This Blood that Bonds Us (This Blood that Binds Us #4)

20. Twenty

Twenty

Presley

I couldn’t believe they went. No protection, no nothing. The twins wouldn’t approve. No way. I hunched over on the side of my bed, rubbing my chest for the thousandth time. No matter what I did, nothing helped. Mom gave me heating pads —the weird rice kind that smelled when you put them in the microwave. Even showers were useless because the water was permanently lukewarm.

What if they got taken? Then I’d be alone with Mom till she died of old age, unless I convinced her to turn—already asked and she’d said no—but it was still early. I could probably still get her to do it if I begged on my hands and knees. Only, then I’d feel guilty because Mom’s been talking about heaven for forever. She also talked about missing grandma a lot and how excited she was to see her again one day, so taking her away from that kind of made me feel like a selfish loser. Would I be alone for the rest of eternity because I wasn’t brave enough to take risks?

Then it would just be an eternity in a cold barren wasteland. Oh God.

I popped up to my feet to pace my room. What was I thinking? I should have gone to help. I should have done something. Now I would turn into a lonely hermit, but not the cool kind like Yoda. It would be the bad kind. The kind that lives in a cave and talks to himself and tries to trick people with riddles. I’m terrible at riddles!

My phone ringing broke my thoughts. A shrill pop song I’d picked because I had nothing better to do. I sighed at the sound of my brother’s voice and listened intently while he explained the meeting with Kilian.

“Ireland?”

“Yeah, he said it’s an island, but they’re still trying to find the exact coordinates.”

“Well, that’s not too far. Right? We can go?”

“We will. I promise. We’re going to the cabin to talk about the details, and I’ll fill you in. I’ll send you that address just in case.”

“Don’t go into any basements!”

“I won’t, don’t worry.” Aaron’s voice was oddly calm and comforting. “I’ll text you updates and when I’ll be home.”

When he hung up, I thought I’d feel relief. I should have felt a little happier about the occasion, but all I could think about was how long until Kilian stabbed us in the back.

We needed to get to Ireland.

At least I had a little spot on the globe I could look at. Rummaging through the closet, I found what I was looking for: a world map that was tattered and should have been thrown away a long time ago. It’s probably been there since they built this cabin in the freakin’ 1970s. Mom said none of the furniture was hers and belonged to whoever was renting.

I sprawled it over my bed to take in the full view. An ocean apart was not that bad. I could probably swim there if I had to. Not ideal. Very cold. But I wouldn’t drown or anything. I mean, probably not. I didn’t exactly know all the vampire rules, but I didn’t think lungs full of water would feel that great.

Maybe we could hop on a boat and go over, but Northern Ireland was big and had a few parts that looked like islands. I wanted to look it up, but Mom was the only one with internet on her phone, and it was incredibly slow.

Suddenly, my phone felt heavy in my pocket. I could help another way.

We needed a backup plan when this thing fell through, and all our plans tended to do that. It wouldn’t hurt to think about it for a second or two.

The note was left to me for a reason, but I wondered what that reason might be. What did Akira see in me, anyway? Why did I get the note? Akira didn’t trust The Legion either. I guess we had that in common. He said a lot of stuff I didn’t remember, but I remembered that part.

I opened my phone and stared at my call log. The number had called me back numerous times, but I’d let it ring. No messages though.

Maybe Akira knew something about The Legion we didn’t and the number was supposed to help somehow. He didn’t hurt us when he could have. He was strong enough to kill us all that day at the farm. He’d obviously let us win so we would drink Hell Bitch’s blood, and that was not very trustworthy.

I just need to choose.

If I wanted to do it, I should just try it and see who was really on the other line. It wasn’t my brothers, but it could give us another clue. It wasn’t like I needed to tell anybody. I could make good decisions on my own.

That weird emotion bubbled in my stomach again. My body flushed and I felt . . . angry but couldn’t pinpoint why. Just the heat of the emotion rushing through me.

Another memory resurfaced before I could block it out.

Zach and I were in my room in Blackheart.

“ Aaron is being such a baby ,” I said to Zach after Luke had explained I couldn’t taunt Aaron anymore by fake flirting with Kimberly.

“I don’t think Aaron would actually hurt you. Luke just wants to be safe.”

“No, I mean with Kimberly. He’s being ridiculous.”

