Page 181 of This Blood that Bonds Us

He was saving us instead of Kilian. The thought was unbelievable even as I watched him tend to my brother.

William swayed, but I had to get up to Luke’s side. He had to get up.

“I can’t let you do this,” Thane said. “Let me.”

“Will everybody shut up and trust me for a minute? He’s going to wake up. He’s . . . just . . . taking his sweet ass time.” Will continued his work on my brother. “The angels, or whatever the fuck, are probably trying to convince him to stay.”

“He has to get up.” Zach groaned holding his side. “I can’t—”

“Iknow,” Will said through gritted teeth while he poured more blood in Luke’s mouth.

“Let’s do it together. Then we both die,” Thane said.

Will scoffed. “You have a lot left to do. You can’t die here. Plus, you’re not the one who owes them a favor. I do.”

“I promised I’d get us all out,” Thane said.

“And they will. You’re keeping that promise.”

Luke’s eyes fluttered open. His heart reacted with thundering loudness, and relief fell from my eyes. I could barely see what was happening. Kimberly helped lift my head.

“I’m up. I’m up,” he said it like a dad being pestered by his children, and I barely laughed. He took a minute to sit up.

My whole chest felt like pins and needles.

“Took you long enough.” Will smiled, wider than I’d ever seen.

Then he fell to the ground, and Thane and Zach grabbed him.

“Come on. We can make it to the chopper still.” Thane tried to pull William up with his arm.

“He’s right. We all can,” Zach said.

“No.” William pushed his hand away. “You’re not going together. You’re going to take all your brothers and Kimberly and go to the mainland from the harbor and get someone to drink. Thane, Connell, and Dom will take the dagger and give it to Anzola. You need to go separately.”

“How do you know about that?” Kimberly gasped.

“Because I know Kilian. He wouldn’t plan something like this without consulting her.” Will had his eyes closed but continued on. “I bet she loved you, huh? A girl who can use the dagger.”

“Yeah . . . She liked Aaron too.”

“She’s not dangerous, but you don’t want her to know you’re alive. She’ll try to recruit all of you, and she won’t stop. Don’t give them the chance. You died here. That’s what you need to tell them.” He groaned.

“I can still carry you,” Thane said.

“You can barely stand, and the boy over there is about to drop Dom any second. I’ll be dead by the time you reach the chopper. Now move for a second, I need to talk to the leader there. I have requests, and I need to talk to the person I know who can keep his promises.”

He motioned for Luke, and Zach helped him scoot closer.

Luke spoke in a strained whisper, “I’m here, brother.”

William shivered, and we pressed in around him the best we could. The wound in my chest was closed. Every second, I felt more coherent. The sound came back, but it was the rapid beats of hearts echoing in the silence of the night and the crackling of small fires that lingered on the marble floor.

“I need you to promise me that you’re going to get the fuck out of here. No more cults. Of any kind. Live your fucking ridiculously long lives being annoying somewhere. Everywhere. And maybe get a hobby. A selfish one. No volunteering or shit like that.”

“I promise.” Luke squeezed his hand, his face red. “You’re sure you don’t want me to try to carry you?”

Will chuckled. “No, fucker. Don’t you dare.”