Page 60 of This Blood that Bonds Us
And then I saw . . . Aaron running. Faster and faster. It was the view from the back of his head, and he didn’t turn back. At first,I thought he was being chased, but this was different. He was running toward something.
What did it mean? As soon as I contemplated it, the image morphed. My stomach grew sick. There was something I needed to see. A warning. No.Just a different path.
The bright light faded until I saw the Calem brothers. All four stood next to a large ornate throne dressed in all-black suits. Seated between them was the queen. Long white hair and piercing eyes. Presley was at Her feet pulling at the hem of Her silk gown to gain Her attention. Her head was inclined toward Luke, while he whispered something in Her ear and She ran Her fingers along his chin. On Her other side, hovering with a white-knuckled grip on the chair, was Zach. His expression was cold, unwavering, and devoid of any semblance of the person I knew. And then there was Aaron,my Aaron, holding Her hand and kneeling to kiss Her cheek.
The shock of it felt like a punch to the stomach. No. Worse. The worst thing I could imagine. Worse than death. With nothing but pure despair left for me, I willed the image to turn.
When I blinked again, I was on the floor surrounded. Aaron held me in his lap while caressing my head, and around him, everyone who’d been in the room was leaning over me. Cool, intoxicating relief washed over me as if I’d awakened from a nightmare.
“It worked,” I said.
“Step back,” Aaron said to the crowd surrounding us, with his eyes darkening.
I felt for his arm and rubbed it softly. He was still with me. Still mine.
“It’s okay. I’m fine. What happened?”
“Your eyes rolled back, and you stayed like that for a minute, then you just fell,” Aaron said.
I let him pull me up. The disorientation left as I got to my feet. A line settled between Aaron’s brows and dented his forehead.
“I’m okay. Really.”
At my words, he softened. He surveyed me with carefulness that brought a flush to my cheeks, as if there weren’t four other sets of eyes on us.
“Where did you go?” he asked.
“I was in this . . . strange nothing place. I couldn’t feel my body, but I felt something with me.”
“What did it feel like? Did it seem malicious?” Kilian asked.
“No. This was . . . neutral. Whatever it was, something watched me until I asked for Its help.”
I told them all the details while Aaron ushered me into a chair. Though I kept the details about the Calem brothers with Her to the minimum of what they needed to know. I didn’t want to think of it, especially the vacant admiration in all their eyes.
Aaron didn’t even flinch when I said it. His hand tightening in mine was the only indication he’d heard me.
“This is an amazing progression.” Kilian smiled from ear to ear and looked at Dom. “Do you feel any lingering effects?”
“No, I feel good. Should we try again?”
Aaron shook his head but awaited my response.
“I wouldn’t advise. I’m not sure of the side effects of tapping into Her power. Unfortunately, that means we won’t be able to try again for another month.”
Something cracked in Aaron’s expression—deep disappointment.
“But I wasn’t shown anything useful. What about the prophecy?” I asked, feeling the same disappointment, but it made my blood burn hotter.
“It might take time. This gave us a significant clue. There is still much we can do. We’ll train, form a plan of attack, and teach you both to fight. Will your brother be joining us?” Kilian asked.
Aaron and I shared a look. That was unlikely but not impossible. Presley’s distrust of The Legion ran deep, and my theory was because he was deeply loyal to his brothers. The kind of loyalty that even if Kilian could help us, he probably wouldn’t want the help. I didn’t agree, but I understood it.
“So a battle, then?” Felix’s eyes glowed with exhilaration, and he popped his knuckles.
“We’re ready,” Halina said.
Dom made eye contact with me and nodded.
