Page 100

99

Summer

T he living room is rustic and comfortable, completely different from the vibes of the castle. I imagine Alice coming here to escape royal life and sit by the crackling fire.

Zach and Ashley are on the couch, whispering and giggling together. Zane, Luke, and Alice are flicking through the channels, trying to agree on what to watch. I join Rafe at the bar, watching as he pours a heavy-handed measure of a clear spirit into a tumbler.

Rafe throws back the drink and pours another. “How is he?” he asks, finally acknowledging my presence.

I take a tumbler and place it in front of him, silently asking for a drink. Rafe immediately pours a double measure into my glass. “He’s sleeping.” I watch his profile. “And you? Are you okay?”

Rafe takes a deep drink. “Me? Just peachy.” The words are dripping with sarcasm.

I look down at my glass, anticipating the comforting burn of the liquor. “Thank you,” I say before tossing back the drink, embracing the feeling of it sliding down my throat.

“For?” Rafe asks, still not looking at me.

“I don’t know your demons, Rafe, but I know what you did was not easy for you. You saved him.”

Rafe tenses beside me. “He’s my brother. It wasn’t even a question.”

I place my hand on his arm, allowing a sliver of the grief I had barely avoided to surface, knowing I’m safe to feel it here with Rafe. I need a quiet moment with someone who understands my inner strife and knows what it would have meant if things had gone wrong.

Rafe doesn’t move for a long moment, and I’m about to pull my hand away when he places his hand over mine. He closes his eyes, also embracing the moment. I squeeze his arm and just stand there with him. We’re in a room full of people who wouldn’t understand. I pray to all the gods they never understand. At this moment, there are just the two of us and the sadness.

“He’s always doing stupid shit like that,” Rafe says, dropping his hand and draining his glass.

My lips twitch and I squeeze his arm before pulling my hand back. “He’s lucky to have us.” Though I don’t believe it, my voice fulfills the lie.

Rafe chuckles darkly. “One time he almost died after hitting a goose while flying.”

I gape at Rafe and burst out laughing. “What?”

Rafe’s lips twitch as he finally meets my gaze. That constant ember of anger still smolders in his eyes, but it is soothed by a gentler emotion. “We were teenagers, and we were taking Luke flying for the first time.”

I fill our glasses again and turn toward him, leaning against the bar.

“So, Con looks back to check on Luke, and in the two seconds he’s not paying attention to his own flight path, he collides face-first with the biggest goose I’ve ever seen.”

I laugh, cradling my tumbler.

“It knocks him out flat, and he starts falling. I’m panicking. Zach and Zane are panicking. Luke is screaming, struggling to control his wings, and Connor is plunging fast. Luckily, Uncle Michael comes out of nowhere and catches him before he hits the ground,” Rafe reminisces. “When he finally comes to, all he cares about is if we’re all okay.”

“That’s our Conbear.”

“An idiot.” Rafe shakes his head, looking down again.

I look around, ensuring no one is listening before I lean in and drop my voice. “You’re his favorite, you know?”

Rafe gives me a sideways grin. “So are you.”

“He truly has impeccable taste,” I say proudly, pushing at his shoulder.

Rafe snorts and we both take deep drinks, falling into companionable silence. The only sounds that fill the cabin are the voices from the television, the crackling of the fire, and the hushed whispers from Zach and Ashley.

“I love you!” Zach exclaims loudly, breaking the silence.

Every head in the room whips toward them. Ashley is straddling him on the couch, but her body has gone rigid. Zach’s face is locked in an expression of horrified surprise, looking as shocked by the declaration as everyone else.

Rafe takes another drink, seemingly unphased.

Ashley blinks at Zach once, twice, three times before climbing off him and disappearing into one of the free bedrooms. Zach drags a hand over his face, then follows her.

Rafe and I grin at each other before joining Luke and Alice on the couch to watch the movie.

A few hours later, Luke sits up and stretches. “I’m starving.”

“The kitchen should be fully stocked,” Alice says. Luke gets up and heads to the kitchen to start dinner. Always happy to create a little chaos, Alice bounces to her feet and walks to the bedroom door Zach and Ashley went into. She slams her fist on the door and shouts, “Stop fucking! It’s almost dinnertime!”

“Shh, Connor is sleeping!” I hiss, but it is already too late.

Connor emerges from his room, looking perfectly sleep-rumpled. He yawns, rubbing his eyes. “Who’s fucking?”

I smile brightly at him. “Hey, big guy! How are you feeling?”

Connor walks over to the couch and lies down, resting his head on my lap. He closes his eyes and yawns again. “Lonely.”

