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“Where are you going?” His voice is angrier now.

“Away from you,” I snarl back.

“Your dormisaway from me.”

I whirl on him. The outline of his form is still in the same place, watching me. “You are not the boss of me,Stranger.”

In the blink of an eye, his form is right in front of me, and then I am hoisted over his shoulder.

“Put. Me. Down,” I snarl, struggling against his hold.

“Brat,” he growls, his voice even clearer now. He carries me easily, despite my wiggling and complaining, and it is just moments before we’re back at Kelpie Hall. He opens the dorm without a key or a pass and puts me down before slamming the door, leaving him on the other side of it. I try the handle, but I know it’s useless. A second later, a bright glow shines from beneath the door, and I know he’s sealed it shut with a rune. I feel the power of it pulse softly. Bastard.

I climb the stairs louder than necessary, still furious. Alice is still sound asleep on the couch, a blanket thrown over her. I go to my room and collapse into my bed. I’m about to drift off when my phone lights up with a message. Against my better judgment, I check it.

I growl. If blocking him doesn’t work, surely there’s something I can do? Perhaps I should ask one of the tech guys tomorrow.

I block him again. I know it is useless, but there’s something enjoyable about knowing it’ll piss him off. My phone alerts again, and I smile when I see Connor’s name pop up instead of that weirdo stalker.

Connor

I miss you. Also, your ass is on Nexus.

I frown at the message, confused by it, but pass out before I can investigate further.

58

Summer

My head throbs, and the light burns despite my eyes still being closed. Blindly, I reach out, and even that slight movement makes me want to hurl. I grab one of my pillows and cover my face, nearly weeping at the sweet darkness it brings.

Alice groans from the living room. “Fuckkkkkkkkk. Not to alarm you, Summer, but I think I might be dead.”

“Aren’t you already dead?” My words are heavily muffled by the pillow, but Alice hears them clearly.

“Okay, re-dead.”

My stomach rolls suddenly. I bolt from the bed and run to the toilet, just barely making it before I hurl the entire contents of my stomach up. After vomiting another three times, I feel well enough to crawl into the shower and turn it on. The hot water hurts as it taps against my already banging head, but the warmth is also comforting. Slowly, I remove my clothes and throw them out onto the stone floor, where they land with a wet thud. My whole body trembles from the hangover, but I feel slightly more alive once I get clean.

Stepping out of the shower, I wrap a towel around myself and manage to brush my teeth without throwing up before going in search of water or coffee. Alice is lying on the cool kitchen floor, and I nearly trip over her. It looks like she made it that far but then couldn’t stand up.

“Kill me? If you love me, you’ll have mercy and kill me.”

I grab a bottle of water and take a sip, bending to rest my forehead against the cool counter. “Those mushrooms were lethal. Tequila would never do this to me.”

Alice nods. There is a loud knock at the door, the sound piercing my brain like a hot poker.

“Whoever that is will be dead soon,” Alice growls.

I drag myself to the door and open it, nearly weeping when I see Connor holding a tray of coffee.

“Hey, babe, figured you’d need this.”

I groan, taking one of the cups and burying my face against his chest.

Connor wraps his arms around me, and the hug calms the hangover shakes. He lifts me and sits on the couch, cradling me on his lap. I sip my coffee and moan in pleasure. It tastes like the nectar of the gods.

Alice crawls over pathetically and takes one of the cups.