Page 40 of This Blood That Breaks Us (This Blood That Binds Us, #3)

Thirty-Three

Zach

The effects of the wine lasted until morning. I’d shut my eyes and hoped for the best. Lying in the dark was almost like sleep. I’d forgotten about the time and lost myself in the silence.

While bringing the covers over me, I grazed my brother’s arm.

“Ah!” We sat up simultaneously.

“Why are you still in my bed?”

“I don’t know. I . . . I must have gotten really freaked out last night.”

It checked out. Luke and I would take turns sleeping in each other’s beds if we were scared, but that was way back when we were children and definitely not anything we did as adults.

“Did something happen? I mean, other than tripping off our asses,” I asked.

He paused for so long I nudged him.

“No. No, I was freaked out in general, I think.”

“Well, we tell no one. And beg Ezra to keep it quiet.”

“Agreed.”

I didn’t mind it. I was just glad the floor wasn’t moving anymore.

“Next time, I pick the nighttime activity, and drug rituals won’t be high on the list.”

The castle bustled with activity. Whispers of Ascension lingered in the halls, and all regular tasks had been postponed in preparation.

I occupied my time by helping Will and Thane pick up branches in the maze. It surprised no one that the hedges had been demolished in the mad dash to be the winner. I’d heard Henderson won. I didn’t know who he chose to torture, but I had a guess.

“Are you still mad at me?” Thane asked while piling branches into a trash bin.

“A little,” I said.

“I shouldn’t have said anything while Luke was there. I wasn’t trying to give him false hope.”

“I know. That’s why I said a little.”

I chucked another huge set of branches in the bin and listened for Will. He was too far into the maze for me to hear.

“Oh good. Because I was trying to cheer Will up, but I’m terrible at it. You guys are better at that kind of thing. You’re both so . . . tender.”

“Never use that word to describe me again.”

“You and Luke are good at navigating these intense moments and saying all the right things. But I don’t know how. I’ve never had a little brother to comfort or family that enjoyed my company. Will is the person I’m closest to in the world, and I clam up when bad things happen. I didn’t even know his sister’s name until Kimberly asked.”

I ignored the ache in my chest at the mention of her. “Why didn’t you ask?”

“He seems happier when I don’t ask about his past.”

“Yeah, most people are.”

“I know. I don’t want to make any extra trouble for him. I’m a better help in other ways. I want to focus on that.”

Thane frowned as he eyed the hedges. He hid his worry for Will well. I’d hardly noticed. But he had hope and people with hope didn’t typically bitch and moan about their problems. Instead, they’d run themselves ragged trying to fix them. I wasn’t sure who was worse off, me or him.

There was a brief silence as we continued deeper into the maze, picking up branches and empty alcohol bottles.

“Did you find anything in Akira’s diary? Anything you’re searching for.”

“Not much. A lot of it is stories of them together. Like memories Akira wrote of the four of them. There’s a lot of lamenting about their loss, but he doesn’t mention specifics. I was hoping to get a rundown of the battle or something. I can’t believe Kilian never told us.”

“I can.”

“Akira did mention something kind of interesting. It references Sirius’s and Eros’s Ascension. The excitement and what he calls ‘troubles’ and ‘growing pains.’ There’s nothing specific, but it gave me the impression that maybe Eros and Sirius had issues leading up to their Ascension. And he references Eros over and over as The Guardian.”

“And knowing this stuff helps how?”

“They’re keeping you and Luke in the dark for a reason. It’s obvious they’re not telling you the whole truth. And knowing why tells us what they’re trying to hide. And knowing what they are trying to hide from you gives us a clue in how to defeat them. I know you don’t think The Legion cares. But I do think they’re coming, and I’ll do whatever I can to save you both.”

“Why do you even care?” I asked.

“Because I know Kilian ruined any opportunity of you ever trusting the work that The Legion does, but you didn’t see the work before Blackheart. All the footwork that Kilian has done for centuries has kept this coven in check. It’s one of the reasons it’s so small in comparison to some that exist out there. The Family talks a big game, but they’ve known about us for a long time, and they know Kilian is a threat. He may have been led astray, but . . . aren’t we all for the people we love? Is there anything you wouldn’t do for your brother?”

I hesitated. He was right. I’d kill for any of my brothers in a heartbeat, even good people. I’d trick, lie, and steal, and if someone killed my brother, I’d never stop searching to hunt them down.

He continued. “I didn’t have a loving family growing up. No one really wanted anything to do with me. Will and Sky and Dom were the closest I’ve ever had to anything. We captured a few members of The Family over the years—these horrible men that didn’t pass the trial phase. I had a hard time with it at first. I even thought about leaving, but the hope of seeing people like you be free is worth it. I want to keep real families together and prevent things like this coven from gaining more power.”

“How do you prevent things like that?”

“Kilian has a secret. Something they’re scared of. Something they’d kill for. That’s the only reason we’re alive.”

“You still believe The Legion is coming for you.”

“For all of us. With my whole heart. And if they get here and they don’t want anything to do with you guys, I’ll change their minds. I’ll make sure they listen.”

God, he was a hopeful one, sporting that same sunny disposition Aaron had. It was enough to make me smile.

“Well, you’re wrong about one thing,” I said.

“And that is?”

“I might trust The Legion again if you’re in it, as long as you have a say next time.”

That made him smile, and we continued our task. I’d listen every once in a while to see if someone was coming. Ezra would be pissed if he knew I was dirtying my suit helping Thane and Will with chores, not to mention Sirius.

“I keep waiting for Sirius to pop up in the hedges and kill me for this.”

“Oh, he’s busy, I think. She lied, you know? They’ve definitely been seeing each other in the past couple days, when he was supposed to be banned. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s where he is right now.”

I raised an eyebrow. “Do you mean what I think you mean?”

“Oh yeah, She keeps Ezra and Sirius plenty of company.”

“No. I mean. You’re saying She lied?”

“Definitely. I’ve seen them talking with my own eyes.”

Something thick caught in my throat. Anger. She’d put on a show for the others that day in the atrium, but why? They were playing more mind games, only this one I hadn’t caught on to. Was this their plan? Getting Luke and me into a vulnerable state to make us think She tried to save us. Was anything Sirius said true? What else were they doing and saying that I wasn’t in on?

We continued into the maze until the heavy gray clouds above unleashed rain.