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Summer

W hen we get to the library, I playfully bite Connor’s neck before sliding off his back. His goodbye kiss is hot and deep, leaving me panting and needing. He grins and winks before jogging down the steps, heading toward Manananggal Hall for a student council meeting.

I watch until he is out of sight and then hurry inside. Alice is already there, and I slide into the chair next to her.

“Where’s Brett?” I ask.

“He’s running late.” Her intense stare burns into me, and I sigh, turning to face her. “I don’t even know where to start. The headmaster or Connor,” she says, tapping her chin in thought.

I wait for her to decide, unsure if I want to part with any of the overwhelming information that’s been thrown at me today. Neither topic is one I want to delve into. Even after the conversation with Connor, I’m still on edge.

“Okay, the headmaster. What did he say?”

“Before we discuss this, I’m not sure how much of it I want Connor to know, so can we keep it between us?” I whisper, not wanting to be overheard.

Alice nods and scoots her chair closer. I search her eyes, deciding how much I should tell her. Would it be smart to tell her everything? Should I put that burden on her? Perhaps it’s best to keep it to myself and tell her only a sliver of the truth until I know more.

“He said he had noticed the similarities between Gia and me, and he is going to investigate further.” The words taste like acid. Something inside me longs to tell her the whole truth, to have a true confidant. But then I’d have to tell her about the messages from 1015. Why didn’t I tell the headmaster about them? Fuck, why am I like this?

Alice watches me, and I can see she knows that I am not telling her everything. Her gaze fastens on the pendant around my neck. She sniffs at it and then eyes me suspiciously. “Where did you get that?”

I close my fingers around the stone, trying to guard it from view. “Oh, it’s just an old necklace.”

Alice’s eyes flash with hurt. She knows I lied. Her gaze turns hard and determined between one blink and the next. I brace myself. This is it. She is going to walk away.

“Will it protect you?” she asks.

I flinch, having expected her to yell at me, completely unprepared for that question. I nod once and open my mouth to apologize to her, but no words come out.

Alice slides her hand into mine and smiles. “Then that’s all I need to know.”

I swallow the thick emotion clogging my throat and squeeze her hand. She leans in again, all trace of lingering hurt gone.

“Okay. What happened with Con? You guys looked cozy.”

“Hi, guys!” Brett drops into the chair across from us, and Alice rolls her eyes.

“Later, then,” Alice grumbles, grabbing her phone and scrolling through it, making no effort to hide her dislike of the shifter who has become somewhat of a study buddy for me.

I smile at him. “Hey, Brett.”

He looks at my lack of textbooks and raises his eyebrows. “Are you studying wood grains?”

My lips twitch. “I came from Connor’s, so I don’t have any of my books. I’m going to go search for one right now, smartass.”

“Oh, right. I saw the announcement on Nexus . Congrats,” he says, though his voice isn’t as vibrant as usual. The news of Gia has put a damper on everyone’s mood.

Pushing back my chair, I smile at Brett and gently tug on a lock of Alice’s hair as I head into the stacks. I slide my fingers over the spines of the books, unconsciously seeking the comfort they bring me as I think through my study schedule. I should delve into some combat theory, but ugh, combat. It’s so stupid when magic exists. There is realms, and I still have that essay it would be good to get started on.

She bears the mark of Nimue.

Nimue . The name niggles something at the back of my mind, a memory not quite given form.

“Can I help you find something, dear?” Mrs. Brunswick, the librarian, asks me, stopping her cart just behind me. Her glasses sit low on her nose, and her hair is pulled back in a bun, aging her immortal form. She waves her hand, and three books fly back to their shelves, nestling between the two on either side.

“I was wondering if there are any books on Nimue? Specifically, the mark of Nimue?”

Mrs. Brunswick frowns, her eyes darting over the stacks. “The mark of Nimue hasn’t been seen or used in centuries. It may as well be a myth at this point, but I believe there are a handful of books on the Lady of the Lake.”

She walks past me, and I follow as she expertly navigates the stacks. No one knows how long she has worked here, but it’s long enough that she has started to resemble the books that line the shelves, a little dusty and faded. The gray tinge to her skin betrays a lack of sunlight, and it wouldn’t surprise me if she hasn’t left the library in decades. She leads me deeper into the library, stopping at a less visited section. The books here look newer due to how little they are handled and read. She stops midway down the aisle and pulls out a red leather-bound book. The title is embellished in gold, and the edges are similarly gilded. She hands me the book.

The Great Loves of Merlin.

