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

74. Seventy-Four

Seventy-Four

Aaron

This time, I ran. Slow at first, but I picked up speed into a full sprint. I knew what I needed to do. My body didn’t hurt anymore. With the dagger in one hand, I rushed toward the cathedral where the sounds of another fight raged on.

Luke had Presley nestled with the queen on the altar while he stood guarding them. Next to him, Presley was moving his hands along the wall under the pulpit stairs like he was searching for something,

A larger fight had unfolded. Ezra, Sirius, and Kilian fought in a collective bloody mess.

Kilian—still remarkably resilient—fought blow for blow. Sirius was slower now. Sloppy. Still, Kilian wouldn’t last long. He needed help.

There were others, the last of our forces were battling it out on the floor.

Zach grabbed my shoulder. “There you are. Fuck. Don’t scare me like that.”

“Wait, you’re not shunning me like Luke and Presley?”

“She wants you alive.”

“Comforting.”

“We’re here!” Thane came crashing into the room, effectively ending our conversation, with another familiar face. Dom.

“Dom had something we needed.” He held up more blood bags.

“Thane. You’re not dead.” Zach’s voice stayed at an even level with no excitement.

“We’re going to fix this. Remember what we talked about.” Thane was instantly pleading. “The Legion came just like I said they would, and we can help them.”

“There’s nothing to talk about anymore. You’re too late. I’m glad you’re alive, but . . . if you’re trying to get to Her, I’m going to fight you.”

“Zach. Come on, dude. It’s me.”

“Move out of my way, Thane.”

Thane panned to me, and I shook my head.

“Go, get Kilian his blood. I’ll keep him busy,” Dom said, staring down my brother. “Then you need to go get the injured and start helping them to the chopper.”

“I’m not leaving you. I’m fighting,” Thane said.

“They need someone that can fly the chopper.”

Thane hesitated, then promptly ran into the battle filled with screams and anguish. I was happy he would avoid my brother’s wrath, but Dom—

“Dom. Don’t. He won’t listen.”

“It’s okay. Not much for talking.”

Dom shed his shirt, and Zach loosened the collar of his.

Zach tilted his head, with his eyes darkening. “You saved my family.”

“I did.”

“There’s still time for you to run.”

“Not much for running either.”

“Then let’s not.” Zach readied himself.

“The sad thing is . . . a couple more years in this place and I think Her words might actually be true. You’d be unstoppable,” Dom said.

“Flattery won’t stop me from fighting you.”

“It’s not supposed to. I’m going to fight you. And I’m going to do it for my sister.”

Zach nodded. “I respect that. I’ll make it quick.”

“Dom, please.”

Dom’s stance was set. There was no convincing him. “Aaron, you have your own job to do. Go do it. Keep your promises to your loved ones, and I will keep mine.”

He was right. I hated that he was right.

“May fate guide you.” Zach lowered his head briefly for a bow.

Dom bowed without skipping a beat. “May fate guide you.”

They moved at the same time and collided in a flurry of fists. My brother didn’t have a scratch on him and neither did Dom, which meant their fight would be even. I needed to hurry.

The fight with Kilian and The Guard had reached a peak. Sirius was on the ground bleeding out. Not moving. While Kilian sucked down the blood bag and dodged another advance from Ezra. I couldn’t spot Thane.

“Got it!” Presley’s voice echoed into the ceiling. The bricks had moved, revealing a door. The smell of mold and sea water wafted in. Their escape route was open.

“Come on, Luke. Let’s go.” Presley had one arm on the queen and the other extended toward my brother.

Luke hesitated, watching me, then Zach.

“My Love, it’s time,” the queen called to him, and he stepped back toward the door.

This was it.

They would escape, and we would all be separated. In an instant, I imagined the agony of all the possibilities. Us losing. The entire battle being for nothing while She continued to live and keep my brothers under Her spell.

We couldn’t separate. I knew what I needed to do.

I moved toward the steps to Her, and Luke blocked the way—one hulking mass staring down at me. With strong shoulders and that serious expression, he looked like Ezra. And there in that place, he would turn into him. He’d usher me and my brothers around and make us follow the rules.

“I can’t let you hurt Her.”

“My Love, please. Come with me,” She pleaded.

I scoffed. “You’ve resigned to kill me now?”

When She looked at Luke, She melted him with her timid voice. “Don’t let him come any closer.”

“Presley, stay close to Her,” Luke said.

“Would you really kill me for Her?”

“If I have to.”

His eyes were set and cold. Darker than the ones I’d known growing up. Luke’s eyes lit up with radiant joy when he was a kid, one he’d passed on to all of us. She’d taken it from him, but I would give it back.

“I’m sorry you don’t remember Sarah, but she meant a lot to you.”

His face fell. “What are you talking about?”

