Page 163 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“Your brother is a traitor and deserves to bleed.” He grabbed the fake dagger and thrust it through my chest.

I clutched the hilt and fell back against the marble floor. He missed my heart by two inches. It still hurt. The dagger was a fake. Of course it was. Why else would Kilian send Kimberly here with the dagger?

I groaned. My heartbeat was in my ears. The marble was a welcome salve to my pain. As I turned my head, trying to pull myself up, my gaze settled on a long crack that went all the way to the door.

I can’t die here. Not yet.

Not yet.

Not. Yet.

“Aaron, are you okay?” Luke called, but he was still holding Presley who had crumbled to the floor.

“So good,” I groaned.

With one swipe, I pulled the dagger from my chest and threw it across the floor. If what She said was true, I had more power than I thought. The fight wasn’t over yet. Kilian couldn’t do it alone. Ezra had likely been outside fighting Kilian, but Ezra didn’t look like he had a scratch on him. No one else would do it. It had to be me.

I stumbled to my feet. “Wait. I’m not finished.”

Sirius was next to Her at the stairs of the pulpit, caressing Her and whispering to Her.

“You should kill me. Because I won’t stop until She’s dead.”

“Aaron, stop.” Luke worked to get Presley to his feet.

“I can’t. I’m not like you. I’m immune to Her blood. Neither of you can see it or even reason with it, but She’s manipulating you.”

“He’s a traitor. He tried to kill me.” Her voice shook. “My Love, you can’t trust him.”

“Luke . . . you can fight with me.”

His once concerned expression deteriorated, and his jaw hardened. A second. That’s all it took for my brother’s image of me to crumble into disgrace.

“That’s how it’s going to be, huh?”

Luke’s voice was cold. “Stay away from Her.”

“Yeah, stay away.” Presley sniffled.

I met Her eyeline. “Turning my own brothers against me now? That’s new.”

“You’re the one who’s manipulating him. Trying to persuade him to go against his true family.”

I stepped forward, moving toward them. Sirius craned his neck.

“I will kill you where you stand.”

“Good. Try it, then.”

Serve Her. Serve Her. Serve Her.The voice was louder than ever, but it didn’t matter. I wouldn’t listen.

No. I won’t. Not now. Not ever.

I walked another step, and Sirius met me there in an instant.

Serve me. Now.I demanded of the Thing inside my head.

My world was red again. I focused on the memory of Akira in the forest and the moment I’d let go for Kimberly. This was different. But similar. Letting go this time felt intentional . . . controlled.