I wrinkle my nose in distaste. In Gaia, the realm where I grew up, Merlin is depicted as an elderly sorcerer with a long white beard and a pointy hat. The thought of him with a great love and all it entails is a little gross. Though his son is… something else, and Merlin must have been young at some point. It is interesting that I haven’t come across any images of the great sorcerer in my exploration of the school.

Mrs. Brunswick reaches up and pulls two more books off the shelf, seemingly at random. “So, I think this is all we have for now. We don’t keep very many for obvious reasons.”

I frown. “Of course.”

“Happy reading,” Mrs. Brunswick says, patting the top book. She shuffles away, leaving me alone in the stacks. I look around at the surrounding books, noting how stunningly beautiful they are. Why are these never chosen to be read? There is a treasure trove of information here, from alternate rune techniques to potion recipes to the history of pixies.

A shiver runs down my spine, and I look around. I don’t feel those increasingly familiar eyes on me. Their absence is so undiluted that it almost feels false, like a ruse and another way to set me on edge.

I clutch the books to my chest and wander back to our table. Brett glances up and gives me a quick smile before focusing back on his essay. Alice barely acknowledges my existence, her nose practically buried in her phone. I open the book on the top of the pile and start leafing through it.

Though the book is named The Great Loves of Merlin , it seems to focus more on Merlin’s achievements in the bedroom than the people he had actual relationships with. I flip through the pages until I find the description I am looking for.

Nimue, or The Lady of the Lake, is renowned as a goddess of water and nature and has held her place as such for centuries. Many mortal congregations worship Nimue, though it is known that she was, in fact, fae. She was born in Faerie not long after its conception, and when she was of age, she left to spread her elemental gifts elsewhere, dissatisfied with paradise.

On her travels through the realms, she acquired many followers and worshippers. These were devoted people who followed her every order. Her power and vibrance drew people in, captivating and encapsulating. As she grew in popularity, she began to rank certain members of her following. For an honored select few, she bestowed the mark of Nimue.

There’s no depiction of the mark or description of her connection to Merlin. I turn the page to continue reading, but blink in surprise. The next page picks up in the middle of detailing someone named Sebile. I flip the page back and forth in disbelief, knowing that I didn’t make a mistake but compelled to try to fix it. Of course, it doesn’t, and I have to accept that a piece of the book is missing. Someone didn’t just tear the pages out. It looks like they cut a section out and then pushed the other pages together to cover up the lack. Why? Why remove pages from a book barely read and nearly forgotten? Why bother trying to eradicate such an obscure piece of knowledge?

I glare at the page. Can I fix this with a rune?

One starts to form in my mind, and I slice my finger with the small dagger in my purse. I press down on the broken page with one hand and slowly craft the small rune in the corner. The curves swoop before joining at three points. The pages begin to materialize, and I smile widely. It feels so good to use my magic, even in this small way. I watch the pages fill in, waiting impatiently to continue reading. The book starts to shake, making the entire table vibrate. Alice glances up, looking between me and the book.

“Sum? What’s going on?”

The book vibrates harder, rattling violently against the table before bursting into flames. The thick, heavy paper and beautiful cover turn to cinders. Alice, Brett, and I lunge away from the table, our chairs scraping loudly against the floor. The fire rages for a few seconds and then is ousted by… nothing. Once the flames clear, the book is completely gone, with no evidence of it ever existing. I swallow and brush my fingers over the table. Not even a scorch mark remains. I look up, my mouth hanging open in shock. Brett and Alice are watching me wide-eyed, but no one else seems to have noticed.

“I’m going to head home,” I say abruptly.

Alice nods. “Me too. Studying has taken it out of me.” We leave the library and Alice links her arm through mine. “That was some crazy shit. What was the book about?”

“The Lady of the Lake,” I say, still slightly freaked out.

Alice curses under her breath. “Is this another assignment I’ve forgotten about?”

I shake my head, distracted by thoughts of the book.

Alice nudges me. “Summer?”

I glance at her, blinking. “No, no assignment. I was just reading.”

Alice rolls her eyes. “Reading nonfiction for fun is truly the most depressing thing.” She nudges me again. “So what happened with Connor?”

“Connor said he… loves me,” I manage to grate out, and I can feel Alice gaping at me. “We’re good, though. We talked it through, and he feels how he feels. He has no expectations of me getting there anytime soon.”

“And how are you feeling about it all?” she probes, probably shocked that I haven’t fled the realm already.

“Better than I thought I would.” Rather than the usual inky feeling that coats my skin when I’m uncomfortable, I am surprisingly at peace. Connor’s love is warm, comforting, and completely undeniable. There’s something almost concerning about how undeniable it is.

