Page 88 of This Blood That Breaks Us

“But those memories are still there. They’re just blocked. You could be bonded.”

“Being bonded won’t help Her. Sirius and I have accepted the resolve that we must move on and help you both accept your roles.”

“And if you were bonded, you’d both be slobbering messes feeling Luke’s and my pain. Especially when you end up dead.”

He didn’t seem scared. Like he’d accepted his ultimate death a long time ago.

“Precisely. Right now, you’re both too focused on each other. You need a commonality. You’ll acclimate. The bond will soften and snap into place. You’ll know when it does.”

“It’s killing me. I can’t have something happen to Luke right now, or I don’t think we’ll make it. And I mean anything. He stubs a toe, and suddenly, I’m sobbing.”

“That’s why we’re protecting you. Until Ascension, it’s imperative you’re both kept safe.”

I nodded and moved to get up off his bed and continue on with my day. They were likely already waiting on me in the training room.

“Luke told me he was going to spend more time with Her. I’m worried.”

“I know. I’ll keep an eye out. Make sure She isn’t tempting him.”

“He should be fine, though, right? Ascension is set in stone.”

“There are different fates.”

My throat tightened. “Excuse me. Come again.”

“The future can change. There’s a grand prophecy, but things can shift. Prophecy must be protected. There are bad paths.”

“And Luke falling into temptation is a bad path.”

“Yes, She’s seen it but has no belief it will come true. There are many unfavorable paths, and it’s all based on what we choose. Having Her sight only helps us increase our chances of a favored outcome.”

“We’ll both ensure that doesn’t happen, then.”

“Agreed.” He plopped down next to me.

The wooden bed frame cracked, and the bed came crashing down into a large heap on the floor.

“You wouldn’t happen to know why all my furniture keeps breaking, would you?”

I jumped up and headed toward the door.

“Nope. Gotta go.”

Twenty-Six

Luke

“Help me! Please!”

I sped across the lawn to catch a falling crate from Connell. He had a stack of wooden crates fitted with holes. They smelledlike a petting zoo, and an echo of squeaking and squawking came from inside.

“Thank you, Luke, The Most Gracious One,” Connell said.

Thane appeared beside me and grabbed another of Connell’s crates.

“When did you come up with that?” Thane chuckled as he softly placed the crates on the ground.

“I wanted to come up with a name that felt worthy of Luke as a member of The Guard.”