Page 291 of Blood & Betrayals

I nod, kissing him again.

Connor shifts to lie back on the couch, and I lie on top of him, my hand on his chest so I can admire the ring.

“You like it?”

I nod, a soft, mushy smile on my face. “I love it.”

Connor grins, kissing me quickly and then pulling back. “Get dressed. We have to call my parents!”

I laugh and move off him, my heart squeezing at his kindness. We’ve just got engaged, but he knows how much joy this will bring to them, especially his mother. I quickly pull on my clothes, and we prepare to announce our engagement for the first time.

I can do this. Connor is my peace.

107

Summer

After we speak to Farrah and Uriel, Connor is eager to tell his brothers. He wants me to join him, but I think it’ll be more special if it’s just him there. He protests and tries to cajole me with kisses, but I hold firm. With one last toe-curling kiss, he leaves the dorm, and I hear him jogging down the hall.

Alice still isn’t home, so I decide to get a workout in. It has been a rollercoaster of emotions over the last two days, ranging from rage to grief, to terror, to unadulterated happiness. Adrenaline is still coursing through me, and I may as well benefit from it.

On my walk to the gym, I find myself glancing repeatedly at my ring. I can’t help but appreciate how it glints in the sunshine and how perfectly it fits on my finger. He obviously gave this a lot of thought, and I smile again when I remember the joy on his face when he asked me. I’m waiting for the panic to start, but so far, there is just the love and warmth Connor always makes me feel.

Max is standing in the free weights area, spotting someone when he notices me come in. He tips his chin at me in greeting, and I gesture toward the sparring room to let him know I will be in there when he is done. I stretch, warming up while I wait.

“You look happy,” he says as he walks in.

“Hm?”

“You’re smiling. It’s weird.”

I quirk a brow. “I didn’t realize that wasn’t allowed.” Max rolls his eyes, and I smirk, nudging him in the stomach. “Wanna fight, berserker?”

Max shoves me playfully. “Let’s go.” He goes to the wall and collects the weapons, tossing me my sai. I catch them deftly, and he smiles, but it wavers when his gaze falls to my hand. “What’s that?” he asks, his eyes glued to my ring finger, his brows drawing.

I blink and follow his gaze to the ring, the light bouncing off it and sending little rainbows skittering over the walls.

Max walks over and takes my hand, looking at it. “This…” He shakes his head. “Wow. Um, congratulations.”

“Oh, thanks.” I smile.

Max drops my hand and steps back, and I can feel a definite shift in the atmosphere between us. “Let’s fight,” he says, lifting his sword.

I nod and get into position, but Max is already on me. His sword swings straight for me. I barely lift my sai in time, catching the blade between them. I try to push him back, but he withdraws and swings again with a speed I’ve never seen him use before.

We don’t pause for the entire session, and it’s a constant dance of duck and dodge, parry and deflect. By the time Max calls it to a close, I’m covered in sweat, and my chest heaves from the exertion. I bend, bracing my hands on my knees as I try to catch my breath.

“Fuck, Max.” I look at him, also covered in sweat and panting.

“What?” he snaps.

I just pant, shaking my head.

“Good job,” Max grunts, taking my sai from me and returning them to the wall.

“Fuck,” I say again, straightening and stretching my muscles out.

Max rolls his eyes. “It wasn’t that bad.”

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