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Summer

I sit 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 and news 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 be enjoying teaching. 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. Connor smiles 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.

“Not here,” I say, taking a bite of my food.

Connor taps his foot. “Okay, where?” I can feel the anxiety radiating off him.

“Somewhere private.”

Connor is about to reply when a pretty blonde girl sits in an empty seat next to Zach. He shifts uncomfortably, keeping his eyes on his food. The girl beams, showing me her perfect white teeth. She’s wearing a cheer uniform with the school’s colors, the silver flashing in the sun streaming through the windows.

“Hi! I’m Ashley!”

I can practically feel Alice’s eye roll, but I give her a faint smile. I’m not really in the mood to speak to a cheerleader, even though there’s a layer of sincerity to her peppiness.

“You’re Summer, right? I saw on the sign-up sheet that you’re trying out?” She beams at me, her attention pinned on me. Trying out? I barely remember adding my name to the list. She’s thinking about tryouts after what happened yesterday and the assembly this morning?

“Oh, I was thinking about it, yeah.”

Connor casually wraps an arm around my back. His touch and show of affection are calming, even with the sliver of awkwardness lingering between us.

“Well, you definitely should. You’d fit right into the squad! Plus, you’re dating the captain. We delayed tryouts because of what happened, but we’ll update you soon.”

“What am I, chopped liver?” Alice grumbles beside me. Ashley glances at her, her smile wavering only slightly. She is definitely aware of Alice’s reputation. Usually, this is the fun part for me, where people wonder if the rumors about Alice are true. Then they bounce to whether they can hold their own against her, and Alice educates them. But right now, I am finding it hard to find the fun in anything. I keep seeing Gia’s face, so much like mine.

“Ah, Elvira, right?”

I wince. Well, that isn’t a good start. If I know anything about Alice, it’s that her given name is not one she enjoys or appreciates.

“Alice,” she growls.

Ashley nods. “Well, I’m sure you’d be a great… asset to the team.” She looks at Connor and then the other Morningstars, but carefully avoids looking at Zach. “I’ll see you all at practice?”

They all nod, and Connor smiles at her. She walks away but looks back over her shoulder, and I don’t miss the sharp glare she throws at Zach. I glance at Zach, about to ask him about it, but his face is thundery. Woah. That’s new.

Connor leans in, dropping his voice. “Want to cut and go to my place?”

I nod and let Alice know I won’t be in class before we leave the canteen, heading to the Morningstar House. Connor glances at me as we walk, his fingers interlocked with mine.

“What?” I ask, looking at him.

“Just nervous.”

I squeeze his hand, trying to comfort him, but I’m not sure our conversation will go well, given I know that I’m not ready to say what he has. The truth is, I am not sure I will ever be able to say it.

We’ve barely stepped into the house when Connor turns to me. “So privacy.”

I nod and sit on the couch. Connor sits next to me, watching me carefully. He keeps his hands to himself, not touching me as we sit. His fingers lock together on his lap, but his thumbs twitch, betraying his anxiety.

“Why did you run?” I ask. I doubt it would have been better if he had stayed, considering I went completely catatonic and had to be slapped out of it, but he doesn’t need to know that.

An adorable blush creeps up his cheeks. “Because I…” His cheeks redden more. “I didn’t mean to… I–I got flustered and embarrassed.”

I search his eyes, trying to read him, to see what’s really going on in his mind. “So you didn’t mean it?”

He shakes his head immediately. “I meant it. I just didn’t mean to… say it.”

“Con.”

Connor rubs the back of his neck, looking away. “I just… It kind of slipped out, and I don’t expect you to say it back or anything. I don’t want you to feel pressure?—”

I lean in, cutting him off with a kiss. He tenses at the contact before he relaxes into it, deepening it. His fingers tangle in my hair, and he angles my head to fit his mouth better to mine, consuming me with his kiss.

He moans and pulls back after a minute, searching my face before his gaze lingers on my lips. “So you’re not upset with me?”

“For loving me?”

Connor blinks, his brows furrowing a little. “Well… yeah.”

My lips twitch, and I brush my lips over him again. “No, Connor. I’m not upset with you.”

“Did I freak you out?”

Do I take the scary route and be honest? Or the comfortable one and lie?

“I freaked out a little initially. But I trust you, and I want to be with you.” I lean in, kissing him again. “And I’ve… No one’s ever said that to me before. I’ve never felt loved before.” While I thought I was in love before, Torin never said those words to me. That’s not who I was to him. He only saw the potential of my power, a pawn in a greater plan. “But now…”

Connor pulls me into his lap so I’m straddling him. “You feel loved?”

I nod, tunneling my fingers into his silky blond locks.

“I love you,” he says again. The words are still tentative, but much less so.

