Once Hunter’s hand is done, we all turn to Jace, whose face is pale. He holds his hand over his mouth like he’s about to be sick.
“Are you okay, Jace?” I’m worried he’s going to fall over. He doesn’t look well.
“Does blood make you queasy?” Roman asks, cocking his head to the side as he tries to read Jace. Roman approaches, and Jace’s eyes widen at the blood dripping down Roman’s wrist now, then to the knife in his left hand.
“No,” Jace replies, but it comes out soft, like a whisper, as his knees waver.
Holy crap, Jace doesn’t like the sight of blood. I grow concerned that if he doesn’t join the blood pact, he won’t be best friends for life with us, and I would hate that. He needs to do it.
“Just look away,” I tell him. I didn’t look, and it doesn’t hurt. It just stings a little.
“No, no, I can’t. Please, I think I’m gonna be sick.”
Roman stops and watches Jace. He doesn’t say anything; he just waits and watches him. He lets Jace catch his breath.
We are all silent as the color returns to Jace’s face. He closes his eyes and holds out his right palm to Roman. His knees tremble, and I feel sick. He doesn’t want to do it. I don’t want him to do it if he doesn’t want to. He can still be part of the blood pact without cutting. We will make sure.
“Do it, quick, before I change my mind.”
And with the swift slice of the blade, Roman cuts the palm of Jace’s hand, and Jace lets out a small, painful cry that stabs me right in my heart. A tear rolls down my cheek as my best friend holds his hand to his chest and lets out a strangled sob. He is the smallest of us all, and I sometimes forget that.
We all crowd around Jace and press our cuts to each other’s. I press mine into Jace’s while Roman and Hunter do the same. Then we switch until we all have shared blood. Jace doesn’t open his eyes at all while we do this. I ignore the tears rolling down his face for now. I will hug him and fix his hand up when we are done.
“Blood friends for life,” Roman cheers, and I smile up at him and repeat it. The other two do too, but I can’t keep my eyes from Roman. This is more than friendship. This is family. We are a family.
I hear a loud gasp, and I break my gaze from Roman to see Jace. He’s looking down at our hands. The bleeding has slowed, but there’s a lot of blood. Jace’s eyes land on mine, and his face turns to ash as his eyes roll into his head. My heart stops.
“Jace,” we all call out as we try to catch him before he drops to the ground.
The memory makes my chest heavy. Our lives were perfect before I left and fucked everything up. I look into Jace’s eyes, not expecting to see the same sadness I feel inside.
“Blood friends for life,” Jace says.