Over the following week, things on campus slowly get back to normal as people return to their lives. The ground outside of the room where Connor found Gia is still covered in flowers, crystals, and stuffed animals. People have tacked photos and poems of her to the wall and door. Sadness still hangs over the campus like a heavy miasma, but some of the fear has died down. Everyone seems a little more at ease, everyone but me.

Connor is pretending to be more all right than he is, so I conspired with his brothers to arrange a weekend in Eden. I know how tight-knit his family is and how much they ground him. Connor and I are advancing with our relationship, and it doesn’t seem too big a step to spend a couple of nights at his parents’ house. Connor is still in the dark about this plan, and I’m excited to see his reaction when he hears I’ll be joining. Or at least that’s what I’m telling myself, but I know he won’t go without me.

I set down my overnight bag and frown at Alice. She is sitting on my bed, wearing that blood-stained onesie again, pouting and tugging at my plush cow’s ear somewhat violently.

“Hey. Don’t take it out on Mabel.” I snatch the stuffy from Alice’s grasp and carry her to the safety of the desk.

“I can’t believe you’re leaving me.” She crosses her arms.

I unzip my bag and rearrange the contents for the thirtieth time. “It’s only for two nights, and I can be back in thirty minutes if you need me.” I look at her, a pang of concern trickling down my spine. “Promise me you’ll be safe.” My worry grows more intense. An image of Gia from my dream fills my mind, but this version has Alice’s pixie-like face. “Fuck. Never mind. I’m not going.” I pull a sweater out of my bag and turn to put it away, but Alice grabs my arm, turning me to face her.

“Summer, I’m joking.” Alice pries the sweater from my hand and shoves it carelessly back into the bag. “You know what my nickname is back home?”

I shake my head, fear making even my fingers tingle.

“Mistress of Bloodshed,” Alice says, rolling her eyes. “Among others.”

I exhale heavily, taking her hand. “You’ll be okay? You’ll text me all the time?”

Alice snorts and throws her arms around my neck, pulling me into a tight hug. “Yes, you little psycho.” I hug her back, the affection feeling almost familiar. “You should be more worried about the killer running into me than the other way around.” Alice tries to pull back, but I don’t release her, clinging to her tightly.

“I can just go to Eden for the day and come back tonight.”

Alice struggles in my arms and manages to wriggle out of my hold. She cups my cheeks. “I will be fine. Connor needs this. And Sum?” She looks at me, concern lining her features. “I think you do, too. I can see the toll this is taking. You’re not sleeping.”

I sigh and look away. As if reminded by her words, my body aches from exhaustion. Every night since Gia’s death, I’ve had the same nightmare. She haunts me, and even the rune I used on Connor doesn’t stop it.

“You like his parents. It wouldn’t be the worst thing to go and spend a weekend being… hugged or whatever parents are supposed to do.” Alice’s voice is soft, but she grimaces as the words leave her lips, the very idea repulsive to her. I nod and rub my hand over my face, exhaling on a soft laugh.

“Text me every hour.”

Alice rolls her eyes. “That’ll really ruin the mood during my forty-two-hour orgy marathon.”

I pause, quirking a brow. Though I’ve not known Alice that long, I’m almost eighty percent sure she’s joking, but I can’t say for certain.

“No fucking in my room. And please vacuum after. Shifters leave fur everywhere.”

Alice tips her head. “How does one use the vacuum?” The question is more to herself than to me. I laugh and pull her into another hug, kissing the top of her head.

“Use protection,” I say, pulling out the sweater Alice stuffed into my bag and refolding it. I zip the bag closed and sling it over my shoulder.

Luke is waiting at the gate when I arrive at the Morningstar House. It’s still early, the sun rising lazily in the east. Luke waves at me, his smile warm. “Hi, Summer! Connor is still sleeping. We thought you’d like to be the one to wake him.”

I grin at him and step into the house. All the Morningstars are in the living room. Zach and Zane are quietly arguing about something. I could probably figure out what they are up to if I tuned into the conversation, but I do not want to get involved in any of their schemes. Rafe lifts his chin in a quick nod as he sips his coffee, and I quietly sneak upstairs.

Connor is sleeping peacefully in his bed, and I wince when the door creaks a little. He barely stirs at the sound, and I close the door as I creep into his room. I climb into bed with him and kiss his forehead.

“Big guy?”

