Page 71 of This Blood That Breaks Us

I’d been desperate a few times and tried to get him help. He needed someone to talk to after Sarah disappeared. It got even worse when we found out about her death after getting all those memories back. I’d visited a few clinics in person to try to get them to take Luke. To do something. Anything. He was willing to go, but they never called me back or they’d refuse to take him even if I had cash. Now I was smart enough to see it was always The Family working behind the scenes. One step ahead of me. They wanted Luke to be broken; it was easier for them to control us that way.

The queen’s misty eyes bore into mine. “I can help him.”

“We don’t need your help.” I pulled my brother in closer.

“He needs rest. Take him to your room while we handle things,” She said.

“N-no,” Luke said, “not until we fix this. You can’t kill them. We’re sorry. It was stupid. I-I was afraid because I didn’t trust you not to hurt them. And I wasn’t ready for all of this. It’s my fault. But I’m ready now. Whatever you want. I’m here with you.”

“Luke,” I cautioned.

“No. This was a dumb idea. And it was mine. This whole thing was my plan, and it’s my fault. Whatever I need to do to show you that it won’t happen again, I’ll do it.” Luke’s voice was stronger now.

In the flickering candles of the cathedral, my brother’s determination burned steadily in his eyes.

“Can’t you see that I don’t want to keep punishing you? I didn’t want to do those things. All I’ve ever wanted was for us to be together and for you to take your place on The Divine Path.”

“I want that too. I’ve been afraid of getting too close. But I’m not afraid anymore. I’m ready to do this. I’m willing to commit.”

“Give me your hand.” Her slender hand extended from Her white floor-length gown.

He pulled from me and kneeled in front of Her with his shoulders straight and tear-stained cheeks. I’d never been so awestruck by my brother, and Luke was nothing but impressive every day of his damn life. He held out his hand, and my shoulders tightened. I was ready to strike at the first sign of pain, but the constant ache that had been in my chest eased.

She smiled and kissed his forehead. “My Love. Thank you.”

As soon as She stopped touching him, the pain was back.

When She looked at me, Her eyes hardened. “Now, you. Get on your knees. Let’s see if your future favors loyalty.”

Luke’s gaze bored into me, pleading, so I complied. Mostly for him. I held out my hand for Her to take.

“Kneel. Head to the floor.”

I sighed, ignoring the snarling dog of anger that wanted to bite back. It’s not like I cared about what anyone in the room thought of me other than my brother.

“Up.”

Her hand on my face felt like a kiss. Sickly sweet. Her skin filled the world with Her scent. There was no way to describe it. I had nothing to compare it to. I didn’t care where I was, and all my previous worries disappeared. As She searched my future for my betrayal, I stared at Her long, soft lashes and soft pink lips. How many of my futures could She see beside Her? Were there any that didn’t end in this place?

Suddenly, I questioned why we wanted to leave. As if there was a place I could exist without Her. Anywhere else would be pure agony compared to the feeling of Her being close. When Her hand left me, I shuddered from the loss.

She stood. “Their loyalty is true.”

It answered my question. If She could see them all, She must have seen us choose Her over and over. If it was the most likely one, whose decisions could change our almost certain fate?

“My queen, what shall we do with these two?” Sirius said.

Will and Thane were kneeling on the ground, too weak to bolt. I readied myself for the final decision. Whatever She decided, I’d have to live with and make sure Luke got through it. It’s not that I didn’t care, but I only had enough feelings for one person, and it was for my brother. Everything else could get buried away in that lovely feeling suggestion box.

“Do we need both of them?” Sirius rolled up his sleeves where the black blood had soaked his cuffs.

“It is more favorable for them to both live for now.”

“Don’t I get a say in this?” Will lifted his head.

“Not unless you have a death wish,” Sirius said.

“What if I do?”