Page 80 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“Why didn’t I get that job? I could have totally been the infiltrator.”

“No,” Aaron said. “You’re going to be with me. Kilian thinks we’ll be best used if we go ahead of the main assault and try to convince Zach and Luke to fight with us.”

“Oh. That sounds awesome. When can we go? Tomorrow?”

Kilian interjected. “We’d need to be ready first so we can come at a prompt time. Our main objectives now are ensuring we can gain every advantage we have, that is why the ritualsare important. Winning requires more than hope. It must accompany a plan.”

“We’re going as fast as we can, Pres,” Aaron said.

“I get it.”

“Aaron, do you want to show your brother downstairs?”

I shook my head. The basement was coming.

“Come on.” Aaron pushed me toward a doorway.

“What about Kim?” I asked.

“She’s getting ready for tonight.”

“No, I meant . . . what’s Kim doing in the battle?” I never asked her about things like that. Not when I’d much rather talk to her about literally anything else.

“Oh. She’ll be a part of the assault on the island. So right now, the plan is for her to come after us—a week or two. But she’s trying to use the dagger to figure out a way to help us in battle or give us an advantage.”

Yes, theritual. Seemed like another one of Kilian’s ploys if you asked me. It probably shouldn’t have been that far-fetched that the queen had power from the moon, considering I was a vampire and all, but moon worship just felt strange.

“And you’re okay with that?” I asked.

“No, but feel free to try your hand at persuading her otherwise.”

No thank you.

I agreed to come to be helpful. Aaron ran me through the logistics of their little operation and led me to a room that reminded me of the basement inFight Club. Only, what a rich person would have for a basement. Kilian was conducting a suicide mission to Ireland. According to Aaron, their numbers had grown in a month, but they weren’t sure if it was enough.

“Do you want to spar with us today? Dom’s taught me so much stuff. Felix has turned out to be great too.” Aaron was way too excited.

“I’ll watch you.”

He nodded and readied himself to get on the mat. The whole room lingered with the scent of blood. I stuffed my headphones in and sat against the wall. The only thing I’d been able to download at the hotel was the entire Avril LavigneUnder My Skinalbum, but I wasn’t above asking ole Kilian to let me use his likely ancient computer to get more music. He owed me as far as I was concerned.

Aaron threw off his shirt and rolled his shoulders. The confidence in his stance caught my attention. Aaron wasn’t confident or athletic, even when he tried baseball. With a bite on the wrist, his blood dripped to the floor, and my brother squared his shoulders as Dom charged him.

I’d watched him spar plenty of times in Blackheart—he was kind of shit—but my mouth nearly fell open as he dodged Dom’s advance. He was fast, way better at countering than he had been before. More than that, he was determined in a way I’d never seen him. In baseball, he mostly sat in the dugout and ate too many sunflower seeds.

He countered a lunge by Dom and spun in enough time to catch his leg. Dom fell to the ground in a loud thump.

“Good. Very Good.”

Aaron was going all out for this. He would fight in this war, but where did that leave me? I was no closer to figuring out my clues, but I hoped to see something that gave me confidence this would work. Maybe I didn’t need to do that anymore. Aaron’s plan could work.

Thirty-Four

Aaron

After I showed Presley some of the training and had him meet a few of the others, we settled into the library to do what I did when I wasn’t training. Kimberly was with Halina getting extra blood so she could be ready for the ritual.

I kicked my feet up on the ottoman in Kilian’s study. The fire sent a satisfying crack into the silence while I skimmed the pagesof a book, carefully at first. I was a little afraid I’d rip the pages, but as time went on, I cared less and less.