Page 151 of This Blood that Bonds Us
The softest gleam of tears almost hid that silent, still determination, but it was flaring in her blue eyes. I could almost read her mind.Patient. Like we planned.
This wasn’t my plan. She wasn’t supposed to get hurt.
I lay my forehead onto hers and took a deep breath. Loving her was trusting her. I longed for our bed together, to hold her again in the safety of the warmth. As I was pulled away again and her skin left mine, I never stopped staring into her eyes. With my heart in my throat, I reached for her, but only the tips of my fingers grazed hers before I was yanked away.
I recognized Zach’s tight grip on the back of my neck.
He whispered, “Let Luke fix it.”
His hands trembled. My brothers were still visibly shaken. Presley was still on the floor. I was thankful I wasn’t connected to the bond anymore. I don’t think I’d have been able to get up either, but they felt it, which meant they still felt for Kimberly and were still in there.
“My Love, I’m sorry. I abominate the idea of hurting you. But you know some things must be punished. There are consequences. Your brother has a traitorous heart. You all do. So much feeling for this one insignificant girl. It pains me to see the copious tears you all shed for her . . .”
The queen eyed Luke with a pained expression. Everything about Her seemed to soften around him. I’d thought I’d imagined it before, but I couldn’t deny the way She addressed him.
“We just need more time. If you give them more time to adjust, they’ll forget about her,” Luke said.
Luke reached for Her hand. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, let alone seeing. Was he serious?
“You can’t promise it,” the queen said, softer this time. Her hand melted over his.
“I can. I’ll make sure of it. Lock her up. You have the dagger. If you give me time, I can make sure they forget her, and then you can do whatever you want with her.”
“Luke,” I said.
“Hush. It’s a good deal,” Zach said.
Even Presley didn’t protest that unacceptable suggestion. This wasn’t good. My brothers were more brainwashed than I’d anticipated.
Luke leaned down to kiss Her hand, and my body went rigid. All of it was wrong. It was worse than not seeing Her apparent cruelty, they . . . believed Her. They believed this strange act She was putting on for them, and it was so bad and painfully obvious, but they were hanging on Her every word. Fear slashed through my chest as I realized what I knew since arriving but didn’t want to admit—no amount of time would convince them. While the queen lived, they would be tethered to Her.
Her cool eyes settled on me, and I shivered. I couldn’t let the full extent of my disgust show.
“And what would you do? How strong is the bond you two share?” She ran Her hands along my chest. “Strong enough for you to plead for her now even with all that blood of mine in your veins. How long will it withstand? Show me whatyou’ddo to prove your loyalty. Kiss me.”
“What the fuck?” Zach said.
“Not fair,” Presley grumbled.
A lump gathered in my throat as I looked at Kimberly. She shook her head.
The queen’s lip grazed my ear. “What will you choose? Would you kiss me? Take me to your bed? And how long will she continue to love you after that? How long could she endure seeing you with me night after night?”
“Aaron, don’t listen to Her.”
Presley shot across the room to put his hand over Kimberly’s mouth. “There, there. It’s all right. We can be sad and jealous together.”
Kimberly squirmed, but he only tightened his grip around her neck and rested his cheek against hers. It was so fucked up. My life had turned into a nightmare. For some odd reason, the queenreallyhated me, but I knew my answer.
“I’ll do anything.”
Kimberly’s cries were stifled, and I had to turn away from her. It would be quick. One kiss. The game the queen was playing would be over before it started. I wasn’t going to let any of that happen.
Her hands threaded into my hair, and Her cold lips met mine. It took every bit of control I had to not fling Her off me. Her tongue was like ice, and Her scent was like chili powder in my nostrils—sharp and uncomfortable—but I was acting. I forced my hands to Her waist and pulled Her close while She kissed over my jaw and down my neck. I was so numb from it I could barely feel the pressure of Her. I considered counting like Kimberly had done once in my room. Instead, I imagined that day and how safe it all felt at the beginning before we both knew what we were up against. We sat in my room in Blackheart—her sleeping peacefully and me playing video games in blissful ignorance.
I met Kimberly’s gaze. Her eyes were darker than I’d ever seen. She didn’t squirm or cry, just watched in silence.
I’m sorry. It’s almost over.I had to stay focused. I grabbed the queen’s wrist and pulled Her tighter to me. It had to be convincing, or it was all for nothing.
