Page 123 of Black Bird

“I can’t do that. I’ve filed a restraining order.”

“For someone that pushes papers for a living, you sure are transparent about the power they have over you. All this fame and position that you have, and yet you have no idea what power truly is.”

“I need that blood.”

“Then I suggest you find out what happened to it now that you’ve gone soft. You’re a fool. I have nothing to offer you, no matter what you’re willing to give. And the moment that I do have it in my grasp, you won’t be the first priority on my list, Senator.”

“What if I were to help you get it?”

“And how do you propose to do that?”

“Well … another difference between you and I is that I won’t turn into a piece of charcoal during the day. What do you need?”

Dahlia sighed loudly.“Come to the club tonight. I need to sleep. Meet me at my office around ten this evening. Come alone.”

“Thank you.”

“I wouldn’t thank me yet, Conrad. I’d much prefer to see you dead.”

“As long as I can do at least one thing before that happens, I’ll let you drain every drop.”

“Oh, you misunderstand. Nobody thirsts for your kind. It goes down like sour milk. Do not be late.”

Call ended.

Rhaena stood over the deep freezer that was tucked into the storage closet around the back of the cabin. Athan stood next to her, helping pick out possible meals they could have for the remainder of the week. The bite of oncoming winter and the frosty chill of the air circling the surface of the freezer was doing little to satisfy her hot flashes. She fanned herself with a hand and sighed.

“You’ve still got three more days,” Athan said, stacking another bag of frozen vegetable soup.

“They’re not bad yet. But they will be. I’m worried about Sarah and Wren.”

“They’ll be fine, Rhaena. You make one hell of a fuss, but I’m here. I won’t let you get out of control. You know that.”

Rhaena let the door drop closed and stacked the food on top of it as she leaned against it and crossed her arms. “You never told me how everything went last night.”

Athan went rigid. “I told her everything.”

“Everything?”Rhaena repeated.

He nodded and glanced up at her. He seemed lighter … more relaxed than she’d seen him in a very long time. Still, she could tell something wasn’t quite right. He picked a cat hair off his white t-shirt and made a face at it before letting it fall to the floor. Rhaena leaned her face toward him as if he weren’t catching her obvious impatience for details. He huffed and crossed his arms.

“I told her I loved her.”

She felt a surge of excitement, followed by another hot flash and smiled as she fanned herself through it. “Okay … and?”

“She didn’t say it back, but—I kissed her and … something happened.” His hand reached up to the side of his neck and Rhaena drew her brows together.

“Wait … you didn’t … turn—”

“No …hellno. But … Dahlia’s bond broke. It’s like it snapped and disappeared.”

“How the hell?” Rhaena countered, more confused than ever.

“We’re mated, Rhaena.” His eyes were longing, and desperate. “She claimed me, I think. Severed the siring bond and replaced it with her own. I can feel it. I can feelher, even from outside the house.”

“Holy shit … does she know?”

“Yeah, she knows. She’s a little overwhelmed. She asked for some time.” He started gathering the frozen food and stacked them into his arm.

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