Page 178 of Blood & Betrayals

Summer

There is a loud knock on the door, the sound piercing my skull. I try to open my eyes, but they are stuck together. I shift, my muscles grumbling at the movement. There is another loud knock, and I wave my hand in the general direction of the door, not caring at the moment if it is an axe murderer. Alice groans next to me, and I finally manage to pry my eyelids apart. My head pounds, and I try to blink the light away.

“Good morning, babe. Fanged fury.”

I rub my eyes and slowly open them again. Connor’s face is pulled into a bright smile, and the fucker looks fresh as a daisy. I struggle to sit up, and he drops to the floor to sit next to me. He bundles me in his arms and cradles me against his chest.

“I brought coffee,” he says into my hair, and I look at the table. When did he put those there? Fuck, who cares? Gods, it feels like someone is drilling into my head. I reach for my coffee and take a deep drink. The liquid scalds my mouth, but the burn distracts me from the other pain.

“I missed you,” Connor says, pressing a kiss to my forehead.

“Why aren’t you hungover?” I groan, my voice sounding rough and bruised.

Connor laughs softly. “I don’t get hangovers.”

I glare at him through my lashes. “I hate you.”

Alice groans in agreement, still mostly passed out on the floor.

Connor laughs again and nuzzles into my neck. “I get it from my dad. My mom gets terrible ones. The twins and Luke get hangovers, but Rafe and I don’t.”

“I hate you and Rafe,” I grumble. “And the twins cause they’re annoying.”

Connor kisses my neck. “Yeah? What about Luke?”

“No. Not Luke.”

“You know,” Connor begins, pulling back and reaching around behind his back. “I’ve brought you something else.” He produces a brown paper bag full of pastries, and I could weep with gratitude.

“Oh, I fucking love you, Morningstar.” I kiss him deeply and then pull back, selecting a pastry and practically swallowing it whole.

“You two were wild last night,” Connor says, stroking my back.

Alice pulls herself into a sitting position and grabs her coffee cup, her eyes still closed. One of her false eyelashes is stuck to her cheek. I would laugh, but it would probably hurt. I’m also willing to bet I’m in a similar, if not worse, state.

“I heard a new nickname for you two last night. The Morningstar Menaces.”

My lips twitch, and I nuzzle against Connor’s neck. “We are honorary Morningstars now?”

Connor sighs in contentment. “Yup. It’s official.”

“I think the nickname should be for you and your brothers, and it should be the Morningstar Minions,” I say, curling against him.

“Am I your minion, babe?”

I bite his jaw playfully. “You know it.”

Connor moans softly and shifts, his voice husky when he asks, “What are the plans for today?”

“This. Maybe some penetration.”

Connor laughs. “Maybe?”

I brush my lips over his. “Definitely.”

It’s late afternoon when Connor leaves for practice, and I lie down in bed for a nap, letting myself walk the line of consciousness. I’m distantly aware of someone standing in my doorway but recognize Alice’s energy. I open my eyes and pat the covers next to me. Alice pads over on silent feet and sits on the bed.

“You know I love you,” she begins, and I come to full alertness at the seriousness of her tone. “And I’m always on your side.”

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