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28

Summer

“ S ummer!” Alice calls from the living room, and I lurch into a sitting position. My dream melts away, leaving only the shroud of an unsettling foreboding against my skin. Rubbing my eyes, I climb out of bed and stumble out of my room. Alice sits on the couch, obviously having slept there. She is wrapped in the blanket from her bed, her hair sticking out at all angles.

She scrunches her nose, looking adorably grumpy. “We need a new couch.”

I blink, my eyes barely open. “Why are you on the couch?”

She groans and flops her head back. “There was something in my hall last night. I tried to catch it, but it kept running.”

“Something?” I ask, glancing at her unassuming door.

Alice stretches, yawning. “Like a clawing sound. I don’t know.”

I sigh. “Another thing we’ll have to deal with before the party.”

“I’ll catch it after class.” She shrugs, fighting another yawn.

As Alice and I prepare for the day, we discuss plans for the party, but the conversation drifts as we leave Kelpie.

“So, what are you going to do about Connor?” Alice asks.

I flick a quick glance at her. “What do you mean?”

“Are you considering him for more than just fun?” Alice gives me a knowing look that I return with a look of derision. She knows the answer to this. Or does she? Do I? I can’t deny that the lines are blurring. No. They only blur if I let them. I just need to… redraw them. In permanent marker.

Alice stops at the coffee cart halfway between the dorm and Manananggal Hall. She orders two large coffees, smiling at the barista as if she hasn’t unraveled everything within me with one stupid fucking question.

“Summer?” She glances at me expectantly.

“I’m fucking him exclusively. Isn’t that enough?” I blurt out. Alice blinks at me, and so does the barista, who looks increasingly uncomfortable.

“Uh… So, do you want your Danish?” Alice asks again, pointing to the bag the barista is holding out.

“Oh. Yeah, sure,” I mumble, my cheeks heating a little. I grab my coffee and pastry with an apologetic smile at the barista before hurrying away.

Alice hurries to catch up with me. “Do I detect tension? Is that why you just bit my head off about a Danish?”

“I’m sorry,” I say, sighing heavily.

“What is it?” Alice asks, nudging me.

“I’m bad at this stuff,” I say, sipping my coffee.

Alice nods. “I’m bad at it too,” she says, holding open the door of Manananggal Hall for me.

We sit down in our usual seats in Intro to Realms, and Professor Ambrose walks in a few moments later. His steps are sure and direct, his ego filling the room in a stifling wave. It’s the same with all sorcerers. I’d judge them more harshly, but it’s the same with fae.

“I hope everyone is preparing for their upcoming interviews. Ms. Tuatha De Daanan has the pleasure of interviewing me, and I am excited to hear the questions she has come up with about her realm.”

I groan internally, thinking about the paper I have to write about Faerie. What’s the point in learning about a realm that is lost? I slide the list of questions out of my notebook, brushing my fingers over the tear stain on the paper. I’d completed it over a week ago, writing them down while looking at the tiny sprig of Faerie. Do I even want the answers to these questions? It won’t change anything, especially my past.

Professor Ambrose continues, and I turn to a new page in my notebook. My pen glides over the crisp white paper, but my mind drifts to palaces made of trees, spinning silver in the leaves, and a hidden door with scrolling vines— The bell rings, snapping me from my stupor. At some point, my perfect notes have become what looks like a mixture of strange-looking runes and possibly a map? I slam the book shut.

“What were you doodling?” Alice asks, shoving her notebook carelessly into her bag.

“Nothing. I was in a whole other world.”

Alice nods and links arms with me as we head to our next class. Luckily, I’m more focused on this one. If anything can get me to focus, it’s an hour of ancient runes. By the end of class, my mood has lifted, and I am much more grounded, the odd runes and map nearly forgotten.

When we arrive at lunch, our table is occupied by the Morningstar clan as usual, but today, there is an empty seat beside Connor. I try to ignore how my stomach flutters and sit next to him. He gives me a huge, contagious smile that infects me like a plague.

“Hi.”

My lips twitch. “Hi, big guy.”

He slides his arm around my waist and pulls me in closer, nuzzling my cheek. “The twins have some questions about the… happy accident.”

I turn my head and brush my lips over his. For some reason, a kiss seems less intimate than him nuzzling into me, and it is habit to keep that barrier between us in place. Connor doesn’t seem to notice. He just pulls me in closer and smiles against my lips.

