Page 84 of Blood & Betrayals

I tilt my head, watching him.

“I have a lot to live up to. My dad’s Legion is the largest. I’m not always sure I have it in me.”

“Well, I know you do.”

Connor’s gaze locks on mine, a little of my apprehension melting away. He brushes his lips over mine. I smile up at Connor, and something within me snaps into place. It’s a decision I wasn’t sure I would ever make.

“Con?”

“Hm?”

I push up on my tiptoes and lean against him so I can brush my lips over his. “You can drop the pre,” I say. I pull back and wink at him before turning and heading outside. Connor recovers quickly and catches up to me, sliding his hand into mine.

“Mom!” he calls, and I laugh, nearly running to keep up with him.

Farrah looks up, clutching the ball. “Yes, my perfect, sweet baby boy?”

Connor smiles brightly. “You can talk about the binders now.”

Farrah squeals, not even noticing as Zane takes the ball from her. “Uriel!”

Uriel hurries over to her from the other side of the garden. “Yes, my love?”

“They’re official! Where is the binder?”

Uriel blinks. “It’s in Eden, my love. I don’t travel with it.”

“Poor planning, my love!” Farrah chastises, and Connor and I can’t help but burst out laughing.

“They’ll have to come visit, I suppose!” Uriel says, grabbing her around the waist and picking her up.

“Uri!” she protests, but her eyes darken even as she wiggles to get down. “Not in front of the children.”

He kisses her deeply and slowly slides her down his body. The moment her feet touch the ground, she rushes over to me, her hair coming loose from her braid. “Oh, Summer, I need all of your measurements and flower preferences.”

Rafe claps from the middle of the field. “Can we get back to the game? They’ve been official since the moment they locked eyes.”

I laugh, and Connor reluctantly releases me, heading to join the game.

“Hey, Morningstar?” I call after him.

Connor glances back at me.

“You’d better win this, or I’ll break up with you.”

Connor scoffs. “Please, your ass is mine, Tuatha De Daanan.”

“Okay, team A is Uriel, Connor, and Zach. Team B is Rafe, Zane, and Lukey!” Farrah claps. “Let’s hustle up boys!”

The game is dirtier than I imagined it would be, but in the end, Connor’s team wins by one hard-fought point. The boys are all covered in mud and sweat, but they’re all beaming. Even Rafe looks more at ease than I’ve ever seen him.

“Okay, I’ve got to walk mygirlfriendhome. I’ll be back in a while,” Connor says, sliding his hand into mine.

Farrah pulls me into a hug. “You’ll come to Eden soon? Please?”

I nod. “I’d love to.”

Uriel pulls me from Farrah’s arms, engulfing me in another bear hug. His eyes glow with the joy of being with his family. There is still a sense of awkwardness within me, but I know it’s my own trauma. I’ve never felt accepted or loved by a family, and I wonder if this is what it’s supposed to feel like.

---