“Sarah Garanger was your best friend. She was what Kimberly is to me for you. You loved her. You spent all your free time with her.”

“Stop.”

“You took her to prom. And she wore a purple dress, and we had a picture on the wall of her where she kissed you on the cheek. You pretended to be embarrassed about it, but you never stopped talking about her. She liked butterflies and baking cookies. She was so amazing and cool, and no one knew her better than you did.”

“I said stop.”

“You loved her. And this place made you forget her, but I’m gonna fix it. You’re going to remember.”

I stepped forward, and he squared his shoulders.

“You’re not going to get near Her.”

“My Love, leave him,” She called.

“But don’t you need this?” I pulled the dagger from behind my back. “Without it, you’re still connected to Kimberly, and your queen will be weakened by it. We’ll use it to find you again and kill Her.”

That got his attention. He stepped forward till we were feet away. “Give me the dagger.”

“Come and get it. Kill me and take it.”

He stepped forward. “Stop messing around.”

“I’m not. Do it, Luke. Kill me for Her.”

“Don’t make me fight you. You know I’ll win.” He stood, wavering, and anger flashed in his eyes that I’d even dare to try.

“You’re underestimating me.” A smile curled my lips. “You didn’t think I’d come unprepared to die, did you?”

The dagger was heavy in my hand.

Luke’s eyes narrowed at the sight. “What are you doing?”

I stepped toward the altar.

Then I stopped.

“Saving you.”

With one heaving blow, I plunged the dagger into the center of my chest.

A sharp pain followed by a lightness brought me to my knees, but I kept my eyes on my brother. Waiting. Hoping.

His angry scowl turned into wide-eyed surprise, then . . . to grief.

Bond breaker.

I was the key. Without Kimberly, we never would have made it that far—she was the opening, but I was the only one with the missing piece.

My brother was my lifeblood, and it was stronger than Her blood. Our bond would go on forever, and Hers would die. A price to pay to carve the way. Eros figured it out too late.

Lifeblood gave way, a high price to pay.

Fate does not guide us.

We carve our way.

I carved Her out of our story. Their bond with Her was finally severed.

“Oh fuck.” I already felt dizzy. My chest was warm with the blood as it spread across my chest. I gripped at the hilt and fell back across the marble.

Luke pulled off his shirt to cover my wounds and bring me into his reach.

“Why would you do that?!” His hands trembled as he tried to cover the blood spreading farther and farther. “You’re okay. You’re fine. I can fix this. I can.”

“Luke.”

“I can fix this. It’s not too late.”

“ Luke. Tell me you remember.”

“What?”

“Tell me you remember Sarah.”

He was panicking, biting his wrist and trying to give me his blood.

“Luke. Stop.” With bloody hands and the only strength I had, I grabbed his face and pulled him closer. “Tell me your favorite memory of Sarah.”

I had to know it worked. That all Her mysticism had left my brothers for good. I had to know they were finally free.

He spoke in a sob. “When she told me she loved me.”

“I knew it.” I chuckled, and despite the heaviness on my chest, relief rushed over me.

It was done. My part in all of it was over. I wanted to stay and fight, but I was going.

“You’re free, Luke. You’ve got to get them all out. You have to fight.”

“This is wrong. This is all wrong.” He gripped at my chest, trying desperately to stop the bleeding. “You were supposed to stay home. You were supposed to live.”

“No, this is right. This is how it’s supposed to be. I’m saving you this time.”

“This is my fault.”

“No way. You’ve done everything right. You’ve been such a great big brother.”

All that trying not to cry was catching up to me, and my eyes went wet when I spoke.

“Why? Why would you do that for me?” Luke pressed his forehead to me between sobs, and I struggled to keep my eyes open.

“You’d have done it for me.” I coughed. Black blood filled my mouth and splattered on the floor. “You deserve to make your own choices. You need to live. They’ll need you.”

“I need you.”

I shook my head. “Go be free, Luke. Live.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can. Make your five-year plan. Get all of them and go. I know you’ll take care of Kim.”

It was never my story. I was never hero material—way too soft to ever be strong enough to take down this coven—and not smart enough either, but I broke the curse holding my brothers in bondage, the thing forcing us against each other. That was enough for me.

“Promise me you’ll fight.”

My vision was going, and I was thinking of her. Finally, the sadness of leaving Kimberly hit me. I kept my promises, but it would have been nice to build her that cabin . . . and I bet she’d have looked breathtaking in a wedding dress. Maybe it wasn’t in the cards this time around.

“Luke, promise.”

“I promise.”

The relief of his words held me as I drifted into the peaceful bliss pulling my eyes closed.

Chaos broke out in front of me. Yelling. Screaming. Crying. I wanted to stay.

The funny thing was, even with a dagger through the chest, I still had hope things would work out.