Zach loudly clears his throat. “Anyway.” He drags out the word, conveying his frustration at not being the center of attention. I pull back from Connor and give Zach a flat look. “Spatial magic? That’s batshit!”

Alice scowls. “I had a vision. It needed space.”

Connor laughs into my hair and kisses the top of my head, his thumb gently stroking my side in a comforting rhythm.

Rolling my eyes, I pop a grape into my mouth. “I’ve already lectured her, and I’m going to tutor her in runes.” I shake my head. “She was sloppy.”

“Maybe I was just distracted by the marathon sex you two were having.”

I quirk a brow. “You were thinking about the sex I was having?”

Zane gasps in mock outrage and covers Luke’s ears. “Summer! Alice! Please, there is a child present.”

“He’s the same age as Alice and I!” I retort as Luke elbows Zane, nearly pushing him out of his chair.

“He is and will always be baby Luke, even when he’s in his thousands.” Zach takes a chip from Zane’s plate, earning himself a scathing look from his brother.

Alice ignores them and says to me, “It was the volume with which you were having it.”

“You were wearing noise-canceling headphones!” Connor says, pressing his smile against my head.

“And they were not canceling enough.” Alice crosses her arms.

“Enough about Connor’s and Summer’s sex life! Back to the party!” Zach shouts, drawing attention back to him.

I brush my thumb over Connor’s thigh. When did I rest my hand here? Why is this so simple? Connor places his hand over mine and squeezes, a warm smile on his face.

“So, part of the Council’s mission is to have a party in every building on campus,” Zane says,

“Council?” I ask, glancing between the twins.

Zach nods and leans in, dropping his voice. “The Council of Epic Parties.”

Wow, that is an awful name. “Okay…”

“Why?” Alice asks, narrowing her eyes at them.

Zane puts his hand to his chest, looking affronted. “Because this is an art.”

Connor chuckles, and I can feel the vibration of it against my side.

“Well, the point is, we’ve never held one in Kelpie because the dorms are so small,” Zach answers.

“I hope you know my willingness to wear Connor’s jersey to the next game rests solely on your ability to make this party happen. Some would say your brother’s happiness rests on your shoulders.” I squeeze Connor’s thigh in commiseration.

Connor hooks his finger under my chin and tilts my head up, so I meet his gaze. His eyes are sparkling with humor and dark with lust from watching me go head-to-head with his brothers and come out victorious. “Is that right?”

“You forgot about our deal already, big guy?” I purr at him.

Connor smirks. “I believe the favor was for me to get the word out, which I have.”

My lips tug up. “I’m changing the terms.”

Rafe drops his bag heavily onto the table, startling everyone. He sets his lunch down and sits, tension and restlessness radiating off him. Everyone stares at him, focused on the black and purple bruise under his right eye.

“What happened to you?” I ask when everyone else remains quiet.

Rafe picks up his sandwich and takes a bite. “Nothing.”

I glance at Connor. His gaze is locked on his younger brother, his eyes shimmering with concern. Luke shifts in his seat, turning toward Rafe, his hand already glowing with his healing magic.

“Just because the headmaster isn’t here doesn’t mean you won’t get in trouble, Rafe.” Connor’s voice is low. All signs of the relaxed happiness he was feeling moments ago are gone. This is the older brother, the protective angel.

Like he’s approaching a skittish animal, Luke slowly lifts his hand to Rafe’s face. I can tell this isn’t the first time this has happened. All the Morningstar brothers look tense, but none more so than Connor, who keeps his eyes locked on Rafe.

“You’re not my father,” Rafe snarls with such viciousness that Luke winces. Even the twins pale.

Connor stiffens beside me, a muscle in his jaw clenching. “I never said I was.”

I squeeze Connor’s thigh in a silent show of support. There’s a battle being fought with words in front of my eyes, and they are doing far more damage than swords ever could.

The glow from Luke’s hand dims, and he carefully pulls back. As the bruise fades, Rafe stands and storms away.

I look at Connor, and he squeezes my hand. His eyes locked on Rafe’s retreating back. “He’s fighting again,” he says after a moment.

“He’s not done that in a while,” Zane adds, all humor gone from his voice.

“Who’s he fighting?” Alice asks.

Connor shrugs. “There’s some kind of fight ring he’s a part of. We don’t know how he gets there or when he goes.”

The bell rings, and all the Morningstars gather their things and stand up. He kisses my cheek and smiles sadly at me before heading to class.

Alice nudges me when I don’t move. “Coming, Sum?”

“I’ll meet you there.”