Page 107 of This Blood that Bonds Us
“She’ll love it,” I said.
Mom pulled me in for a hug that warmed me in the same way my brothers’ had. Of all the people I wanted to talk to about the moment, Zach and Luke were first on that list.
It was bittersweet, but it only made my resolve that much stronger. I stared up at the moon as I rested my head on her shoulder.
I would come for them very soon.
Forty-Seven
Kimberly
“You’re not nervous at all?” Aaron sat next to me cross-legged on the floor.
The memory of what happened a month prior was burned into my mind. Aaron strewn across a marble floor without life in hisfeatures. However, when I looked at Aaron smiling, confident, and carefree, I realized I, too, was starting to believe we could win.
We couldn’t trust everything at face value. We were tapping into an unknown source of power, and there wasn’t one way to interpret anything.
I needed to have an open mind.
I needed to be brave.
“It’s going to be okay,” I finally replied.
Dom sat in an ottoman next to me. “Everything is ready.”
“You’re sure?” Aaron said, rubbing my knee.
“Positive. We still need something if we’re going to win.”
I looked next to me, wishing Presley were on my other side, but we all agreed since we needed to know less about the plan, it was better he didn’t come or know more about the rituals. Probably Aaron too, but there’s no way he would let me go alone, and I didn’t want to. I grabbed Aaron’s hand and squeezed it for comfort.
“Have you tried talking directly to Cecily?” Anzola rested on the windowsill. “During that time, there was a frenzy among nobles. Everyone wanted to obtain power and influence, and they were willing to sacrifice anything to get it. Even their own daughters. Many members of the council believe that once a queen is created in the body of a human, their soul is sent to hell. But I believe they’re trapped and their souls stay within the body. The dagger you’re holding has the blood of Cecily embedded in its handle. It’s what created Her.”
“This stuff is so weird,” Felix grumbled.
“Hush.” Halina nudged him.
Felix was right. We’d grown accustomed to the strangeness of things that involved vampires, but this stuff was different. Using a physical object to tap into “power from the sky,” as Presley would say, was new territory for my family and theirs.
“I’ll give it a shot.” I ran my finger along the handle.
“We’re ready.” Kilian nodded from his desk chair. “Try to stay as long as you can.”
I nodded and reached for the cool blade of the dagger, pricking my finger and smearing my blood on the blade.
This time, there was barely any pause.
When I blinked again, I was on my own in a pure white room that went on forever in all directions. There was no warmth. No cold. No worry or pain. It was infinitely neutral.
I waited, unsure how fast time was passing in that space. It was dreamlike, but I could still recall things. Like when Aaron mentioned he felt forced into the back of his own mind. Maybe that place was my own mind.
“Cecily. I need to speak with Cecily,” I demanded.
When I turned around, I stood face-to-face with a mirror. It went on for miles on either side. As I went to touch the glass, I gasped. Behind the shining glass was the queen.
I only knew from Aaron’s vague description. Long white hair and ghastly pale skin draped in layers of white satin fabric. Only Her eyes weren’t white, hazy, or even gray. They were bright green.
I knew who was in front of me with no hesitation, like the fact had been whispered in my ear and I was simply repeating it.
