Page 56 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“That’s not the only thing that’s changed, it seems.” Felix licked his teeth while he eyed Kimberly. When I squeezed her closer, he turned his attention to me. “I’m surprised you changed her.”

“It was my decision. And yes, I do like it. More than being human, anyway,” Kimberly said.

“Anything’s better than being human,” Felix said.

The sound of Kilian’s footsteps flowed down the hardwood steps, and we quieted as he entered the room with a wooden box. It resembled the one that once held the black blood that had brought my brothers to their knees.

I flinched when he opened it. There was no vial of black blood but a silver dagger the size of my forearm. It had a floral pattern engraved on the silver handle, and it led to a pin-straight blade that looked freshly polished and sharp.

All the movement in the room stopped. Everyone’s eyes were trained on the blade.

“What am I looking at?” I asked.

“This is one of the last daggers. The daggers were crafted and are believed to be the key to bringing more queens into existence. Much about the first creation of the first queen and the creation of these daggers is unknown, but it’s believed through ritual text guided by the fates the queens were formed. Each blade is carved with a unique Latin phrase, and there is blood harbored in the handle from the victim of the ritual. In this case, Cecily. It’s kept sealed with an emerald on the end of the handle.”

“You could have mentioned a magical dagger.”

“The existence of the daggers themselves is lost to many around the world, and we desire to keep it that way. It’s how we’ve kept the formation of more coming to fruition. We’veworked tirelessly for centuries to eliminate the daggers from existence. There are only two remaining, and the other one is with The Legion’s archives.”

“Why keep them? Why not destroy them?” Kimberly eyed the dagger with wide eyes.

“Because it’s our greatest aid in killing them.”

“So we can kill Her . . .” I said, my throat dry and hoarse.

“Yes, these daggers are believed to hold power. At every fall of a queen, one of these daggers were present. Queens historically are hard to eliminate, not only due to their Guard but also the physical effects of being near them. Humans are not strong enough to kill them, and anyone who has been turned has the power of Their blood in them. It’s easy to overpower and bring them into Her thrall. But it’s believed the blade can pierce Her skin without the loss of blood.”

“Do they know you have this?”

“Yes. This dagger was taken in the battle where my brother lost his life. It’s the last hope for many, especially those in this room.”

Dom interjected. “Everyone here has committed. We have close to twenty souls that are willing to fight.”

“Working on more,” Kilian said.

“How many do we need?” I asked.

“It’s impossible to estimate how many they have right now, but my intel should help.”

“Can’t you just turn more people and make a little army or something?”

“Don’t ask questions about things you don’t understand yet,” Felix growled.

“It’s a good question,” Kilian said. “I can promise any idea you have has been tried before over the centuries. Finding people who have a reason to fight is crucial. Changing people for the purpose of our cause hasn’t worked in the way we’d hoped. Italso leaves us vulnerable. The Family has been known to use the ones we turn and bring them over to their side.”

“What about your friend who loaned you this house? Are they included?” Kimberly asked.

“No, unfortunately. There is something you both must understand about me and The Legion in general. This dagger is unknown to anyone outside of this household, and I have kept it so for a reason. The Legion as it stands is very secretive. They don’t take risks, and they don’t fight on whims and feelings. They work more on principle and rules. I have prior interest in this endeavor with the coven of your brothers, and due to my closeness to the situation, many will not help.”

“They think it’s a suicide mission. And it is,” Halina said.

“I don’t get it. Why wouldn’t they want to band together to take them down?” I asked.

“Many will not intervene unless they believe they propose a large risk to the public. The ones that have were taken out. But not without a great deal of sacrifice to our cause.”

“Wait, so you’re not even Legion? You’re a weird rogue branch?”

“I am. We share the same ideologies. I just . . . have a prior interest.”