Page 312 of Blood & Betrayals

I glance at her.

“You know that thing you asked of me last night?”

I nod.

“It’s because of the stranger, right?”

“We should get to class,” I say, looking away.

Alice frowns but drops it, and we hurry to class. Professor Brooks is showing us new kinds of runes, and normally, I would be totally engaged, but my mind is so busy that I can barely concentrate. Alice senses my mood, and her hand is in mine the whole day. I know I’ll feel better when I get to see Connor at lunch.

We are on our way to the canteen when Alice suddenly stops in the middle of the corridor. I squeeze her hand and look at her. She looks paler than usual.

“You okay?” I ask, ignoring all the tuts and grumbles of the annoyed people having to walk around us in the busy hall.

She groans softly. “I’m not feeling great. I think I’m going to go home for the rest of the day.”

I feel her forehead. It is cool to the touch but not clammy or sweaty.

“I’m okay, just feeling a little gross.”

“I can come with you?”

Alice shakes her head. “I’m a big, bad vampire. I’ll be fine.”

I squeeze her arm. “I’ll text you later.”

Alice nods and leaves, heading home. My stomach twists in concern for her, but she obviously wants to be ill alone, so I continue to the canteen to see my Connor.

I grab a sandwich on the way to the table, and the second I see him, my chest feels less constricted. It feels better still when I drop down next to him and better again when he wraps his big arm around me and pulls me against his side.

“Where’s Alice?” he asks, kissing my temple.

“She went home, not feeling well.”

“Vampires can get sick?” Zane asks with a frown.

I roll my eyes. “Of course they can. She’ll be fine in a bit. She’s maybe had some bad blood or something.”

I nuzzle Connor’s jaw. “How was capstone?”

“It was good. I learned a lot today.”

“Oh?” I ask, honestly interested.

Connor nods, and I close my fingers around his tie. Twisting my hand, I pull him closer to me. “Tell me what you learned.”

“Shield runes,” Connor says, his eyes darkening with desire.

Zane groans. “Please. We’re all here.”

I ignore him and kiss Connor deeply, his soft lips pulling a deep moan from me. Connor slides his fingers into my hair, his big palm cupping the back of my head. His tongue slides teasingly along my bottom lip, urging me to open.

I’m vaguely aware of Ashley arriving and she and Zach flirting, but I’m so lost in Connor’s kiss that I barely hear it.

Connor finally breaks the kiss, and I sit back, feeling a little dazed. I look around just as a cute little brunette in an indecently short skirt walks by. She gives Zane an unmistakable come-hither look and sashays toward the door. Zane perks up as if he just scented his favorite meal, his eyes locking onto the sway of her hips and the sassy swish of her skirt.

Rafe rolls his eyes. “Just go after her. She obviously wants your attention.”

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