Page 37 of This Blood That Breaks Us

“Be careful.” Connell frowned as I went to push open the door.

I squeezed his shoulder. “Don’t ever worry about me. It’s my job to worry about you.”

He nodded and bit back a smile.

When I entered, Ezra immediately appeared in front of me, blocking my view.

“I told you to steer clear.”

“I know, but I needed to see Her.”

“You can’t today.”

“Move.” The word came out harsher than I wanted, but he was blocking my view.

Why was he keeping Her from me? He placed a hand on my shoulder, and I pulled my shoulders back to brace against him.

“Let him stay.” Her voice was like rain on a hot summer day.

She lay with heavy eyelids in Her bed, resting Her head on a black satin pillow. I sat next to Her, but Her usual gravity wasn’t overwhelming. She felt . . . normal. As She blinked, color returned to Her irises and liquid pools of green appeared.

“What happened to Her?”

“It’s the day when Her body is weakest and The Divine draws away from Her.”

The girl looking back at me was different. I waited for the gravity of Her to bulldoze me over, but it didn’t. It was still there but faint.

“What can I do?”

Ezra interjected. “Nothing can fix it. She needs rest. It is my duty to watch over Her while She does. And I’m the only one who—”

“You can go. Let Luke stay this time.” Her eyes were closed, but She reached out for me.

She never called me by my real name.

“My queen. It’s too early.”

“Please. Luke is safe.”

Ezra’s shoulders fell like he’d received a blow to the chest. “I . . . yes. Whatever you wish.”

I looked to Ezra for permission as I sat at the edge of Her bed. He nodded but didn’t meet my eyeline before he left.

“Do you feel okay?”

“Yes, it’s only the stars calling me and pulling me to sleep. It’s brief. Not painful.”

Her skin was blazing hot. To my surprise, there was no pull. Nothing willed me forward to touch or taste Her. I let out a breath at the relief.

“I didn’t know.”

“Only The Guard are allowed to know. And only Ezra watches over me at my request.”

“But you let me?”

“You’re safe. You won’t hurt me.”

“Never.”