Page 162 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“Yeah. It’s my shoulder.”

Luke watched from a little way down the stairs. Still in combat mode and pacing a few steps every few seconds.

“Poor thing.” Her cold hands grazed my neck, and Her other moved my shirt down to check the bite that was already closed.

Being The Guardian made me the new shiny toy.

“I missed you,” I said. “I mean . . . I was worried about you while I was gone.”

“My Guardian. Would you like some of my blood to heal you?”

I considered it for a second. Taking any opportunity to drain Her of blood was a good idea, but I had the dagger. The final piece.

“Can I?” I asked, reaching for Her cheek. There was nothing enjoyable about it. Just a game that determined the life and death of my family. No pressure or anything.

“Of course. We’ll become very acquainted. You can have as much as you want, and you won’t become overcome. Because you’re special, my blood fuels you.”

Eros was The Guardian before me. From his journal entries, it seemed like something he had fought at some point too. He’d wanted to leave with his brother.

I moved Her hair from Her neck and crept in. With one hand on Her face, I used that to gain all Her attention. My lips grazed Her neck while I pulled the dagger out with my other hand.

Presley noticed a moment too late to scream a warning.

I thrust the dagger toward through Her heart and—

It fell out of my hand. It didn’t pierce Her skin.

Uh-oh.

Her misty eyes bore into mine, and the once soft smile turned sinister.

“How?” Her fingers were around my neck.

The pressure grew. Tighter and tighter till I thought my spine would crack, the world was gone.

Panic. Pain. Pressure. My head was splitting. She was in my head. Tearing through everything faster and faster. I think I was screaming, but I couldn’t hear it. All I could feel was Her.

Her fingers pulled at my memories. Tearing them up. Her nails were like razor blades.

Show me what you did. Now.

As soon as She said the words in my head, the image of me and Kimberly came up. Of our nights together. I could feel Kimberly’s skin on mine again. Smell her. Those moments were ours, and She was scarring them, intruding and making everything hurt. She lingered on the memories of me drinking Kimberly’s blood and how it turned into me giving mine.

The memories went by faster and faster till I was sure I would die. It was worse than I remembered when William had made his way into my head. It felt like Her fingers were in my eyes prying open my skull with both hands.

When the world came back, I was on the floor below the pulpit, lying in a scattering of broken wood. Sobbing. Next to me, Luke and Presley were too.

“You changed everything because of that girl.” She glared down at me from the pulpit. She’d thrown me off. My brothers must have followed.

I was yanked back against the marble from behind. Sirius had me by the collar, and the dagger in his other hand.

“I knew you were trouble.”

Where did he come from?He had to have been alerted somehow.

“Don’t, please!” Luke pleaded. Presley sobbed uncontrollably into his hands.

We didn’t need Her blood to bind us. Our bond was still there. My pain was killing them.