Page 135 of This Blood That Breaks Us

The look he gave the girl at the bar . . .

He’d held on. He probably went up to her and talked with her, danced with her. Luke would never give up Sarah, but She might make him want to. She’d want him to forget. Was this Her plan all along?

“Just curious, because I feel like shit.”

“Well, that’s on you. I feel great. I really have to go. I’ve got things to attend to. Now move.”

“Gladly.”

He turned and left me in the hallway with an aching chest.

We were fucked.

Dear Luke and Zach,

I did a bad thing and you’re going to be mad. But I can’t take this feeling anymore. I’m sorry I was angry. I get it now. I let you always protect me, and I never helped you. I’ve been a bad little brother, but you’ve always been the best big brothers. I promise I’ll start pulling my weight. I’m going to help. I’m going to change everything.

Love you forever,

Presley

Forty-Four

Zach

I went looking for Will first. That might be a better plan than going straight for Ezra’s neck. But he wasn’t in my room. He wasn’t in the garden, on the grounds, or anywhere in the fucking castle. Instead, I found Connell, or he found me. Connell hadbeen my shadow all night and stayed outside in a separate car while I was with the girl. I suddenly realized that I never got her name.

“Sir, you look well today. I hope I’m not bothering you. I only wanted to see if you needed my help with anything today.”

“Have you seen Will or Thane?”

“Oh yes, I passed your friend Thane. He’s been assigned outside today, but I didn’t see William. I haven’t seen him all day. Do you want me to help you find him?”

“First, I have another question. Last night something happened to my brother. And I know you weren’t there, but everyone around here talks. Tell me what you know.”

“We’re not supposed to talk about it. But it’s not like I’ve been sworn or anything. I’d love to be sworn to you or your brother. Not that you would want that. But I’d love to serve you if you thought you needed someone . . . ”

Connell kept mumbling to himself, but his words came out too fast for me to catch.

“Back up, what are you talking about?”

“Oh, they haven’t told you? Members of The Guard sometimes choose others to be sworn to their service. Like Henderson has been sworn to Sirius for many years now. They say Connery was sworn to Akira. You knew him, right? I assumed you and your brother were sworn to Ezra.”

“No.” Thank god. Sounds like something I would have happily done at one point. “They don’t tell me anything. What does it mean?”

“It’s a loyalty vow. They’re sworn into that Guard member’s care . . . forever.”

I bit my thumb till the blood beaded. “Bite your thumb.”

Connell did it without even asking me why. I pressed our thumbs together to mingle our blood, and his mouth hung open.

“Swear yourself to me. Swear you’ll do whatever I say and I can trust you above all else. You will never lie to me. And you won’t keep secrets.”

Connell eagerly pressed his thumb into mine. “I swear. I won’t let you down.”

“Good. Now tell me what you know about last night.”

“No one said specifics, but I heard they were needing to dispose of a body. A girl. And that your brother was upset. Inconsolable was the word they used.”