Connor stirs a little, burying his face into my chest and inhaling me. He’s done this both mornings that we’ve slept together. True to his word, he’s never pushed me or pressured me into staying over, and the two times it has happened, I’ve initiated it. Connor nuzzles against me, humming softly. He suddenly lurches up, his hands gripping my arms to keep me from flying off the bed. His eyes are wide with panic as he searches my face.

“Babe? Are you okay?” He cups my cheeks, looking me over, checking for any visible injury.

I cover his hand on my cheek. “Con, I’m fine.”

He looks around his room, clearly disorientated. “What’s?—”

I smile at him. “I have a surprise.”

He yawns and stretches, relaxing as he realizes I’m all right. “What time is it?”

“A little after six.”

He blinks. “And you’re awake? What’s happened?”

I chuckle lightly. “Nothing! I have a surprise.”

He frowns, searching my face.

“We’re going to Eden for the weekend.”

Connor blinks and then blinks again. “We?”

I nod. “All of us.”

“You’re coming too?” Connor asks, the hope in his voice nearly painful. I nod, and his face breaks out into the most dazzling smile. He lovingly cups my face and kisses me deeply.

I moan, longing to sink into the kiss, and then let him sink into me. But we have somewhere we have to be. “As much as I like that plan, and as fun as it would be, I’m not sure how long we have before?—”

Zach and Zane burst into the room with super soakers, shooting freezing cold water at Connor and me.

“Get up!” Zane yells.

“Mom’s making waffles!” Zach screeches.

I squeal, trying to avoid the icy water and climb out of bed. Connor grabs me around the waist and holds me close. “Blame Summer! She’s being too sexy!”

I laugh. “Connor! Let me go!”

The boys keep shooting at us, and we laugh, rolling in the bed until we both fall on the floor. Connor groans as I land on top of him, pushing all the air out of his lungs.

“You have three minutes,” Zach warns.

“We’ll be back,” Zane finishes.

I giggle and roll off Connor, both of us soaked. He lies on his back, his laugh free and easy. Even the idea of going home for the weekend seems to be healing for him. I push to my feet and offer him my hand to help him up. Connor grins at me and takes my hand, careful not to pull me over as he stands. He kisses me deeply and playfully slaps my ass before tossing me a towel to dry off while he gets dressed.

We pound down the steps exactly two minutes and fifty-eight seconds later. The twins are waiting at the bottom of the staircase, their super soakers primed and ready. They deflate a little when they see us, knowing they can’t attack again, but perk up when Connor flexes his shoulders and his wings spring free. His brothers eagerly follow his lead, their wings exploding from their backs. There are a few more gold feathers in Connor’s stark white wings, and they sparkle in the dawn light. Zach’s and Zane’s are a warm ivory and nearly identical. Luke has the whitest, most pristine-looking wings. I glance at Rafe expectantly, but he has made no move to ready himself. For the first time, I notice he doesn’t have a bag, and my smile falls.

Connor looks at him. “Ready, Rafe?”

Rafe looks down into his mug. “I’m not coming.”

“Why?” Connor drops my hand and walks over to him.

“I have stuff to do here,” Rafe replies, his words clipped.

“It would mean a lot to Mom…” Connor says, dropping his voice.

“I said I’m not coming,” Rafe growls, pushing away from the breakfast bar and going upstairs to his room. The door slams, and Connor deflates. He catches my eyes and forces a smile, though the worried sadness lingers.

Connor looks at each of his brothers. He squares his shoulders and grabs our bags before stalking out the door, Zach, Zane, and Luke following. The moment I am within arm’s reach, Connor scoops me into his arms and launches into the air. I wrap my arms around him, burying my face in his neck to keep it out of the wind.

When we get above cloud cover, the wind dies down, and Connor whispers into my ear, “Babe? Ready to see my home?”

I lift my head, and Connor presses a kiss to my temple as I look around at the clouds. They are fluffy and white except for the one right in front of us. It’s more pearlescent than the others and seems to have more substance. Zane flies ahead, tapping something on his halo, and the cloud becomes transparent, rippling like a drop in a lake. We soar through the portal, and while the sky looks similar, it also looks completely different. A beautiful city lies below, but thousands of clouds are scattered through the sky. They look more pillowy than the ones in other realms I’ve been to, and each supports a city of its own.

Between the clouds, the air is a stunning mix of blush pink and baby blue swirls. Zach expertly glides through the sky, his brothers close behind. He dives, and Connor tucks his wings. I tighten my hold on Connor, feeling like I’ve left my stomach behind as we drop. With practiced ease, Luke swerves past a flower shop and grabs a bouquet. Zane is right behind him and drops money into a box labeled Fly Through .

