Page 228 of Blood & Betrayals

Connor wraps his arms around me and nuzzles my nose. “Merry Christmas.”

“Merry Christmas, big guy.”

“Enough! Presents!” Alice groans.

“Shouldn’t we wait for everyone else to get here?” I ask, but I eye the presents hungrily. I have never had presents.

Alice glares at me mutinously.

“Never mind, I guess,” I say with a laugh, holding up my hands. Connor plucks a gift from under the tree and hands it to me. It’s expertly wrapped, and I don’t know why I’m surprised. He’s Mr. Holidays. I sit down on the couch and place the box onmy lap. I take care opening it, not wanting to destroy the lovely gold paper decorated with shiny pictures of baubles.

Connor smiles and crosses his arms as he watches me, his eyes shining. “It’s silly, but I thought it would help when I’m gone.”

I place the wrapping paper on the coffee table and open the box. Inside, there is a brown stuffed bear. It’s wearing a blue t-shirt embroidered with the wordConbear.

“It’s for you to sleep with.”

I gasp, looking at the soft, fluffy bear. It’s got a small black nose and large brown eyes.

I push the box down beside me and stand, jumping into Connor’s arms. “Thank you! I love it!”

Connor laughs, spinning me around. “It’s only for when I’m not here.”

I smother his face in kisses. He reluctantly puts me down after a long moment. “And the second gift is from my parents and me.”

This gift is a much smaller rectangle. I take the same care with this one, peeling off the paper and opening the box. Inside is a key attached to a cloud-shaped keyring. I blink and pick it up.

“It’s a key to my place in Eden.”

I lift my eyebrows, looking at the key again. It dangles there innocently like it’s not a huge fucking deal. “A key to your place? How forward, Morningstar.”

“I want you to move in with me after I graduate,” he says, and I meet his gaze.

“In… Eden?” I ask.

Connor glances behind me at Alice and then back at me. “So, I spoke with my dad. I will be allowed to live here and work as an archangel until you graduate, but I will need to spend summers in Eden.”

I stare at him, not sure what to say.

Alice moves to stand beside me, looking between us.

“So I’ll live with you here?” I say, finally finding my voice.

Connor nods. “During the school year.”

“What about Alice?” I ask, needing to know that he has planned for this. Surely, he knows me well enough to know I’d never leave her.

Connor smiles. “My dad has offered to add onto the house if Alice is game.”

I look at Alice, unsure how she’ll react.

She meets my gaze and shrugs nonchalantly. “I go where you go.”

“Really?”

Alice nods. “I don’t care where we live.”

I smile and jump on Connor again, kissing him hard.

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