Page 133 of This Blood that Bonds Us

She stuttered out a short breath. “But how? Don’t we need . . . official things?”

“No. We just say our vows to each other under the stars, the gods, or whoever is looking down at us in the sky, and then we’re bonded. Forever.”

Bright excitement grew in her eyes.

“Okay . . . but I didn’t prepare any good ones.”

Our noses were nearly touching, and I stared into her eyes. There was no nervousness like when I’d gone down on my knee. Everything else that seemed important before, suddenly didn’t matter. It was her and me and the stars above, along with the smell of fire and the beat of our hearts; I couldn’t ask for anything else.

“It doesn’t matter. You always say the best things anyway. It’s my turn.” I couldn’t stop touching her, tracing her lips and up to her brow. “Kim, I promise I’ll always protect you and I’ll take care of you forever. I’ll be your shoulder to cry on, and I’ll plan the best dates. You’ll always be celebrated with me, and I promise to make sure you feel special because you are. I knew it the moment I met you and you walked away from me in the courtyard. I swear you’ve had your hooks in me since that day, because . . . you are the bravest person I know. And then I got to know you, and you’re kind and funny andsosmart. I’ll follow you anywhere. Wherever you want to go or whatever you want to do, I’ll be right there beside you, and you’ll never be alone again.”

She laughed with tears streaming down her face. “How am I supposed to follow that up?”

“You don’t have to say anything. I already know how you feel.” I pressed her closer to me.

This time, she grabbed my face to stare into my eyes. “Aaron, I love you more than I’ve ever loved anything. You’ve taught me so many things . . . but my favorite thing is that you taught me how to live and not just for myself but for other people too. I didn’t think I needed anyone, but . . . I think I was just waiting for you to find me.”

She wiped the tears falling from my face and onto our pillow.

“Kimberly Burns, will you be my wife through life and death . . . forever?”

“Yes, through life and death. And will you, Aaron Calem, be my husband forever?”

“Yeah.” I answered with a kiss.

I wanted to remember the taste of her long after the night ended and remember the sound of her heartbeat so I could recall it in our separation.

“Presley’s going to be upset. He really wanted to be the officiant,” she said, like he wasn’t likely on his way to Ireland to join a cult. She believed in our dream.

“He will be. He can officiate. Sing. Dance. I really don’t care as long as we’re together again. Don’t you agree, Mrs. Calem?”

Her arms squeezed me till it hurt. “Mm-hm. Say it again.”

Dear Luke and Zach,

Can She be everywhere at once? Is it like this for you too?

Eternal agony. Please let me get there faster. Why did you hide me from Her? Her. Her. Her. Why did you separate us?

I can feel Her. Her. Her. She’s written into the walls. On all the floors. Can you see it too? She’s crawling in my skin. She’s in my lungs and underneath my fingernails. I feel Her everywhere I go. I can’t think. I just need Her. Her. Her.

Please tell Her to wait for me. I’m almost there. Tell Her I’m sorry I’m late.

She’d always been guiding me. She’d been pulling me to Her since I first came into the world. Even before that. She was mine. And I was Hers.

I’m sorry I stood in your way of something this big. But now we’ll be together. I wish the plane would go faster.

They gave me more blood, but it wasn’t enough. I’m finally going home. Why did we ever fight this? It hurts to be away from Her. Her. Her.

Please tell Her I’m coming. You probably won’t get this. But I’ll see you. I’ll tell you in person.

-Presley

Sixty-One

Aaron

I pulled at the collar of my shirt. The damned thing was too tight and a little itchy.