I roll my eyes, swatting at him. “Ugh, stop. I may be possessed by the mush demon when we’re together, but I’ll never be as mushy and embarrassing as you.”

Connor leans in, biting my cheek. “You are so mushy now.”

I grab his face, squeezing his cheeks slightly and then kissing him hard. Connor groans into my mouth, his flirty smile melting as he deepens the kiss. He’s been hard since he pulled me into his lap, but I can feel his cock throb beneath me as I kiss him, his body sensing the intent.

I growl into his lips. “Don’t tell anyone that I’m mushy. I have a reputation to uphold.”

Connor lifts me and lays me back on the couch, his large body hovering over mine. He kisses down my neck, and I reach between us to open his pants. I pull his cock free as he pushes my panties down my legs. He flips my skirt up, and I tug at his shirt, needing to feel the endless hard muscle above me. His cock nudges my opening, and a guttural groan leaves his lips as he slowly presses his bare cock into me. My core aches in response, my pussy clenching, needing more. I drag my nails down his back and dig them into his ass. I thrust my hips up at the same time I jerk him toward me, gasping when he slams into me to the hilt. Connor shouts in pleasure, and I arch beneath him, grinding my clit against him.

“Bruise me, big guy,” I beg as Connor slides his hand down my side.

“What?” he groans, nuzzling against my neck.

“Dig your fingers into me.”

He presses them in a little, but not enough, and I slide my hand down his arm and push his fingers in more. The bite of pain makes me cry out and buck against him, needing him to move. Connor cups the back of my thigh, hitching my leg higher on his hip. He presses his fingers into the flesh, and the pleasure is almost exquisite.

“Fuck, Con. Don’t stop.” He pulls back until only the tip of his cock remains inside of me and then slams in deep again. Our moans of pleasure mingle in the silence of the empty house. Connor tugs my shirt open and pulls my bra down. Dipping his head, he takes my nipple into his mouth, sucking it deep. He grazes his teeth teasingly over the sensitive bud, and I tighten my fingers in his hair, yanking hard in a silent plea. He moans but doesn’t make any move to follow my nonverbal instructions.

I hiss, rocking my hips to take him deeper, and he lifts his head, his body shuddering. His thrusts become more ragged and desperate, and I know he is getting close to his release.

He looks down at me, his eyes dark with lust and a soft, tender emotion I am just beginning to recognize. “I love you,” he gasps out and kisses me deeply, swallowing my cries of pleasure.

“Harder, big guy. I’m so close.” I moan, my orgasm just out of reach. A tingle goes down my spine at the intoxicating bliss of it.

Connor thrusts harder, bracing his hand against the arm of the couch, giving him more leverage.

“Bite me,” I moan. Connor slams deep and sinks his teeth into the curve of my shoulder. My pussy spasms, and I scream. My release rips through me, pushing Connor into his own orgasm. His shout of pleasure makes my core clench, and his release spills into me for the first time.

Connor collapses on top of me, panting into my neck. I smile and lightly glide my fingers down his back.

“I don’t even know why they were talking…” Zach’s voice trails off. I tense and then hear someone yell.

Connor grabs the blanket off the back of the couch and pulls it over us, glancing over his shoulder.

“Your ass is like a searchlight! Do you ever tan?” Zach asks, his voice filled with disgust.

“You have a bedroom! This is a communal space, asshole.” I look around Connor’s arm and see Zach and Zane standing at the door, both of them with a hand over Luke’s eyes.

Connor grabs a pillow and throws it at them, hitting Zane in the face. “Get out!”

“It’s our house, too!” Zach complains.

My lips twitch. “Okay, fair point. Can you just leave for a second so your brother can unpenetrate?”

“ Unpenetrate makes me want to die,” Zach groans, but they all turn around.

Connor pulls out of me, and I quickly pull on my panties while Connor buttons his pants. I check the time and curse.

“Shit, I have to go.”

Connor blinks. “Where?”

“I said I’d study with Alice and Brett at the library after school. Well, Brett and I will study. Alice will fuck around on her phone.”

“Aren’t all the quizzes and deadlines being extended?” Zane asks, turning around.

“Yes, but that means it’s a perfect time to get ahead.”

Zane grimaces. “Almighty, Con. Your girlfriend is a nerd.”

Connor laughs and kisses the top of my head. “I’ll walk you there.”

I nod. “My protector.”

Connor’s smile becomes forced, but he relaxes again when I slide my hand into his. It breaks my heart to know that he thinks he failed Gia even though she was already dead when he found her. He is still beating himself up about not being the warrior he thinks he’s meant to be. The one he’s trained his whole life to be.

“Shall we, babe?” Connor asks, offering me his back. I jump on, and he reaches back to catch my thighs, both of us laughing as he starts toward the library.