I smile, running my fingers through his soft blond hair. “Are you hungry? Luke’s cooking dinner.”

“Always hungry,” Connor says, a soft glow limning his body.

I bend, pressing a soft kiss to his lips. “I missed you.”

Connor smiles sleepily. “Yeah? How long was I asleep?”

I glance at the clock on the mantle. “Just over three hours.”

“So long without love from my beautiful girlfriend,” Connor groans.

I brush my lips over his again, and Connor wraps his arms around my waist, burying his face against my stomach.

“You’re so needy,” Rafe says, rolling his eyes.

“Can you blame me?” Connor asks, inhaling me.

Ashley and Zach finally emerge from the room, both looking freshly fucked and flushed. Ashley’s blush deepens when she sees us all watching her, and she slinks off to the kitchen to help Luke. Zach follows her as if he can’t help himself.

I pat the space next to me for Alice.

“You come here a lot?” I ask.

Alice shrugs. “Sometimes. When I need some time alone.”

I rest my head on her shoulder. “What’s wrong, Al?”

Alice rests her head on mine and says in a small voice. “That hydra. I think it was a trap for me.” Alice sighs. “Another assassination attempt.”

I link my arm through hers. “Don’t worry, Al. I’ll kill them all.”

“That’s why you’re my wife.”

“Always and forever,” I say, stroking Connor’s hair, soothing him as he sleeps.

Luke, Ashley, and Zach come back with trays full of food, and I’m pleasantly surprised to see perfectly prepared steak with an array of vegetables.

I kiss Connor’s head. “Con?”

“Hm?” he grunts, nuzzling against my stomach.

“Food, big guy.”

Connor opens his mouth, his eyes still closed.

I laugh softly. “You need to sit up, Con. You might choke.”

Connor shifts, sitting up slightly, and I bring a piece of steak to his lips. Connor takes the steak into his mouth and chews happily.

“You’re cute,” Connor says sleepily.

I roll my eyes and grab my phone, emailing the headmaster.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Good evening, sir.

At what time are we allowed to return to the school? There was an incident here, and I’m hoping to get back soon.

-Summer.

We are almost finished eating before his response comes through.

To: [email protected]

From: [email protected]

Miss Tuatha De Daanan,

The fae king is departing now. You may return as soon as you wish.

-Headmaster Emrys.

I exhale, feeling a weight lift from my shoulders.

“We can head back to campus after everyone is finished eating. I want to settle Connor in bed so he can sleep this off.”

“Sounds good. Should we tell the class now about why we bailed?” Alice asks, sucking on a blood bag.

I nod. “Go for it.”

Everyone looks expectantly at Alice. “The fae king visited campus today. The headmaster suggested that Summer not be on campus due to her… individuality.”

“He probably would have killed me.”

“What a dick,” Rafe grumbles, and Connor nuzzles into me, lingering in the space between consciousness and unconsciousness.

I shrug. “I’ve never fit in. But unfortunately, when it comes to the fae king, it could get me killed.”

“Okay, but,” Zane begins, “what if he comes back again?”

“I doubt he will. He’s a chaotic person. He only visited today because of the murderer’s capture. Eli was a noble in his court.”

“That fucker was one of his? He must be so proud,” Zach hisses.

“Regardless, we can return any time now,” I say with a tight smile.

Connor squeezes me tightly, mumbling into my stomach. “And no more killers.”

I sigh, running my fingers through his hair. “You need about two days of sleep.”

“So do you,” Connor says, nuzzling into me again.

When all the dishes have been cleaned, we prepare to return to Avalon. After cleaning up and gathering our things, Alice creates the portal. Rafe and I support Connor as we walk straight into the Morningstar House. Once inside, we don’t stop, leading him up to his room.

We get Connor cleaned up and into bed. Once he is lying down, Rafe leaves and Connor opens his arms for me. I get fully undressed before climbing into bed with him.

“Thank you for telling me,” he says, wrapping his arms around me and pulling me against his chest. His warmth and scent surround me in comfort.

“About?”

“About what was going on. It means a lot.”

I try not to let my shoulders tense and keep that guilt locked down. “I’m trying.”

Connor tightens his arms around me. “I know, and I love you for that. I’m going to marry the hell out of you. You know that, right?”

“Whatever, Morningstar.” I rub my nose against his chest, hiding my grin.

“It’s true. I am going to do it.” Connor starts to drift off. “Picked a ring…” he says, his voice trailing off. I can’t help the way my muscles tighten. My stomach knots or flutters, but I’m not sure which.

“A-a ring?” I ask, but Connor’s only answer is a soft snore.