Page 29 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“I’m Sydney, the middle child of three girls.” Her eyes sparkled. “Vera said you were travelers.”

“Oh. Yeah . . . totally.”

She raised her brows like she expected me to say more. “Where did you go?”

My phone vibrated in my pocket, and I jumped. I wriggled it out, and the same number was calling me again. The blood drained from my face, and my heart hammered.

“Are you okay?”

“I-I’m sorry, I’m having an off day.” I peeked out the window behind me.They couldn’t find me if I didn’t answer my phone.There was no way someone could be watching me from across the street.

“Well, I could show you the dogs out back? Sometimes that cheers me up.”

I plopped it back in my pocket. “Uh, yeah, sure.”

I followed her past her desk littered with paperwork and a fresh coffee. We moved out the door into what looked to be a kennel area where a few dogs sat. All kinds but a lot of huskies. I’d begged for a dog as a kid, and Mom never let me have one. She said she preferred cats, but looking back, I think it was more of the money thing.

The kennel hall led to an outdoor area freshly shoveled, with piled snow lining the fence. Ten large dogs ran around chasing each other and scrapping on the ground with their toys.

“They’re loving this sunshine,” Sydney said with her hands on her hips.

The same huge black dog nuzzled my calf from behind and almost knocked me to the ground. Its long tufts of hair were velvet between my fingers as I scratched its back while its heavy tail beat me.

“What’s this one’s name?”

“Oh, that’s Sarah! She’s such a sweetheart. We’ve had her for almost a whole year.”

I sighed and used my fingernails to scratch under her chin.Of course that’s her name.

She licked my face and barreled into me.

No matter where I was, I couldn’t escape my own reality. The buzz of my phone jolted me again—a not-so-gentle reminder that even in our haven we were doomed.

Twelve

Kimberly

“I should talk to him.” Aaron eyed the door Presley left through.

We’d settled on the couch in Vera’s cabin, which was covered in various patchwork quilts. The heat from roaring fire radiated through the room.

“Give him space.”

“I don’t like him talking to you like that.” The black crowded Aaron’s irises again, so I reached for his hand.

“He can’t help it. It’s the blood making him . . . different.”

“Well, I’m not mean to you.”

“No, but more than occasionally, you are in danger of killing innocent people.”

He nodded, finally softening. “Right.”

“It’s hard on you both. The blood confuses you on top of your own grief. Try to give him grace.”

“I’m terrible at this.” He squeezed my hand. “I’m so thankful you’re here.”

“You just started. Give it some time.” Aaron kissed my cheek, then my neck. I forfeited a breath. Something tightened in my stomach, and I fought to refocus at the sudden warmth in my belly. “Don’t thank me yet. We need to figure out how to find The Legion, and I don’t have any ideas yet.”