Page 97 of Blood & Betrayals

He pushes off the wall and reaches for me. “Can we just… forget what I said?”

“Con…”

He clears his throat and pulls a dagger from the sheath strapped to his thigh, the silver hand ornate and polished. Obviously, he wants to move past this conversation as quickly as possible. “Will you keep this on you?”

“Why?”

“Just… please?”

I exhale but nod. I should probably tell Connor I’m more of a danger to myself with that thing than anyone else, but I’ll do anything to take that look of pure helplessness off his face. Connor kneels in front of me and pulls a smaller sheath from his bag. He attaches it to my thigh and stows the dagger inside, pressing a soft kiss to the sensitive skin just above. My skirt barely conceals the leather, and I tug on it as he gets to his feet.The awkwardness returns immediately, and I can’t stand it. I close the distance between us and brush my lips over his.

“Let’s talk later?”

Connor smiles against my lips, and I feel the tension leave his body. “Okay, babe. I should get to class.”

I nod. “See you later?”

Connor kisses me again. “Be safe, okay?”

I pull back and look up at him, looping my fingers into the waistband of his pants to keep him from leaving. “Tell me I’ll see you later.”

Connor’s smile is easy. “I’ll see you later.”

“And I’ll be safe.”

Connor hesitates for a moment before he wraps his arms around me, pulling me into a hug. He inhales my hair, and I wrap my arms around his waist, holding him tight. Connor gives me one last hard kiss before we both head to class.

41

Summer

Isit down next to Alice in class, and she immediately pounces on me with questions.

“So? What did he say?”

I’m about to answer when Professor Ambrose enters the room, clearing his throat to get our attention.

“In light of yesterday’s events, I will be postponing the pop quiz until a week past Friday at the request of Headmaster Emrys. Today we will continue to study the effects of different atmospheres on different species. If you would turn to page two hundred and fifty-nine of your textbooks, we will begin.”

As everyone flips through the text, Professor Ambrose writes on the board. “We are going to discuss the Grand Arcane today.” My brows shoot up a little, surprised by the change in the course. “Who knows about this realm?”

A few mumble responses, but no one answers.

“The Grand Arcane is one of the thirteen closest realms to Avalon. It is the artificial realm, created by the Unification of the Realms that came after the Fall,” Professor Ambrose’s mentee supplies, when it’s clear we’re too rattled by the assembly andnews to respond. Like most sorcerers, the fourth-year is covered in runes. His hands nearly glow with them, and several extend past his collar to his neck. He’s never been in class before, but I’ve noticed that Professor Ambrose often has different seniors assisting in his classes, probably to earn extra credit.

“The Fall?” Another student asks, earning a harsh look from Ambrose.

“Yes, the Fall of Faerie.” My hand tightens at the mention of the fae home realm. I’d purposely been avoiding that assignment. “Prior to the Fall, it was thought impossible for a realm to experience such a world-ending event.”

“But what about Draconis?” A shifter asks. This time, Ambrose doesn’t censor him with a harsh look. Instead, he leans back against his desk and actually seems to beenjoyingteaching. I didn’t think that was possible.

“Draconis did experience a similar event. However, it was an extermination event of the shifters who lived there, not the realm itself. The ruins of Draconis still exist and can be visited, even if the dracanae have all but died out. Faerie no longer exists on any plane. If you were to open a portal to its former location, you’d find nothing but empty space. But I don’t want to delve too deeply into the Fall or the Culling, as I believe both Faerie and Draconis are assigned to some of you for your final project.” He smirks. “Can’t be doing all the work for you, can I?”

Ambrose continues on about the Grand Arcane, and I want to focus on the topic, but my mind is a mess. Gia’s face keeps flashing in front of my eyes, the pendant warming ever so slightly each time.

Exhausted after fighting with myself to stay focused all morning, it is a relief when it is finally time for lunch. Connor and his brothers are already sitting at our usual table when Alice and I walk into the cafeteria, our lunch waiting for us. Connorsmiles up at me, and I kiss him softly as I sit in the seat next to him.

“So… it’s later,” he says, watching me.

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