Connor pulls up and flares his wings wide, cupping the air to slow our descent. He lands on a cloud beside Zach, Luke and Zane touching down beside him. Connor puts me on my feet, bracing his hands on my hips to steady me. They chat happily as they walk to the single door at the center of the cloud. Zane presses a button on the pad to the left of the door, and I look up at Connor, wide-eyed and a little overwhelmed.

He smiles down at me. “I promise I’ll show you everything,” he says, brushing his lips over mine.

There is a small ding, and the door opens.

“Are you coming or what? I’m hungry,” Zane groans.

Connor softly kisses me again and slides his hand into mine before leading me into what looks like an elevator. Once we’re all in, Connor presses his halo to a scanner, and the lift starts to move.

“Do you guys live in an apartment?” I ask. I’m unsure where the apartment could be, considering the only thing that seemed to be above the elevator door was more cloud.

Zach rolls his eyes, and Connor’s lips twitch. “Not quite.”

A few moments later, the elevator pings again, and the door slowly opens. My jaw drops. An expanse of the greenest, most lush grass stretches out into the clouds. Round stones create a path through the velvety perfection of the lawn, leading to the most welcoming house I’ve ever seen. It’s similar to the Morningstar House, though it is bigger, and I can already tell it’s homier.

Zach and Zane break into a run. “Mom!” they shout as they head toward the house, Luke following behind them.

Connor squeezes my hand, and we walk up the path. A feeling of comfort and warmth envelopes me the moment we step onto the porch. We pass through the open door, and I’m hit with the smell of waffles, maple syrup, and strawberries.

Uriel smiles brightly and pulls Connor and me into a bear hug. “Hello.”

I pat him on the back and silently curse myself for my awkwardness. I’m still not used to all of this affection, except with Alice and Connor. Uriel pulls back, and Farrah walks into the room, holding Luke’s hand.

“Ah! There’s my other boy!” She beams at Connor, her love for them so clear and tangible. She hugs Connor first, kissing him on the cheek. “And my girl!” Farrah pulls me into a hug, and I try to return the embrace a little less awkwardly.

“How do you like the Silver City, Summer?” Uriel asks as Farrah leans into his side, wrapping her arm around his waist.

“It’s beautiful!”

Connor kisses my head. “I’m going to show her more of it this weekend.”

Something in the kitchen smashes, and Farrah sighs, but the content smile remains on her face. “Excuse me for a second. Zach! Zane! You better not have started eating!” She disappears into the kitchen, and Uriel nods, slinging his arm around Luke’s shoulders. “You’ll need to show her the Godiva Pond.”

Connor nods. “Absolutely.”

Farrah returns, holding a vase filled with the flowers Luke picked up on the way in. She places the vase on the table and then looks at Connor, her skin practically glowing with her joy.

“No Rafe?” she asks, and I can hear the hope in her voice that maybe he’ll be coming in later.

Connor shakes his head and squeezes my hand. “He has a project due Monday,” he lies, and I can feel the toll it takes on him to do it. As an angel, his mom knows the truth, and he knows it, but it’s easier to taste the lie than to hear the truth.

Deep sorrow flashes across her face. The longing for her son dims her light, but she covers it quickly. Only her eyes let her down, still dark with hurt. Uriel walks over to her and rubs her back in silent support. He doesn’t have the same hurt as Farrah. It’s obvious he didn’t expect Rafe to attend. “We’re glad you came. We were worried when Jimmy called us.”

I frown. “He called?”

Uriel nods. “He wanted to tell us before the authorities did.”

Connor pulls me tighter against his side. “It’s not been easy.”

I wrap my arms around his waist, hugging him. A flash of pride warms me at how far I’ve come. I was beating myself up about how awkward I was with Uriel and Farrah, but with Connor, the need to comfort him when he needs it is almost instinctual.

Uriel tucks Farrah against his side. “I’m happy you both made time to come home for a few days.”

I smile and relax into Connor, his body more at ease now than it has been since before it happened. “Me, too. It’s so good to see you both.”

Farrah perks up a little and reaches out to cup my cheeks. “Me, too. We have lots to do!”

I glance at Connor and then back at Farrah. “We do?”

She nods and tugs me away from Connor, leading me through the house to the back door. “We have a binder to look at.”

“Mom, we just got here. Don’t scare her away already,” Connor groans.

Farrah looks a little affronted, but then Zach and Zane burst out of the kitchen. “Mooooooooooom,” Zach whines, dragging out the word like a kid would. “Can we please eat now?”

Farrah chuckles and nods. “Fine. Breakfast, then binder.”