Page 22 of This Blood That Breaks Us

It hadn’t felt like months in Blackheart. It took me that long to feel . . . safe. As safe as I could with Akira breathing down my neck. It was odd looking back. How I’d had days where I’d spent time going to class and working at the theater. If I’d pretended long enough, I could almost forget about this place.

On second thought, I did like working and school, even if it had felt a little like playing pretend. My chest ached when I thought of it, even while standing next to Her.

Something about Her was different from the day before. Her posture was less rigid and Her smile softer. “Usually Ezra is my companion, but we thought it might be appropriate for us to spend time together. I spend many hours in this room, so I enjoy the company. I mostly rest. After the full moon, my energy slowly drains till the end of the moon cycle. This mortal body isn’t able to hold the power of The Divine for long.”

“Oh, I didn’t know that.”

We didn’t see Her much before. Only when it was time to donate our blood to Her. I’d never seen Her look even the slightest bit frail.

“It’s not something we want all to know.”

She came up to rest Her hand on mine, and I shivered at the coolness of Her touch. I drank in the sight of Her before me. Glistening eyes; perfect lips, teeth, and tongue.

“We usually start the day in the garden before the sun is up.”

She motioned for my brother. “You’re always welcome to come along.”

He said nothing. My guess was he had nothing nice to say.

“You want to walk in the garden?”

“Yes, My Love.”

“And that’s it?”

“Yes, it’s nice to get out. Sometimes we go for night walks too. There are plenty of other things too, but this is my favorite. I thought you’d enjoy it too.”

She wasn’t like I remembered Her. In many ways, it was like seeing Her for the first time. When I got lost in Her eyes, I could almost forget about who She really was and how She’d taken the kindest person I’d ever known away from me.

The guilt brought me back to reality. “Let’s go, then. I’ll need some guidance, though.”

She smiled and took my arm, sending a wave of euphoria through my entire body. I wrapped Her arm in mine and let Her lean into me. Zach glared. Far behind us, Will and Thane followed.

With Her skin touching mine, I wasn’t scared or nervous anymore. I felt at ease. Peaceful even. The rest of the world fell away, and I floated with Her down the hallways and through arched doorways until we were outside. The chill of the early morning permeated my jacket. A blue haze lingered in the sky where the sun was dawning.

She led us out through a mossy cobblestone archway covered in snow and ivy.

“You don’t have shoes?” Zach grumbled.

He had his hands stuffed in his pockets and his collar pulled up to protect himself from the bite of the cold.

“I don’t have much use for them. I don’t travel to many places.”

“Do your feet get cold?” he asked.

“I’m used to the winter. I grew up here. Before I was what I am, I had many days spent on this very soil. I enjoyed the outdoors the most. Many hours spent with my brother playing in the hills by the cliffs.”

Her foot slipped on a cobblestone, and Zach and I moved to steady Her. It was quick and instinctual.

“I’m fine. Thank you.”

“Shit.” Zach picked up the train of Her silk gown. “You’re going to get your dress dirty.”

She smiled at him, and I swear my brother blushed. Step by step, he shifted closer to us.

“I didn’t think you’d remember anything before you . . . ”

“Yes, me and The Divine are connected now. At times, it’s strong, and at other times, it’s faint. But I have all her memories . . . my memories. The human’s memories. We were once two completely separate beings, and then we formed into one.”