Page 82 of This Blood that Bonds Us

“I think I wish I’d died for him when I had the chance.”

Just as his words echoed, I stopped on a page. There was no reason for it. It was one natural pause that drew me to a paragraph scribbled in cursive ink at the bottom of a page. The room seemed to disappear.

Blood forges the way to freedom.

Lifeblood gave way, a high price to pay.

Fate does not guide us.

We carve our way.

We settled down in the library, where Kimberly had a stool to sit on by the fire. I squeezed her hand as Kilian placed the box that contained the dagger next to her. Things would work morequickly than last time. We’d found the right incantation, and now all that was left was to tap back into the power.

Presley watched from an armchair over from me while picking the black nail polish from his nails.

“Are you ready?” I rubbed Kimberly’s leg.

“Yeah. Definitely.” She looked at Kilian. “We’ll make progress this time.”

After biting her finger, she smeared the blood along the length of the blade while Kilian started his chant.

I hated all of it. Letting her open herself up to something dangerous made me physically ill, but there was no arguing with her once her mind was set. It was her choice.

With fingers clenched around the blade, she closed her eyes. Her brow bent in eager determination, then her head fell back. I went to grab her again, but she slumped forward with her eyes open. Her blue eyes disappeared and misted over in a white haze. I still had my hand on her leg, rubbing her gently. I’d be there to pull her out if needed.

Minutes passed, and she blinked.

“No. No!” The desperation in her voice put me on alert.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?” I asked.

“What did you see?” Kilian asked.

“Nothing. I asked for it to show me something, and nothing happened.” She pressed her palms into her eyes.

“It’s okay. It’s not your fault.”

“I don’t care who’s fault it is. I’m not waiting another month. Can we do it again?”

“I’d advise against it,” Kilian said. “The entity can’t possess you, but this is new territory. I don’t know what could happen to you.”

“But can we try? Will you recite it again?”

“Kim,” I said.

“No, Aaron.” She grabbed my arm with pleading eyes. “We can’t wait another month to make progress. This is already taking too long. We need answers so we know how to win.”

“I know, but not at the expense of hurting you.”

“I have to do this. I can do this.”

“Hold on. Family huddle,” Presley said. “Everyone give us a second.”

Presley got up from his chair to lean in front of Kimberly. “Kim, we can help my brothers in another way. You don’t have to do this.”

“I know I don’t have to. But I want to.”

“Dude, they wouldn’t want you to do something that would get you hurt,” Presley said.