Page 330 of Blood & Betrayals

The conversation dies down, and everyone turns their attention to the game. “So, you both like sports. Discuss.”

Max laughs at my poor attempt to promote conversation. “Summer, we’re in the same room, and we’re not fighting. Enjoy the win.”

I decide he is right and relax into Connor. The conversation does eventually pick up, but it’s about boring sports. I tune out their words and lay my head against Connor’s chest, letting the rumble of his voice soothe me into near sleep.

When the game ends, Max stands up and stretches. “Well, I should get going.” I hear Max say in my semi-conscious state.

Connor kisses my head. “Thank you for teaching her.”

“She’s hard to deny.”

Connor laughs, the small rumble in his chest warming me. “Tell me about it. Goodnight, Romulus.”

“Night, golden boy.”

I smile and finally drift into deeper sleep.

120

Summer

“Summer! Dad is here!” Alice shouts from downstairs.

I kiss Connor again. “Will you go tell him I’ll be right down? I’m just finishing up.” Connor nods and kisses me again before disappearing downstairs to convey my message to the headmaster.

Suspecting that Connor is now the target makes it even more difficult to be away from him. I know he’ll be safe at home while the headmaster wears his face, yet I still long to be with him, to protect him from all harm.

I draw some red kohl on my water line, really selling the grieving look, and add a little powder beneath my eyes before I head downstairs. I’m back to wearing my heels thanks to the headmaster’s rune yesterday, and the pain in my ankle is nothing more than a twinge.

The view when I come downstairs is similar to the one yesterday. Connor is awkwardly sipping coffee, and the headmaster stands by the door, his arms crossed. Alice happily sits in the awkwardness, enjoying every moment of their discomfort.

“Ready?” the headmaster asks the moment he spots me.

“Yes, sir,” I say, grabbing an apple and kissing Connor as I pass. The headmaster fixes his glamour, causing Connor to grimace.

“Too fucking weird,” Connor grumbles.

Alice nods. “One bird brain is enough, thank you very much.”

My lips twitch, and I take the headmaster’s hand as we leave the house.

“Are you prepared for another day of this?” he asks.

I nod and take a bite of my apple. “Yesterday was a little easier, less staring and whispering.”

“I felt someone watching me while sitting in Mister Morningstar’s classes.”

I glance up at him, my shoulders tensing.

“I couldn’t find the source, but someone is watching.”

I nod. “How are you getting away with being absent so much?”

“I have my ways, Miss Tuatha De Daanan,” he says, throwing me a stern look.

I roll my eyes at his dramatics, and we morph into our characters as we get closer to the school. We stop for coffee as usual, and the headmaster walks me to my class. We’re in the building early, so the corridors are still fairly empty. Happy we don’t have to pretend for a few moments, I relax a little more when we turn the corner to find that no one is in the hall.

Hushed voices come toward us, and I shift closer to the headmaster, ready to pick up our pretense again. He tenses but wraps his arm around me, pulling me against him.

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