Page 176 of This Blood that Bonds Us

I didn’t care about Her anymore. She could have the ring. She could have anything She wanted. I just wanted them back.

It would be easy to leave the cruel world behind. One dagger to the heart, then it would be over, and we’d be together again.

Then Aaron’s words echoed in my mind.Promise me you’ll try.

“Aaron did it so we wouldn’t be connected to Her anymore. I’m sorry.” I think it was Luke speaking.

I couldn’t stop staring at Aaron, caressing his cheek as he’d done to me so many times.

No, this is right.It was exactly right. The Calem boys were free. Those wonderful free boys that sang, laughed, and danced together in Blackheart—that loved more fiercely than I could have ever hoped to—were finally free.

As I stared up at that altar, I knew it was where I was meant to be. Not in Blackheart or Alaska, but there with them. We did it, and even though this was the end to us, all the love and happiness we’d shared, somehow, it still felt right. The true ending. It was Aaron’s dream . . . our dream, and I had to see it through.

Only the five of us remained. Ezra stood next to the queen at the altar. Bloody but alive. Clinging to Her. While the twins wept next to me.

Our family was gone, and our world lay lifeless on the marble.

“We can remake the bond. Save your brothers. But we have to do it now,” Ezra said, eyeing me like he still wanted me dead. He likely would kill me, and I didn’t have the desire to fight it. I almost wanted him to come closer and get it over with. “We have to leave.”

“We can all be together again.” The queen spoke, walking closer and leaning in front of Zach and Luke and beckoning them. “We can start over.”

The twins weren’t answering. They, too, were staring at our dead with the same vacant longing and shock.

“My Love, this isn’t the end. It’s only the beginning. We still have centuries. So many happy memories to look forward to.” She moved Her hand over Luke’s cheek and ran Her fingers into Zach’s hair. “Let me show you. Let me ease your pain.”

Aaron had passed his hope to Presley and me . . . and I was the last one standing. I had to keep it alive, even if I felt like dying. Even if living in a world without Aaron Calem was like living in a world without sunlight.

“You can’t have them.” My voice was barely a whisper. I leaned on blind faith they could hear me and tried to push the words out louder. “Don’t do it.”

The Calem boys didn’t belong to them. They were meant to be free from that wretched place. We belonged to no one.

“Aaron wanted you all to be free. That’s his dream. You promised to protect and to love this family . . . to fight. Until the very end. I promised you and you promised me.”

That was the oath we’d all made.Our dream.

Ezra ignored me and extended his arm to pick them off the floor. I gripped the dagger, ready to defend Aaron’s and Presley’s bodies. Till my heart stopped beating, I would fight for our dream. I wouldn’t give up.I would try.

The twins slowly dissolved from their frozen stares and exchanged a brief charged glance. In the same second, they lunged at Ezra.

The queen’s gasp cut the air, and She retreated to the edge of the altar. I should have been scared . . . or broken, but I was neither. In my chest, fury burned ablaze. I hadn’t realized the incipient fire growing in my belly until it was a wildfire of rage and abhorrence.

I’d let it burn until She was dust in my hands.

Our eyes met. She knew. A promise was a promise. That Thing had taken Cecily’s body and tricked her, and she needed meto free her once and for all. I gripped the dagger covered with Aaron’s blood and staggered to my feet.

I, Kimberly Calem, am brave. I will finish this. I believe because he believed.

She went to run, but I was faster. I grabbed Her by the collar of Her dress and flung Her to the floor. With my hand firmly pressed to the dagger and my blood and Aaron’s mixed, I chanted. As I felt the dagger’s pull, I lunged. She was stronger than me, but it didn’t matter if I separated the power from Her body. She missed and pushed me against the altar. Candles flew and crumbled to the floor as She hoisted me into the air.

There I saw the twins battling with Ezra . . . losing. Luke was a bloody mess barely able to keep on his feet.

She tried to thrust a hand through my chest, and I recited the words again, still clutching the dagger with all my might. She dropped me, and I jumped on top of Her, and my teeth ripped into Her shoulder. Her blood filled my body like tar. Our blood was never supposed to mesh, yet there I was.

With a kick, She flung me into the railing of the pulpit, and it cracked under my weight. Nothing could take my hand from the dagger. She’d have to rip my arm off before I allowed Her to take it.

The twin’s battle almost fell into mine. Luke had fallen, and it was just Zach and Ezra. Zach had his arm around Ezra’s throat before he weaseled out.

I had to finish it. I willed my body to move toward Her. One clear shot with the dagger was all I needed. I caught the back of Her hair as She tried to run. Her grip on my arm could break me, but I wouldn’t let Her shake me off. I bit into Her neck again, letting Her putrid blood fill my mouth, and in turn, She forced Her hand through my shoulder. A soft cry left my throat.