Page 81 of This Blood That Breaks Us

I did too.

“Will?”

“Yeah?”

“I promise.”

Twenty-Three

Luke

It was early evening when I knocked on the door to Her room. Her scent hit me first. It held a distinctive allure, not like perfume or a flower. I let Her gravity wash over me and cleanse the day. The comfort of it made me whole again. She felt good.

Soft classical music played on a record player across the room.

“My Love.” She sat at the foot of the bed while one of the lower members brushed Her hair. “It’s late.”

“I know. I just wanted to see if you wanted to go for another walk. We could talk.”

She held up Her hand for him to stop. “Yes, I’d like that.”

“You can leave,” I said to the one helping Her. I tried not to learn their names even though I knew I would have to eventually. It was too hard, and getting sad was a bad idea while being so closely bonded to my brother. Everything set me off, and I didn’t want to spend any more days so sad I couldn’t leave my bed.

“I bought you these today while I was in town.” I held up a pair of slippers. “I know you don’t mind the cold on your feet, but they looked pretty soft. You don’t get to go out and shop or anything, so I thought they might be nice.”

She held out Her leg, and the fabric from Her dress fell and exposed Her skin. “You thought of me.”

I moved them onto Her feet, which were freshly manicured and free of dirt. The touch of Her skin raised the hairs on my arm.

“I always think of you.”

I helped Her into a coat, and we walked toward the garden. It was dreary and cold, but it was always that way. The moonlight blended in with Her Gloriousness. Our full moon complemented Her in a disarray of shadow and light against Her cheeks.

She was at Her strongest tonight and didn’t need me to help Her walk, but I gave Her support. I guided Her slowly over each steppingstone. Here, I didn’t hurt. It was what I was meant for. To take care of Her. Make Her happy for the rest of eternity. There had to be a reason I was meant to be there and so miserable. I was messing something up or all the puzzle pieces weren’t together yet.

“What are you thinking, My Love?”

“I’ve been unhappy here. But I’ve been wondering if it’s because I’m not using my abilities. Maybe I’m not using my role correctly.”

She stopped walking. “Tell me what you mean.”

“I want to spend more time with you. I spend a lot of my time thinking about you and how you’re doing, and I want to play a bigger role in your day to day. I can do something. I don’t know what. But I want to. Please think about it.”

Her fingers grazed the stubble on my cheek, and I shivered.

“You don’t have to beg for more of my presence. It’s a luxury you can have. It’s your destiny.”

I placed my hand on top of Hers. “I don’t know where I factor in.”

“You don’t need to struggle. Destiny finds you, My Love. It shows up and wraps you in its arms. You will always be with me. I can see your face in so many futures. And you’re so happy.”

“So, I don’t need to do anything?”

“All you need is already yours.”

I need you.The words were on the tip of my tongue. If this was my destiny, why did it feel like I didn’t belong? Zach had found his groove. Where was my groove? He made it look easy. Every day, he knew what he needed to do and seemed to want to do it. I didn’t want to meet clients all day and lie to their faces, and I didn’t know how to turn myself into a person who wanted to.

“I know exactly what you want. What you need.”