Page 151 of Sorrow & Strangers

Rafe rolls his eyes. “We went to the gym.”

Alice blinks, rubbing her eyes. “You went outside?” she asks.

“Our little demon baby!” I smile brightly, full of joy, and Alice beams.

Alice stands on the bed and launches herself at Rafe. He drops the pots, barely managing to catch her. She clings to him, hugging him tightly. I stand and wrap my arms around them both. Rafe tolerates it for only a moment before he starts to squirm in discomfort.

“Enough,” he says, trying to get out of our hold. I press a kiss to his cheek, and Alice unwraps from him, landing nimbly on the floor.

“Okay, this calls for waffles!” Alice says, and Rafe and I cheer.

Chapter Sixty-Six

Summer

Over the next few weeks, we all fall into a fairly easy rhythm. Rafe and I are now going to the gym six mornings a week. He’s growing stronger and more confident, though he still pushes back against the idea of starting classes again. I’ve been training with the headmaster twice a week and the stranger four times a week, leaving just enough time to study and complete my coursework. I’m enjoying how I, too, am growing stronger, not just physically, but also magically.

I have officially not fucked Max in ten days, and the stranger has only crossed my boundaries fifteen times.

I lean against a tree, panting. It doesn’t seem to matter how many times I do this with the stranger. It always takes it out of me a thousand times more than any of the physical training I do. I look up, feeling his eyes on me. He’s been acting odd today, more guarded, which I don’t care about, as long as it means he doesn’t get too close.

“We’re done for today.”

I push off the tree and roll my neck, stretching the tension.

His eyes remain on me, seeming to radiate irritation. “You’ve gotten stronger. How are your dreams?” he asks. It’s another good sign, because if he has to ask, it means he’s getting even less information from his mind strolls than before.

“Fine,” I say a little sharply. It’s easier when he is annoyed. Keeping him at arm’s length is healthier.

“Just fine?” he asks, rubbing his jaw. I’m not sure why he’s so pissed off, but I can tell he’s getting more frustrated by the second. I nod, and his energy bristles even more. “How exactly are they just fine?”

“What are you asking me?” My irritation spikes.

“Have you started having nightmares again?” he asks, his glare deepening.

“No,” I say truthfully.

“You’re sure?” he asks.

“Stop. We made this deal to keep you out of my dreams. Therefore, you have no business asking what is within them,” I say, growing even more irate.

“I never expected you to keep it going this long,” he quietly growls.

I blink. He didn’t think . . . “Are you joking?” He thought I wouldn’t be able to keep it up, that he would be back in my dreams by now.

“What?” He crosses his arms over his chest.

“This whole time you’ve been expecting me to sever the deal?”

His jaw clenches. “Your powers aren’t exactly predictable, and you tend to be rather impulsive with your reactions. Especially when you are angry.”

“Unbelievable,” I scoff again, shaking my head in disbelief. I turn from him and start walking away, anger and more than a little hurt making a mess of my emotions.

“Do you miss me?” he asks, his voice so quiet I’d be easily convinced he’d not spoken. “At all?” he adds, and I stop walking, still facing away from him. My whole body feels like it is vibrating, and I am desperate to keep walking, to move away from him, but I am planted on the spot. “Or is it so easy for you to pretend?” he asks a little louder.

“Pretend?” I ask, still with my back to him, my hands curled into fists.

“That it’s all enough for you.”