“Ah.” Zach plopped down on the bed and rested his head on his hand. “This doesn’t have anything to do with Ellis, does it?”

I stopped folding my clothes on the bed. “What? No. Why would you say that? I haven’t thought of him in forever.” At least thirty minutes.

“Hmm.” Zach watched me with those piercing laser eyes, like he had cut me open and started dissecting my insides. He had little pliers to pick out all my hidden parts, like that board game with the loud noises. He was really subtle about it.

“Don’t do it. Don’t psychoanalyze me. You know I hate that.”

“I’m not.”

“I know you and Luke sit around all day and worry.”

“Do not.”

“Well, maybe you should be talking to Aaron. Someone’s gotta tell him how brainless he’s being. Kimberly is the perfect girl, and he’s going to ruin it. He’s going to ruin his chance to have a relationship with someone who is literally his soulmate. He doesn’t even see how lucky he is. It’s like talking to a wall. A big stone wall that doesn’t do anything but just stand there and listen to no one and . . . Uh, I don’t where I’m going with that.”

There was silence while Zach watched me fold shirts terribly and made no effort to correct me.

“It’s okay, you know . . . if you want to be angry.”

“How did you get that from what I just said?”

He sat up, letting his shoulders fall. “Changing you took a lot away from you, and that’s our fault. I know, especially right now, dating is pretty out of the picture with everything going on. I’ve thought about it. How . . . I’ll never get married. No chance of having kids. So, it’s okay if you want to be angry at me.”

“I’m not angry.”

“You’re not angry at Aaron for having something you don’t?”

“I’ll be angry if he leaves her. Wait.” I held up my finger and pointed. “Ah. you’re doing it! I said no.”

He smiled. “I’m just saying, if you want to be mad, it’s okay to be mad at me. I can take it.”

“Why would I be mad at you? It’s not like any of this is your fault.”

“ It is my fault ,” he said quickly. Cleverly leaving little room for argument.

“Well, too bad. I’m not mad at you.”

He got up and hit me on the shoulder. His equivalent to a Luke bear hug.

“If you ever want to talk about that thing that didn’t happen with Ellis, I’m all ears.”

How did he even know? Leave it to Zach to recognize something as seemingly insignificant as my monster crush on my formal date in Blackheart.

I pulled myself out of the recollection before too many of the memories crept in. My chest already hurt. I didn’t need to make it worse.

Aaron thought I was the younger brother with no perception skills, but I could be helpful like everyone else. I was good for more than sitting around in my room waiting for things to happen.

I dialed the number, with the heat still in my cheeks. Pacing the cabin floor, I waited as the phone rang.

Maybe I was wrong. It wasn’t something Aaron would do, that’s for sure. Aaron would tell me to burn the note or something. Rubbing my chest right over my heart, I didn’t see any other alternatives. If things fell through, I was the only one who might have a way to find them.

When a voice sounded on the line, chills ran down my spine.

“Hello?”

“Is this Presley?”

I stilled, contemplating my decision. “Um. Yeah. This is Presley.”

“Why did you hang up on me and not answer?”

“Uh, I don’t know. You’re kinda scary.” I mean, why not be honest?

“Nobody has told you anything?”

“Nope.” A common occurrence.

“Well, I was given this phone a while back and told to have it on me at all times until a Presley called me. I have some stuff for you. We need to meet up.”

“That seems sketchy.” Really extra sketch.

“He said you’d say that.”

“Well, I’m not really in a place I can travel.”

“I’ll come to you. What’s your nearest town?”

“Why would I tell you that?”

“Because you need what I have? He said to tell you ‘All roads lead here.’”

Of course, more cryptic vampire shit. These people needed to be stopped. It was actually ridiculous.

“Can’t you just tell me what it is first?”

“No. I don’t make the rules. I just follow ’em. And you should too. We can grab a drink.”

“Fine.” I swallowed the lump in my throat. “But it might take me a bit to arrange.”

“Just tell me where and when.”

“Fairbanks, Alaska. I’ll let you know a good time.”

An hour away. Far enough away to keep my family out of it. I hope.

“Okay, I’ll make arrangements. You just make sure you answer my phone calls.”

“Maybe just text me next time.”

I was asking a mystery man to text me and was going to go meet him in another city. My older brothers would murder me.