Page 156 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“I can’t, sir. I’m supposed to protect The Guard and our queen.”

“Fine. Guard the cathedral, and if someone goes for the door, you come tell me. You don’t fight.”

“But sir—”

“No. You don’t fight. If someone goes for you, you run away. Do you understand me? You have no choice. You only exist to serve me. Nod yes as your confirmation.”

Connell was hesitant but nodded.

As he disappeared into the fray of people fighting on the lawn, I dodged some men about to ram into me. My brother ignored them. Looking for someone. The Legion saw me and went the other way.

“You were worried about him,” I said.

“He’s just a fucking kid . . . and he can’t fight for shit.”

My brother cared. He was still capable of caring even while attached to Her. I wondered if things would be different if I’d taken longer. If months turned into years and things hadn’t lined up, would I recognize him at all?

Zach stopped. And I followed his line of sight.

Kilian stood before us with his chest out and his shoulders back. He looked about ten years younger in his combat clothes. His muscles were on display in his cuffed T-shirt. The Legion, too, were dressed in all black, which made the battles circling hard to follow. A good strategy but confusing.

“What are you protecting in the cathedral?” Kilian asked, clearly knowing the answer. He had to have heard the conversation with Connell.

“Kilian. Don’t I get a charming greeting? Didn’t you miss me at all?”

Kilian cocked his head, but his shoulders stayed alert and ready.

“He’s not thinking clearly,” I said. “There wasn’t enough time.”

“Zach, this path you don’t need to go down. Fight with us. There’s still time to change your fate.”

Zach scoffed, and a low laughter leaped from his chest. “Really? That’s the angle you want to go with? Too bad you spent all that time manipulating us instead of actually helping.”

“Zach.”

“No. Kilian doesn’t deserve your worship. Everything he says is a lie.”

“I’m sorry,” Kilian said.

My brother moved a step closer. “Nothing to be sorry about anymore. I don’t need your pity.”

“I’m sorry I failed you. I was selfish. My brother . . . he would be ashamed of the decisions I made to get here.”

The truth of it washed over us, and my brother’s stance went rigid. I realized I finally believed Kilian, and in the same moment I forgave him for not being perfect, even in the failure of what was happening in front of me.

“You can tell him all about it when I rip your heart out of your chest.”

Zach’s expression had fallen, and he braced for Kilian’s advance.

Kilian sighed, giving up a breath before his eyes hardened.

“I’m sorry, Aaron.”

“No!” I moved in front of my brother. “If you want to kill him, you’ll have to kill me first.”

“Get off me!” Zach tried to push me away, so I grabbed onto the front of his shirt with everything I had.

“No way, I’m not letting you fight!”