Page 58 of Black Bird

“No, we can talk about it now. It’s gotta be bad …” She wheezed, turning her face toward his. “Or you wouldn’t have left.” He must have realized she wasn’t going to let it go. Good boy. He eased himself down and held the towel around her shoulders, sitting side-by-side with her in the closet. She relaxed against his side, and he blew out a long breath as he refilled her glass, handing it to her. “Sarah?” she asked, already knowing the answer. He nodded slowly.

“She’s sleeping it off at my apartment. Herandthe redhead.”

Rhaena could hardly contain her surprise. “You left me here to be a designated driver?” She smirked, staring him down in shock. He chuckled through his nose.

“I wish it had been that simple … but no.” He quieted and she gave him a moment to find his own way to explain. “Jenkins called us. Said there was a body. He thought it was Sarah.” Her eyes widened and she stared at him. Every inch of his face seemed truly devastated. “When I’d gotten off the phone with him, I realized that Wren had called several times and left a voicemail saying Sarah was in some trouble and they needed my help. I panicked, called Sarah … no answer. So, I did a hundred in your truck all the way back to Boston.”

“Jesus, Kane. What happened?”

“I went straight to the crime scene. The body was slashed all to shit. She was dressed just like her … I was wholly convinced it was her until I turned her wrist over. They left a message in her blood on the brick.”

“What did it say?”

Athan sighed deeply. “Trick-or-treat.”

Rhaena stared at him, and several silent moments passed between them before she spoke. “Did they feed on her?” Another slow nod. “So … then they—”

“She knows. Dahlia knows it was me. It was a warning. She’s gonna come after her.”

“Athan … you’ve gotta tell her.” Rhaena eased off of him and faced him, clutching the towel. “You’ve gotta tell her the truth. You can’t wait anymore. When I dropped her off at Wren’s place, I realized Conrad had been tailing her friend, too. For a while. She drives a yellow Beetle. If those two snakes are working together, then I don’t think Sarah’s the only one we need to be worried about.”

Athan turned toward her. “If I tell her, she’ll leave. I can’t keep her safe if she doesn't stay close.” They stared at one another for a moment, and he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “What the fuck am I supposed to do?” It was the first time Rhaena could remember ever seeing him emotional. She laid a hand on his knee, and to her surprise, he allowed it.

“When you’re ready, I’ll help you.” She offered, lowering her tone as best she could into a soothing, raspy comfort. “I’m okay. You need to go home.”

“No, I can stay.”

“Go. I’m gonna take a long bath and try to rest up a little. You need to go back and check on them. You said she’s sleeping it off?”

“Yeah. When I realized the vic wasn’t her, I called Wren again and she finally picked it up. They were still at the Halloween party and …” He paused, sliding both hands over his face.

“And?”

“And I could’ve probably killed somebody.” He rasped.

Rhaena’s mouth tugged up in the corners. “Why?”

He rubbed over his face again, dropping his hands into his lap and staring forward. “She was absolutely tanked. I’m pretty sure somebody slipped something into one or a few of her drinks. When I got there and found her, she was dancing on a pole.”

Rhaena bit down on her bottom lip and tried not to laugh. “I mean, that doesn’t sound too bad. She was just having fun.” Athan shot her a look. “The drugging part is cause for concern, yes … but I can’t say I haven’t danced on a bar or two.” She shrugged.

“She was dressed as a fucking slutty vampire, Rhaena. Fake blood and all.”

That did it. Rhaena burst into laughter, dropping her forehead onto his shoulder. She could barely manage the words, and she wasn’t sure if it was because it was truly hilarious, or she was just completely spent from a full night of torment. “I’m sorry … but if you can’t see the humor in that, Athan … there truly isn’t any hope for you.” She howled.

His chest bobbed up and down and she heard him lightly chuckling. “I’m so fucked.” He laughed, shaking his head.

“You really are …” She continued, unable to stop.

“You wanna know what else is funny?” He snorted.

“What’s that?”

“You smell like a wet dog.” He cackled. Rhaena shot up, raising her fist, and thwacking him in the shoulder with all her remaining strength.

“Okay, get out!” She grinned, hitting him again. He snickered, raising from the floor, and helping her to her feet as they crept out of the closet. “Seriously … take my house key. Go check on them and if she needs to stay at my place, you know my couch pulls out.”

“I’m sorry, Rhaena …”

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