Page 64 of This Blood That Breaks Us

“Don’t you think I’d know it if it was?”

The picture was a detailed sketch of a guy with light skin and dark hair. He had a distinct widow’s peak and little facial hair.

“This is that guy Presley liked. Um . . . Harry Styles!”

“No, it’s not. Give it here.” Luke grabbed it and held it close to his face. “Oh. You’re right. This is him. Presley is obsessed with him.”

I guess the no-name rule didn’t count when we were drunk.

“Apparently, Akira too.”

“Wait, there’s more. Look.”

In the notebook were sketches, shoulder-up portraits of four people easily identifiable when all lined up. The Guard as it had been: Sirius, Akira, and Ezra, and what had to be Eros. He had thick brows and curly hair that curled around his ears and neck, and he was smiling. None of the others were smiling.

“My guardian. My brother. Wait for me in the stars,” Luke read the words sketched under the portraits.

“No way.” Thane grabbed the notebook. “Can I keep this?”

“If you hide it,” Luke said.

“And you say please,” I said.

The door opened behind us, and Connell stood in the entryway.

“Oh. I thought I heard a noise. ’Tis forbidden to be in here, sir.”

My body moved on its own to grab Connell and push him out the door. His eyes went blank, and his mouth hung open.

“What are we doing in the hallway, sir?”

I looked down at my hand. I must have taken that memory, blocked it or wiped it. Connell might be the only person in the castle I was able to use that power on.

“You were telling me how excited you were to spar earlier today.”

He was so shit at fighting it was torture to watch. I tried to straighten my back so he couldn’t tell how plastered I was.

“Oh, right! Yes, it was great. And I thought I’d heard . . . ”

“Nothing. Only me. Carry on with your duties.”

“Will do, sir.” Connell’s eyes sparkled with determination, and he left as another crack of thunder shook the walls.

I motioned the others out into the hallway when he was far enough away. “I did it. The super mind trick thing.”

Sirius was teaching me to use it more, but it was something he assured me I’d get more acquainted with as we got older, and it wasn’t that useful in battle when you had an equal opponent. Only something I needed to learn to dodge in someone older and stronger.

“This one is Ezra’s room!” Luke plowed through another wooden door, and we followed.

He was correct. The room was more well-kept and had warmer colors. No record player or any band merchandise. Everything was simple and had a place. He didn’t look like he collected anything, and I doubted he’d be the type to have a diary.

“We should do something while we’re here,” I said.

“What are you gonna do? Switch the conditioner with the shampoo?” Will said.

“It would piss him off.”

“You’resucha rebel.”