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When the class ends, I dread leaving it, knowing he’ll be waiting for me. As the students flood through the classroom door, I see him leaning against the wall. Connor’s eyes meet mine, and he manages to soften his stare a little when our gazes lock. Like before, I feel an instinctual relief when I see him, but then the dread returns when I remember who he actually is.

“Hey, babe,” he says as I approach. I look up at him sadly.

“Hi.” The emotion in my voice isn’t even false after a torturous day where I’ve been stared at and whispered about. I even heard some accusations being passed around.

The headmaster as Connor opens his arm for me, and I cautiously move into them. Had he taken what I’d said to heart?

“Hard day?” he asks into my hair, and I nod, relaxing into Connor’s large body. The hug feels wrong, and I wonder if the illusion is obvious to everyone or just me. Can the killer sense this isn’t real?

“Home?” the headmaster asks, and I can hear the tightness in his voice.

I nod, and he wraps his arm around me, leading me down the long corridor to the door.

When we get outside and are far enough away from wandering gazes, I move away from him. “Okay, you’re good.”

He grabs my arm and tugs me back against his side. “Not until we’re inside,” he hisses.

I try to tug away without being obvious about it, but he tightens his grip on my hip.

“I thought you were good at acting,” he mumbles under his breath, irritation lacing his voice.

I stop in my tracks, unable to hold back my anger. “What is that supposed to mean? I’ve been carrying thi?—”

His steps don’t falter, barely noticing my planted feet. He just slightly lifts me and drags me toward the Morningstar House.

I pull back, trying to yank free of him. “What the fuck is your problem with me?” I ask, the anger finally exploding.

“Get inside, and we can talk freely,” he says, not even slowing.

He doesn’t deny having a problem with me. Shock. I knew it

I yank my arm hard, and it groans in pain as I finally get free of him. I storm past him, stomping into the house. The headmaster slams the door shut behind us, and I whirl on him. “With all due respect,Headmaster?—”

“Silence,” he demands. A single word, and I’m reminded precisely who this sorcerer is. He drops the glamour, and his height changes, his eyes returning to their normal icy silver as his hair darkens to inky black. “I may look like MisterMorningstar while on campus, but you will treat me with the respect due your headmaster. No matter what face I wear.”

I glare up at him. “You have no reason to dislike me as much as you do. If you don’t want to do this with me, I’ll do it on my own.”

“When I want your opinion, Miss Tuatha De Daanan,” a portal opens at his back, his eyes flashing with frigid fury, “I’ll ask for it.”

He doesn’t spare me another glance before leaving, the portal snapping shut behind him. Anger courses through me, stronger than ever, and a ball of purple light forms in my hand. I look down at it, pulsing with fury, and throw it at one of the couch cushions, obliterating it on contact.

“Babe?” Connor says, coming down the stairs. “Woah, what happened?” he asks, running across the room. He sends a wave of cool mist toward the couch, laying it over the scorch mark on the sofa. I launch myself at him and slam my lips to his, the anger still potent.

Connor pulls back. “Hi.” He chuckles. “I missed you, too.”

I rip his shirt open, the tearing sound echoing through the room. “We’re going to fuck. Now,” I growl.

Connor grabs my hands, stopping me from opening his pants. “Woah, babe. What happened?”

I snarl a little, my body shaking with rage.

Connor holds my wrists with one hand and cups my cheek with the other. “Hi, it’s me, your fiancé. I’d like to talk to my adoring fiancée.”

He strokes my cheek with this thumb soothingly, and I close my eyes, trying to relax. Connor releases my wrists slowly like I’m a wild, rabid animal just captured, and he wraps his arms around me, pulling me into him. The second he envelopes me in his arms, I exhale heavily, my body slumping.

Connor kisses my head.

“Offended you didn’t want to fuck me,” I growl softly into his chest.