Page 130 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“I checked on him a few hours ago. But he hasn’t come out of his room.”

My stomach sank.

“But the car is gone . . .”

Mom’s head shot up, and I went to his room, but the door was locked.

“Pres.” I gave it only a few seconds before I broke the handle and made my way inside. Sarah followed at my heels.

In the dark, I made out a singular piece of paper resting atop the blankets.

I’m sorry. I tried. I really did. I have to go to them. They need me.

Love you forever,

Presley

The hopeful, joyousness I’d felt just minutes before ran out of me.

“He’s gone. He left.”

I’d done it again. I’d been focused on my own ideas. My own goals and ambitions. I’d missed the one that formed in my brother’s mind. He’d kept some secret. They must have given him another clue.

He was going to The Family to be with my brothers.

“What?”

“Where did he go?”

I could barely hear Kimberly and my mom’s panicked voices and could no longer feel the touch of them trying to comfort me.

My heart was sputtering. The walls were too close. My brother was gone. Mylittlebrother. I was supposed to take care of him, and he’d slipped through my fingers.

“He’s gone,” I said, still staring at the paper. “This . . . this is my fault.”

My world went colorless as I walked out of the warmth of the room and headed for the door. The cabin was too hot. I think they were calling for me as I made my way into the snow. They were crying. I was too.

Why did this keep happening? Why did The Family continue to take everyone I cared about? I’d allowed it to happen. I thought I was doing enough but wasn’t. All of the work I’d done meant nothing if they took him.

I fell to my knees, and Kimberly was there to keep me from crumbling completely. The Family had found my weakness. That was their plan all along. To target him and bring them over to their side. I wasn’t sure what it meant. They could be hurt, but without the bond, I wouldn’t know.

“Aaron.” Kimberly’s voice was a mix of shock and surprise.

I still couldn’t look at her through my tears, but I let in the warmth of her embrace to save my body from the icy cold creeping under my skin.

“Aaron.” Her voice was strong enough to bring me to look into her eyes, and she motioned to the sky. “Look.”

The entire sky was lit up in vivid pink, blue, and green. The aurora borealis was brighter than I’d ever seen and covered the whole sky. It was always a distant, faint thing, never bright and filling the entire sky.

“The lights . . .”

“We’re going to win.” Kimberly’s cheeks were wet with tears, but she smiled. I leaned my forehead against her chest, and her heartbeat slowed. I inhaled the hope she carried in her heart and let it in again. All the pieces were falling into place, and the stage was set. It was a minor setback, but maybe how it was supposed to happen. Nothing would stop me now.

It was the three of us sitting under the lights.

“We’re going to get him back, Mom. And we’re all going to be together just like you said.”

When I heard my voice say the words, I knew it was true. As if by speaking it, I willed it into existence. Maybe I did. I remembered my previous resolve. The stars should fear me and so should the queen. I was done with secrets, and I was done with Her taking my brothers away from me for Her own gain. They would all meet their demise.