Page 103 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“I . . . think no matter what, one of us will have to be the bait and neither of us are going to like it. It could be me.”

“No,” Aaron and I said practically at the same time.

“See? We’re all going to hate it. We just have to . . . trust each other.”

Aaron nodded. “Trust the dream.”

“We did say whatever the cost,” she said.

“Fine.”

“I’ll do it,” I called to the others.

Aaron interjected. “On one condition, I come with him. I’m not leaving my little brother at the mercy of the queen. I don’t care if She won’t hurt him. I have to be there.”

Kilian nodded. “I will see what I can come up with. I’m still finalizing our battle strategy. It appears they’ve made no move to leave the island, and I’ve been trying to figure out why that might be. There’s no doubt they know we’re coming and that we have the dagger.”

“Would they not want to . . . you know, hide Her or something?” I asked.

“I agree. But I think there are a few reasons they might want to stay. Including the solar eclipse. They likely need to stay in the path of totality to get whatever benefit they’re looking to receive. I have intel that they’re planning a party the night before the eclipse, and it’s a public event. I suspect it’s likely to keep us from coming to interrupt the eclipse.”

“Okay, so why don’t Aaron and I go early, like right now? We can get a jump on Operation Convince Our Brothers Not to be in a Cult.”Plus, a party.

“It’s not favorable. Leaving you alone with them for too long with the connection you have to Her blood, you’ll be easily overcome.”

I sighed.

“There is another caveat. I’m thinking it may be best to keep details off our specific battle strategy from the three of you. With the two of you going beforehand and the unknown possibilities of the role Kimberly will play, I think it would be best in the event you get to the island where She searches your memories. They already have many advantages, including the queen’s clairvoyance. She’ll be able to access the most likely future of TheGuard, Will, and Thane. Possibly your brothers’. I’ve been trying to find a way to remedy this.”

The three of us grimaced at the thought.

“In order for the decoy to be helpful, I think it would be best to feed you false information . . . which means I would need to erase your memories of this moment and of anything I deem may aid Her. You must decide now if this is something you want to do.”

“Let’s do it,” I said.

“Pres.” Aaron used his scary voice.

“We agreed whatever the cost. If Kilian turns me into a mindless vegetable, then . . . whatever, I guess.”

Felix and Halina snickered in the corner while Dom stayed his casual stoic self.

“Not whatever. This is a big decision,” Kimberly said.

Kilian was a loose cannon. Our permanent wild card. I would never trust him, but I didn’t think it mattered anymore. I was ready to take the risks.

“We are reaching the point of no return. I know I have not made it easy for you to have faith in me, but have faith in the fact that I want this plan to work more than you can comprehend. I’ve been dreaming of this moment for centuries while for you it’s been a short few months. I need all three of you to do this.”

I held my hand over the table to him.

“Ready when you are.”

Kimberly and Aaron shared a look. They had some kind of telepathy too. The lover kind where they communicated with nods and brow movements. After a few moments, they offered their hands too.

A little more than a month away. I could do that. I hoped Zach and Luke knew we hadn’t forgotten them, but more than that . . . I hoped as they walked the castle day in and out, they hadn’t given up yet.

Forty-Five

Kimberly