Page 143 of This Blood that Bonds Us
“Torture it outta him!” Presley said.
Zach held up a finger to silence him.
I let them bicker. If She was in my head, She would know everything about Kimberly. I’d lose my only edge. If I told them Kilian wiped my memory, that might prompt Her to want to check.
“Darling, is something bothering you?” She looked over to Zach who was now pacing in circles.
Darling?
Zach scoffed. “Yes,Dear. I am.”
He spat Her pet name like an insult. There was real hatred there, yet his eyes softened when he looked to Her.
“I know how this is going to end. You’re going to force your way into his head, and it’s going to put us all on our ass. They haven’t ascended yet. We feel everything that they feel, and that shit hurts.”
“He’s right. We need to be prepping for The Legion’s arrival. We won’t be as useful if it’s anything like the last few months have been,” Luke said.
They still believed we were all bonded. Even if Presley had told them everything, they couldn’t have confirmed it.
“Then maybe you’ll finally reach your true potential and harden yourself for your queen,” Sirius said.
“Fuck you. No one is talking to you either,” Zach spat. “I’ve proven my loyalty over and over.”
“He’s right to consider it,” Ezra said. “But I agree and plead on Luke’s behalf for more time.”
She watched me. Her hands moved to my arm, and I had to act like it affected me. Like it was anywhere near the feeling of Kimberly’s embrace. I had to say something.
“Kilian kept my head clean too. I don’t know about their plans.”
“He’s lying,” Sirius said.
“Silence all. Let him speak,” She said. Her long slender fingers raked across my cheek.
“I’ll take your blood to prove my loyalty. Will that be enough for now?”
I stared into Her light-gray irises. I needed to prove myself with something that would satisfy everyone in the room.
“Luke said . . . it would make everything easier.”
“It will.” She knit Her hands into the hair at the nape of my neck, then pulled Her hair to the side.
The urge to bolt ran through me. I thought of Kimberly and wanted to go to her. The queen forced me closer till my lips were at the nape of Her neck, and I bit down, letting Her blood into my veins, but nothing good rushed through me. Just the anxiety of knowing I needed to put on a show for Her.
And that I did. I gripped Her cheek and drank deeper. The disgust was the only thing making my hands shake, but it tasted like nothing. I let Her pull away first.
“There. He did it. Can we help him get settled in now?” Zach asked.
My eyes settled on Luke who said nothing. It wasn’t like him. Everything was strange and horrible.
“Yes, find him a suitable room.”
Presley skipped to sit closest to Her and began stroking Her hair.
“What should we do now? Maybe you want me to wash your hair? I can massage your feet, braid your hair . . .” He traced the skin on Her arms. “Please, anything you want.”
My stomach turned.
“Oh! I could paint your nails too.”
