Page 2 of A Bloodline Redeemed

I glanced at the others, suddenly concerned that I was being selfish by taking Andy away from them when we were all still reeling, hurting.But Ambrose clapped me on the shoulder and gave me a soft, sad smile.“I’ve got them,” he said with a nod toward Dyre, Elijah, and Niamh.“Go on and tend to Andy and Aahil, big guy.You’re better with that duo than the rest of us.”

And he didn’t have to say it, the thought was right there, shared between us as our eyes met.Hasumiwas the one who was good with Andy and Aahil when they were truly struggling.But Hasumi wasn’t here.So, they got me instead.

What I wouldn’t give for the water weaver to magically appear before us and wrap all of our mangled hearts in comfort and peace.Tears fell down my cheeks, but I ignored them.Andy needed me.And Aahil too.This loss would hit them worse than the rest of us.Not that we didn’talllove Hasumi, but… that was just how it was.

Sighing, I turned and headed up the stairs with my defeated witch and the tiny flaming terror.Hopefully I would survive my silly, overprotective urges.But then I paused.Someone was following us, their footsteps nearly silent, keeping back, apart from the rest, as if they didn’t really know where to go.

“River,” I said casually.“Would you mind running ahead and getting a bath started in Andy’s room?Then go get the pile of blankets and cushions from Aahil’s room and bring it over?”

Aahil had already disappeared down the hallway, but I knew he’d be waiting for us.Luckily, he wasn’t there to hear my request for someone else to go touching his things.

River’s deep voice was subdued.“Of course.If… you’re sure?”

Andy surprised me when she spoke.I half thought she had passed out, with how docile she was being.“River,” she said tiredly.“Just listen to the gargoyle.He’s usually right when it comes to fussing over everyone like a big, mushy, bleeding heart.”

I didn’t take her insult to heart.She was mostly teasing.And for the rest, well, she was still hurting, and I wouldn’t hold a few snarky words against her.“Please,” I said to the shifter.

River’s warm hand touched my shoulder lightly in passing as he jogged up the stairs with a new purpose.

Goddess, I missed Hasumi so much.They’d know what to do.Know exactly what everyone needed.But I was all we had.

Chapter 2

Andy

Hasumiwasgone.

The thought repeated in my head, along with flashes of those last seconds.How they had stepped in front of me.Needlessly, since the next second I was no longer in the path of the spell that had killed them.

It still didn’t seem real.I dimly remembered that feeling from when I was a little girl—that sense that everything had changed, but that I would wake up any time now and find out it was all a bad dream.Maybe Ambrose was mad at me, and this was his way of putting me in my place with a poorly-timed nightmare.

But I knew my boogeyman would never be this cruel.

I let my head rest against the back of the tub as I stared at the ceiling.It couldn’t be real.If it was real, that meant the gaping hole in my chest was real, and the anguish that wanted to rush in to fill it was warranted.And I wasn’t sure I could survive that.There’d be no coming back from that tidal wave of darkness and pain.

And… I wasn’t sure I hadtimefor that.I might be pissed at her, and Idefinitelydidn’t trust her after this… but in a way, I understood Bella’s cold demeanor back at the battle site.If I let this pain and loss consume me, I’d be no good to anyone ever again.

Even though I loved Hasumi, could still feel their graceful body in my arms, their lips against mine, still hear the alluring music of their voice in my mind and their touch on my skin as we made love so recently… Hasumi wasn’t theonlyperson I loved, or the only person depending on me to fix the mess that was my life, so we could all live in peace.The others still needed me.

It didn’t make the pain go away.But it did help me finally find the willpower to heave myself out of the now-cold bath water and dry off my thoroughly pruned body.There were other people who were hurting.Other people who depended on me—whether I felt worthy of their trust in me or not.(Spoiler, the answer was “not.”)

I had to keep moving, even if I was wounded.

I pulled on the loose t-shirt and sweats that someone had left out for me.Probably Zhong.I had been pretty out of it when he deposited me in the bath, but it seemed like the sort of thing he would do.I thought of his quiet attention and his solid strength and let it anchor me as I took a deep breath and opened the door leading from my bathroom hideout to my bedroom.

Aahil.

My eyes found his immediately, knowing I must look every bit as haunted as he did just then.I could feel his pain like it was my own.His beautiful features had lost all hint of their usual haughtiness.He was broken again, and he had onlyjustmanaged to put himself back together after last time.He had only managed that because of Hasumi.

My bottom lip trembled, and I blinked back the sudden burn of tears.I couldn’t do this.I couldn’t face this mess without Hasumi’s understanding and guidance.

Aahil swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing in his long, graceful throat as if he was trying to swallow down something far too big.I understood.I was choking on the magnitude of the loss myself.He lifted his arm and held out a hand to me, and I forced myself to move.

Someone had dragged all of Aahil’s silly cushions, and pillows, and blankets into the center of my bedroom.The jinn sat cross-legged in the nest.He hadn’t put the oversized hoodie back on yet, so that was something.At least he didn’t feel the need to hide himself away.He was here, vulnerable and raw.I took his hand and let him pull me down into the sumptuous pile of cushions.His hand was overly hot in mine, and his grip so tight I felt my bones grind together.We didn’t speak as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me down with him, so we were lying on our sides facing each other in the center of the nest of silks and velvet, our foreheads pressed together.

I tucked one hand under my head and looped the other arm around his narrow waist, taking a deep breath and letting it out.I breathed in his cinnamon and smoke scent and let the comfort of his fiery aura seep into my soul.We had spent a lot of time like this, just lying there, holding each other as he healed from his time with the O’Leary coven.

In some strange way, the thought gave me a little sliver of hope.

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