Page 313 of Sorrow & Strangers

Silently I’m grateful for Summer leaving us alone, even though the gratitude is completely overshadowed by the sacrifice she’s making for me.

“You’re still going to have months without me,” Mira says, wrapping her arms around my neck and looking up at me, that small flicker of flame back in her eyes.

Her voice trembles with nerves at the thought, ramping up my own anxiety. A week every month, how long would that give us in Hell together? A couple of months? More? Less?

“But I’ll have time with you too,” I add. It has to be enough.

“I can’t believe Summer is letting me borrow the halo,” she whispers, kissing me again.

Even though Mira never knew Connor, and she’s only known Summer for a short time, Mira has gleaned the importance of the halo. The thought of her never knowing Connor makes my heart ache in a new way, something I’d never considered till now. Connor will never get the chance to meet the female who started putting me back together.

“They’re your family,” she whispers between kisses. “I’ve never had a family like that.”

My heart jumps at this slight mention of her past, of this tiny allowance she’s making for me. “You do now.”

Chapter One Hundred Thirty-One

Summer

Icollide with Alice as she walks up the path to the house, assaulting her with love and kisses. It’s been four weeks without her, and it’s been unbearable. Alice squeals, wrapping her arms around me tightly.

“I missed you too,” Alice says as I keep kissing all over her face. She lets me, and that’s how I know how much she’s missed me.

“I missed you. I missed you. I missed you,” I chant, clinging to my best friend.

Eventually I stop and pull back, looking at her. She looks the same, but even though I can’t put my finger on it right now, there is something different about her.

Alice links her arm through mine as we walk up the path and into the house. “Tell me what I missed. The court gossip has been boring. I need a better informant.”

I laugh. I’ve called Alice almost every night we’ve been apart. “Honestly, we’ve all just been studying.” Exams are approaching fast, and I feel less prepared than last year, though I’ve been working hard over the past month. “I bumped into Max last week. It wasn’t great.” I have been to the gym a couple of times, but not as often, and I am careful not to spar with Max. It has helped that he has been in the midst of his own grueling study regime.

“What did he say?” Alice asks with a wince.

“Nothing really. It just felt weird.” I shrug, and Alice flops down on the couch. “I’ve also barely seen the stranger.”

“That is really weird,” Alice quips, quirking a brow.

“I’ve been studying, and he’s distracting.” I sigh. He’s also been chasing a lead on one of those threats. We’ve been pretty good at not being intimate, but every time we see each other, it’s a little harder. So instead, he’s focusing on the people keeping us apart to meet our year-end deadline.

“Distracting, huh?” Alice snorts.

I sigh heavily and sit next to her. “Yes. Plus, while I’m enjoying the advanced courses, I missed so much at the start of this year, I’m still chasing my tail to catch up.”

“You’re still at the top of your classes,” Alice says, throwing me an exhausted look.

I roll my eyes. “I just feel like I need to study more. Last year I gave Connor such a hard time about it.”

Alice chuckles. “You know, one of my favorite things about you is how much of a geek you are.” She rests her head on my shoulder. “Though I always get a little concerned around exam time. No sex makes you unpredictable.”

“Stranger and I aren’t having sex.”

“Still?!” Alice’s head snaps up, and she looks at me, her eyes wide. “I thought you were joking.”

I blush a little and shake my head. “Not joking.”

“So hold on, how long has it been?” Alice asks.

“Since I had sex? Fuck, a long time.”