Page 107 of This Blood That Breaks Us

“You’re my brother. I’ll carry you.”

I didn’t protest as he flung me over his shoulder, away from the roaring waters and the lingering faces in the stars above.

Thirty-Two

Luke

Everything spun around me, and I could feel every particle of dust in my throat and lungs. When I blinked again, I saw Her. Her bloody mural in all its spectacular glory. Nothing in my body hurt. I’d never felt so weightless. It was better than drinking.

Suddenly, I was outside again, no longer moving. I’d been in the maze at some point, then I wasn’t. I couldn’t find my brother, so I went looking for Her.

Grass, stone, and dirt permeated the air as I tried getting up off my knees. The grass was so soft, sliding between my fingers like velvet. I wanted to rub my face on it forever, but I needed to get up.

Find me, My Love.

She called to me, and oh, how I longed to answer Her. That was the only reason I could get to my feet despite the world spinning. It was worse than any hangover or vertigo I’d ever had. I could barely move, let alone walk, but it didn’t matter.

My Love, I need you.

She needed me, and I’d crawl to Her if that’s what it took. My fingers sank into the dirt as I pushed myself to my feet, then I stumbled into the castle. No one passed me, but shouts and laughter could be heard in the distance.

I fell into a wall, taking a painting with me.

Closer. Come closer to Me.

Looking down the hall, a flash of white caught my attention. My Love was close. I needed to touch Her like I’d never needed anything else in my life. That yearning pushed me through every dizzying second. I’d find Her.

Closer.

She needed me. I dared to think of that and let the euphoria wash over me until I was picking up my pace. My whole body heated at the thought of Her uttering those words to me. I wanted nothing more than to give Her exactly what She wanted. To fulfill every utterable thought and syllable Her mouth could form, because suddenly, all I felt was my heart in my chest. No pain, no fear, no past. And the only thing left was Her.

I was on my knees, crawling again until the earth stopped shifting beneath me. Just another hallway. Another thing blocking my way to Her.

I need you closer to me, My Love.

This was a sad form of torture. To feel so good yet so empty because I hadn’t found Her yet. She ached for me, and I was failing Her, but the tension in my body shifted as I closed in on Her room. She was close.

She was at Her harp when I entered. Her delicate fingers rested on a string, and Her eyes widened.

“My Love. I wasn’t expecting you.”

But how? She’d been calling me, and it was so loud. My head spun, and in Her room where the light wasn’t as dim, I could see why I’d been so dizzy. Every object was spinning and blooming in its own intricate pattern. I rubbed my eyes, and when I opened them again, She was in front of me.

She radiated light. All Her skin was a sparkling beam so radiant I needed to touch it. My fingers grazed Her arm, and I shivered. She was so cold, but I was warm and could warm Her.

“You’re so beautiful. You’re all shiney and glittery.” The words tumbled out as I ran my finger over Her arm to the top of Her chest along Her bare collarbone.

“Love?” Her fingers lifted my chin for me to stare into Her eyes. Two glowing pools of starlight beckoned to me. “You drank the wine.”

She smiled, the worry dissipating from Her features.

“Too much,” I said, continuing to move my hand along Her arm.

Closer.

I heard the words, but Her lips didn’t move. Now that I was closer to Her, it wasn’t enough. All these months, I’d feared this. But why? She felt so good. Nothing could hurt me here.

“Can I touch you?”