Page 31 of Blood & Betrayals

“Oops, time to run!” Alice laughs and yanks me to my feet, pulling me past the people in the seats next to us, scrambling for the stairs.

Connor jumps over the barrier. The stadium is eerily quiet as everyone trains their hungry eyes on us. Rafe darts under the bleachers and up the other set of stairs, blocking out escape when Alice and I try to change directions.

“You can run, but I’ll catch you,” Connor warns in such a way that I stop in my tracks and turn to face him. I wanted to make him mad, and based on his thunderous expression, I’ve morethan succeeded. The crowd moves to make way for the irate angel, leaving me nowhere to go.

Even though he has stopped a few steps below me, he’s still taller than me by at least a head. I quirk an eyebrow at him, trying to maintain my nonchalant expression.

“Hello,Summer.” He doesn’t waste another moment before pulling me against him and slamming his lips to mine, kissing me hard. I’m vaguely aware of the whoops and cheers from the crowd around us, but it all seems to blur away as he tunnels his fingers in my hair. His lips are just as pillowy as I remember, and I lose myself in them way too easily.

Connor pulls back after a moment, and I blush when I instinctively lean forward, wanting more. Connor glances at Rafe and gives him a curt nod before bending and heaving me over his shoulder. He carries me down the stairs and onto the field, heading back toward the locker room. I can hear Alice’s protests and assume Rafe is following with her.

“Put me down, Morningstar!” I squeal in outrage.

Connor ignores me. The noise of the crowd grows muffled when we pass into the tunnel and enter the locker room. Connor gently puts me down and turns to rummage through his locker. Rafe places Alice down beside me, and Connor throws a clean jersey to her. I expect him to throw one at me, too. Instead, he smirks at me, and with a devilish glint in his eyes he pulls off his jersey and hands it to me.

“You know, even if I put this on, I still have his name on my cheeks,” I say defiantly when he turns to pull a new jersey out for himself.

Connor turns and pulls his new jersey over his head, tugging it into place before reaching for me again. He grips my chin between his thumb and forefinger, holding me in place. His lips slant over mine as he brings a towel to my cheeks, wiping awayHarold’s name. I growl and pull back, slapping at his hand. “I said one kiss, dickbag.”

“And you wore my rival’s jersey to provoke me. Looks like we both had different plans.”

Zach bursts into the locker room, his cheeks pink from exertion. “Coach is pissed. You both need to get out there. Now.”

Connor leans in, brushing his tongue along the seam of my lips. I moan and open for him, but he pulls away before I can sink into the kiss. “I’ll be back after the game,” Connor says, brushing his fingers along my cheek. He winks, and he and his brothers leave the locker room.

Alice and I look at each other for a long moment before we burst out laughing. We change into our new jerseys, accepting that we lost. My lips tingle from the lingering memory of his lips on mine, and the promise of more makes my core thrum in anticipation.

“Well, I guess he knows your name now.”

I laugh again, filled with a giddy lightness that is equal parts terrifying and wonderful. “Let’s go watch the game.”

Alice spots a mirror in the corner. “Wait.”

She pulls me closer and poses us so our backs are to the mirror.MORNINGSTARis emblazoned in huge letters across our backs. We both look over our shoulders and pout. The moment Alice snaps the photo, I take her phone and post it to@KillerLegosi. Immediately, her phone begins to blow up with alerts.

“I guess I can unblock them all now,” Alice says as we walk back to the bleachers.

13

Summer

Luke grins when he sees us, immediately noticing our outfit change. I lift the jersey to my nose, inhaling Connor’s scent of clouds and citrus and savoring his lingering warmth on the fabric. The Knights pick up their game through to the second half and beyond. Every so often, Connor looks at me in the bleachers, and I can’t help but smile back at him. The energy in the stadium is so infectious that it’s difficult not to cheer along with everyone else when the Knights score and to commiserate when the Ravens sneak a point.

Game time is running out, and the Knights are ahead by eight points. Connor is running down the field, chased by two hulking Ravens. The power he exudes and the flex of his thighs as he runs are wildly distracting, but I try to keep my mind on watching the game and not how much I want him to continue the punish?—

“What the fuck!” Alice springs from her seat, watching as Harold comes seemingly out of nowhere and tackles Connor hard. They fly through the air before slamming into the unforgiving ground, Connor taking the brunt of the fall. Thewhistle blows and time is up, the game over. Connor sits up, clenching his side, his face twisted in pain.

The Knights rush toward Connor, crowding around him. Luke launches over the bar of the bleachers and runs onto the field, his hands already glowing. My heart swells as he pushes through the throng of chaos, shoving aside the much larger players in his haste to reach his big brother. It seems none of the Morningstars will hesitate to protect their family, no matter the risks.

Harold smirks as he walks away, covered in mud from head to toe but otherwise unharmed. The way he struts is horribly smug, especially considering the Ravens just lost the match. The slam was completely uncalled for, nothing more than a punishment.

A roar comes from within the huddle around Connor, and Rafe emerges, fury clear on his face. He storms toward Harold, fists clenched, and once again, I see the true difference between Rafe and his brothers. Wild anger spills off him as he closes the distance to the other team’s captain. One of the Ravens nudges Harold, gesturing to Rafe’s approach.

Harold lifts an eyebrow and turns to face him but is met with Rafe’s fist. The power of the hit shudders through Rafe, and for a second, the charmed Avalon emblem on his uniform glows brightly. The emblems are supposed to hold back the most dangerous portions of the player’s abilities, making the playing field safer and slightly more even. Rafe’s emblem almost looks like it is shattering. Instead of the bright white light fading as it is absorbed by the charm, it is growing brighter. Black cracks are forming, revealing dark flames lurking within the fissures. Harold stumbles but quickly recovers. He pulls his arm back to defend himself, but Rafe is on him, punching him mercilessly. Every blow makes the Avalon emblem on his chest glow. Each strike weakens the charm, breaking the power seal more andmore. If Rafe keeps at this, he will completely unleash his fury. Veins bulge beneath Harold’s skin and his eyes glow emerald green. His body grows in size, the berserker struggling to break through his own emblem.

Connor pushes through the swarm and runs to them, yanking Rafe off a bloody and beaten Harold. Rafe struggles against Connor’s hold, his fury still pinned on Harold. Connor spins him around and roughly grabs his face. His words are inaudible over the sounds from the stadium, but his gaze is locked on his brother. Rafe’s nostrils flare as he finally seems to see Connor. Connor doesn’t release Rafe’s face, his features pulled into a look of anger and concern. In spite of that, Rafe’s shoulders do relax a little, and his bloody fists unclench. Rafe nods curtly and yanks his head from Connor’s hold before storming off the field. Connor’s shoulders slump as he watches him leave. He runs a tired hand over his face before walking toward the locker room with his teammates.

I glance at Alice. She looks excited and maybe even a little turned on by the display of violence. “Woah, that was?—”

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