Page 44 of This Blood That Breaks Us

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

I looked down, shielding myself from the stars above. “No.”

I didn’t want to look at the stars anymore. I was angry at them for staring down at me and telling me what to do. Those little balls of gas were mocking me with their prophecies and shielding the gods and goddesses above.

“I will find out. You’ll slip up.”

Heat ran through me at his threat. “What’s stopping you from shoving your way into my head and taking what you want?”

He sighed as if he could get tired.Bastard.

“It’s not a threat, Zach. I have no desire to push my way into your head to hurt you.”

“There’s nothing. I need your help protecting Luke.”

Ezra had lied to me so many times. He’d hurt me. He’d manipulated me over and over, but I couldn’t help but lean on him in times of need because out of everyone there, he was the only one I knew who would protect Luke like me.

Like he had that day.

“I can’t do this.”I stood in the emergency room waiting for Luke while he was in surgery from his gunshot wound.

“He’ll be all right.”Ezra waited with me.

“You don’t get it. If something happens to him . . . I can’t deal. I won’t deal.”

“I understand.”

“No. You don’t. I won’t do this anymore. I can’t—”

“I understand.”

I cried into his shoulder like a little kid, and he told me he wouldn’t let anyone take my brother from me.

Ezra didn’t try to convince me to be different. He accepted me.

“I’ll help. Try to relax. You’re on the right path.”

I said nothing as I left. Anger was burning me alive. Those gods and goddesses were lucky they weren’t down on earth with me. They were lucky I didn’t have enough power.

Because I’d take them all down.

Hopefully, the lie wouldn’t matter because we’d be out before the next new moon.

Twelve

Luke

“You can’t keep avoiding this,” Ezra said with furrowed brows.

We were in the “green room.” The rooms in the castle were flashy and themed with thick rugs and intricate wallpaper.And this one was just green. The couches. The wallpaper. The curtains.

“You picked the wrong person for this.”

“How can you be the wrong fit if it’s your destiny?”

I wished Zach was here—he was a better arguer, but he was with Sirius, like usual.

“All I’m asking is for you to escort them through town and make sure they don’t get into trouble while I meet with a client. It’s good practice. Normally, I do all of it.”