created, baby Luke!”

Luke groans, his face contorting into a look of horror. “By them making out at the dinner table? If that were true, Summer would beverypregnant by now.”

Connor chokes on a mouthful of water. I blush deeply, glancing at Uriel and Farrah to gauge their reaction, but their attention is still fully locked on one another.

“Want to go work on another kid, my love?”

Farrah smiles and nips at his lips. “An inspired idea.”

Uriel pulls back and looks at his sons. “Enjoy dessert and clean up afterward.” He stands with Farrah in his arms and carries her out of the room. I can hear them whispering as they disappear upstairs.

Zach rolls his eyes, taking a big bite of apple pie. “Every family dinner.”

Farrah’s laughter fills the house before their bedroom door slams shut.

“So your parents are… really in love, huh?”

Connor slings his arm across the back of my chair, taking a bite of his dessert. “They’ve always been like that.”

Zane nods. “Since we were kids.

I smile, looking at Connor. “It’s nice.”

Zach snorts. “Not the word I’d use.”

“No?” I ask Zach.

Luke blushes but chuckles into his dessert.

“They were like that even when we had friends over as kids. Imagine having to explain to your friends that they should just ignore your parents, who act like horny teenagers in love whenever they are in the same room. Got me a weird rep at Eden Academy.”

“They’re in love! It’s sweet!” I protest. They have no idea how amazing it is that they grew up surrounded by this kind of love.

Connor chuckles and scoops me up into his arms. I yelp in surprise, and he looks down at me. “Off we go, my love! To makeanother baby!” He mimics Uriel’s voice so well that I can’t help but burst out laughing as he whisks me off upstairs.

“Wait, you dick!” Zach shouts. “You’re leaving us to clean up again!”

Connor hums loudly to drown them out as he carries me upstairs to his bedroom.

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