Page 84 of This Blood That Breaks Us

Help is coming. Was this an illusion? Was I imagining the girl? Did I make this up to make myself feel better? Something in me stirred at the mention of help.

But it hurt. Another knifelike pain to the chest. Why was this happening, and why now? What could I do? I could tell Her. Thiswas something they’d want to know, but Cecily looked like she’d been through a lot, and through all of it, she’d only asked that I keep fighting. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to, but I promised, and a promise was a promise.

Our faces were so close, and I felt like I was seeing her for the first time. I knew the queen was beautiful, but when I wasn’t swarmed with Her gravity, I could see it in her round green eyes and soft plump cheeks.

“You have my word.”

It wasn’t because she was beautiful. Zach would say it’s because she’s a vulnerable girl and I can’t help but to want to save people, but as I stared into her eyes, I saw myself. Pleading. Hoping. Fighting.

When she blinked again. The color in her eyes was gone. The gravity of Her hit me so hard I nearly fell to my knees in a bow. I let that familiar feeling fall back over me at Her presence. I wasn’t as scared of it anymore.

“What did you say, My Love?”

“I said . . . I’m glad I’m where I need to be.”

She let me take Her arm, and we continued to walk. My mind reeled with the thoughts of Cecily. Kilian mentioned it was theorized that souls of the girls were trapped in the bodies of the queens. He was right. Cecily was trapped in there, and for some unknown reason, she’d been able to come out. Only, the queen hadn’t realized or remembered, and if I was correct—even with looking directly into my future, She hadn’t seen it coming.

Twenty-Four

Zach

“Zach, I have to talk to you.” Thane’s voice woke me.

He was standing over me in the dark, and I shielded my eyes as he turned on my bedside lamp.

“This qualifies as annoying me.” I sighed.

“I know, but I really need to talk to you.”

“How did you even get in here? What time is it?”

“It’s almost sunrise. I didn’t get locked up because I’m with Luke and he’s been with the queen walking around all night. They’re still out there.”

I groaned and sat up, rubbing my eyes. I’d gone to sleep early so I didn’t have to worry about Luke all night. My whole body felt great, there was no pain to speak of, which told me he was happy.

“I have news. There’s talk.”

“Not this again.”

I’d grown tired of Thane’s optimism. Unlike the three of us, he’d never given up on the thought of leaving this place. He was convinced The Legion was coming for us. I thought it was bullshit. The Legion didn’t care about us. They never had. They certainly didn’t care about Thane. I was starting to think Will wasn’t any different to them. Kilian was like everyone here. A master manipulator who moved us around like little pawns on a chess board, only he was the worst kind of manipulator. He pretended to care.

“No, seriously, you have to listen to me. Sirius mentioned something a few days ago, and you’re going to want to hear. I’ve been trying to get you alone to tell you.”

“Sneaking into the cathedral again?”

“Well, yeah. There’s this little spot—”

“Don’t tell me. If She starts poking around in my brain, you’ll need it as a hiding spot.” I sighed as I stood and pulled on my shirt. “Do I need to remind you again if you get caught, you’re dead. If you’re dead, we’re all going to hurt.”

Will and Luke would be the most devastated, but I couldn’t imagine taking on sadness like that right now. We’d been bedridden from the bond before, and I did not want a replay.

“I know. But this was worth the risk.”

“How?”

“Because I know something. Sirius mentioned that he got a phone call from a source. Someone they really want was trying to find our location.”

“And you think it’s Kilian?”