Page 1 of This Blood that Bonds Us

Prologue

Luke

“Don’t think you’ll be able to keep me from Her, because you won’t. I want to go see Her.” My little brother was causing a scene in the garden. The fresh scent of rain and the darkness of the night enveloped us.

I was still taking it in and regaining my bearings. The evidence of my fight with Zach was all over my body—sticky, wet blood and bites that struggled to heal.

Presley had shed his soaked jacket and rolled up his sleeves, revealing his forearms scrawled with black ink. The word ‘Her’ was written over and over, covering every inch of skin, some jagged and long while others were small and hard to see.

Everything was slow with the blood loss, and when I stopped Presley with a hand on his shoulder, I fought to summon the strength in my arm.

He was full of Her blood—shimmering and exuding strength while bouncing with energy. She’d taken hold of him, and it reflected back to me in his dark irises.

I’d have killed anyone else for acting like that, like they belonged to Her. Like they, too, could have the same bond as Her and I did, but this was my little brother. My blood, and I felt the draw of something much stronger there.

“We’ll see Her in a minute, and we’ll be with Her all night. I promise.”

My voice sounded soft and sincere. How long had it been since I’d registered my own voice? My own existence? The churning in my gut worried me. Where was Zach? We’d been fighting, and I vaguely remembered why, but it wasn’t me. Nothing about that person carried any traits of mine, and I’d have never fought with my brother. Luke Calem wouldn’t.

“Tell me what happened with Aaron and Kimberly. Where are they?”

Presley should have never been standing before me. He should be where I left them all, safe and tucked away.Together.

He turned away. “They’re better off without me.”

“They’re okay? They’re alive?”

“No. They’re dead.”

He couldn’t be serious. He couldn’t be so far gone that he wouldn’t care. Did I care? The ache in my chest and the heat in my face told me yes.

Presley scratched at the back of his hand.

“You’re lying,” I said.

Recollection passed over his eyes, like he was seeing me for the first time. “H-how would you know that?”

Because I’m your brother, and your tells have always been obvious to me. Because it’s my job. Because I love you.

“They’re not dead. Are they?”

He shook his head with his gaze fixed on the ground. All his light was dull. With the bond, I felt the ache of sadness in him. They’d given him more blood, and now we were all equal. It almost felt complete. Like it was whole in a way it wasn’t before with just Zach and me. The bond was always moving, surging in and out, but now I felt my brother’s pain, and it didn’t topple me to the ground. That pain wasn’t weakness. It was strength. The three of us were glowing with it.

“I’m sorry, Luke. I couldn’t be good. I couldn’t do the one thing you told me to do. It was too hard.”

His eyes were pure onyx. Not a hint of the warm brown was left in his irises.

“It’s all right.” I pulled him into me, expecting him to jerk away, but he didn’t.

“My chest doesn’t hurt anymore. Isn’t that great?”

“That’s great, Pres.”

How could I not hope? Even despite everything, our connection remained. It was just enough to keep me together. I stroked his head and breathed in his scent. He smelled like my mom, like vanilla and laundry soap.

It was repairing something in me. My queen was right. My brother was always meant to be at my side. The Guard couldnever be just Zach and me and two others; it was always going to be the four of us.

Zach appeared next to me. “She wants to see him.”