Page 169 of This Blood that Bonds Us

The fight with Kilian and The Guard had reached a peak. Sirius was on the ground bleeding out. Not moving. While Kilian sucked down the blood bag and dodged another advance from Ezra. I couldn’t spot Thane.

“Got it!” Presley’s voice echoed into the ceiling. The bricks had moved, revealing a door. The smell of mold and sea water wafted in. Their escape route was open.

“Come on, Luke. Let’s go.” Presley had one arm on the queen and the other extended toward my brother.

Luke hesitated, watching me, then Zach.

“My Love, it’s time,” the queen called to him, and he stepped back toward the door.

This was it.

They would escape, and we would all be separated. In an instant, I imagined the agony of all the possibilities. Us losing. The entire battle being for nothing while She continued to live and keep my brothers under Her spell.

We couldn’t separate. I knew what I needed to do.

I moved toward the steps to Her, and Luke blocked the way—one hulking mass staring down at me. With strong shoulders and that serious expression, he looked like Ezra. And there in that place, he would turn into him. He’d usher me and my brothers around and make us follow the rules.

“I can’t let you hurt Her.”

“My Love, please. Come with me,” She pleaded.

I scoffed. “You’ve resigned to kill me now?”

When She looked at Luke, She melted him with her timid voice. “Don’t let him come any closer.”

“Presley, stay close to Her,” Luke said.

“Would you really kill me for Her?”

“If I have to.”

His eyes were set and cold. Darker than the ones I’d known growing up. Luke’s eyes lit up with radiant joy when he was a kid, one he’d passed on to all of us. She’d taken it from him, but I would give it back.

“I’m sorry you don’t remember Sarah, but she meant a lot to you.”

His face fell. “What are you talking about?”

“Sarah Garanger was your best friend. She was what Kimberly is to me for you. You loved her. You spent all your free time with her.”

“Stop.”

“You took her to prom. And she wore a purple dress, and we had a picture on the wall of her where she kissed you on the cheek. You pretended to be embarrassed about it, but younever stopped talking about her. She liked butterflies and baking cookies. She was so amazing and cool, and no one knew her better than you did.”

“I said stop.”

“You loved her. And this place made you forget her, but I’m gonna fix it. You’re going to remember.”

I stepped forward, and he squared his shoulders.

“You’re not going to get near Her.”

“My Love, leave him,” She called.

“But don’t you need this?” I pulled the dagger from behind my back. “Without it, you’re still connected to Kimberly, and your queen will be weakened by it. We’ll use it to find you again and kill Her.”

That got his attention. He stepped forward till we were feet away. “Give me the dagger.”

“Come and get it. Kill me and take it.”