Page 144 of Black Bird

“She told me last night that she wanted to give that blood to the kid at the hospital,” Athan said softly, stepping closer to the window. Both Rhaena and Wren turned their heads toward him.

“What?” Rhaena asked, wiping the back of her neck with her palm. “Why?”

“Stratford said something on the phone last night that got her all twisted about it. She thought he was asking her to consider giving it to his mother, but … I gathered what he was really asking at about the same time she did. Last night, she sat by that fireplace stewing over it for a long time. Then she told me she’d made her decision. She said Stratford’s mom wasn’t like other people in that family and was a really good person, but it’s what she would have wanted. She even mentioned that she considered giving it to you, Rhaena.”

Rhaena stilled and her face crumpled. “Me? What the hell would I do with it?”

Wren kept her eyes on Sarah, who was effortlessly training Poe to fly out and return to her. “She thinks it might … fix your problem.”

Rhaena’s heart fluttered, and an ache bloomed in her chest. “She wants to help me?”

Athan looked at her with a confused expression. “Of course, she does. We all do. But only one of us has something to offer other than a silver ring that might make every difference in the way you wanna live your life, Rhaena.”

She looked to Wren, who nodded her agreement. “I—I couldn’t do that. That’s not her burden to bear. It’s bad enough that any of you are involved. Besides, we don’t even know what would happen.”

“There’s a syringe in the fridge that she drew out last night. She’s leaving it up to you. You can decide for yourself if you wanna try it tomorrow night. The blood bag will go with us on Monday, and she wants Brent to take it to the kid.” Athan reached over to the coat rack by the door and pulled on his black hoodie. “An amount that small shouldn’t hurt you. That’s what she thinks, anyway. She’s studied it enough. I don’t think she’d offer it if she thought it could go south. If you choose not to, I’ve still got my ring. Just think about it.” He slipped a cigarette into his mouth and winked at her before turning and stepping out onto the porch, shutting the door behind him.

So many thoughts flooded her mind, and Rhaena’s chest heaved up and down—in part from her surging hot flashes … and from the emotional toll that the notion of being free from this agony was suddenly a possibility. A possibility given by a girl that had already given so much. Rhaena knew that if Sarah’s blood cured that little girl … the whole world would know it. She’d never get the peace in her life that she wanted. But she was willing to give it to others. It was a selfless gesture that not many others would offer, given the chance. She swallowed around a growing lump in her throat.

“Look, I can’t imagine what you must be thinking right now,” Wren started, watching Athan and Sarah through the window again. “But if you’re worrying about her … take my advice and just don’t. Sarah’s proved herself stronger than I ever thought she could be. She’s got him now. However this ends … I think it’ll be happy.” She looked back over, meeting Rhaena’s eyes. “It’ll be happy because it’s whatshe’schoosing for herself. I underestimate her too much. Don’t consider the thought for any other reason than what you feel is gonna be the best option foryou, Rhaena. Sarah can handle herself.”

They looked like two black smudges against the snow. The wind caught Sarah’s hair and when she faced Athan, Rhaena could see that same peace settle over her face. The way that she remembered it did when Sarah first talked to her about him in the hospital that day. They all had come a long way in such a short time. Athan had taken her waist and kissed her, both of them cackling when Poe landed on top of Athan’s hood. They were able to find a little bit of happiness in the chaosunfolding around them, and Rhaena knew she should be doing the same. She’d have to be a fool to turn the offer down. That ordinary human life might be waiting in a little cylinder of plastic in that refrigerator. Her way out.

“Do you ever see yourself that happy, Wren?” Rhaena asked, fanning herself. Wren looked over at her. “Is the simple life worth giving up a part of yourself that maybe was alwaysmeantto be a part of yourself? Even if it’s a part that you hate?”

Wren grew quiet, stroking Denver’s coat as he purred against her belly. “I wouldn’t know. Sometimes I think I’m meant to be single. Alone. Maybe, I’d be happier that way. I think I’m too selfish to have a relationship like that. But I don’t know what it’s like to go through whatyougo through. If that part of yourself limits your ability to have the life you want … the one youdeserve… then yeah. I think it’s worth it, boo-thang.”

It was mid-day, and Tony felt uneasy, trying and failing to stop flopping over in his tiny bed and actually sleep. It had been this way ever since Dahlia had him beaten into submission that night, and he’d barely spoken a word, or sang the first note in the weeks that followed. Not to anyone in the coven … not to the patrons at the bar. Restlessness found him more often than not these days, but something about today felt different. Darker. Like that knowing heaviness that settled in one’s stomach when you knew something terrible was coming. His skin crawled with it. Tony sat up and slipped his shoes on, grabbing his flat cap on his way out of his broom closet of a living space.

The bar was already clean and stocked, but he figured it couldn’t hurt to go through it again. He knew at least one keg would have to be replaced before they opened for the night, anyway. Decclan and Devin must not have been able to sleep either. They sat at a booth in one of the alcoves along the wall, playing cards and throwing a hand up in greeting when Tony passed by. Several other coven members smoked cigarettes and talked quietly among themselves as he stepped behind the bar and grabbed a fresh towel from underneath it. It wasn’t unusual for people to be up and about during the day. He just didn’t expect to see quite so many out of bed.

“What’s up, Tony?” a voice called from the dark end of the bar. Tony looked over, finding the new kid sulking over a beer. Tony jerked his head up in response and wiped at an already immaculately clean bar glass. “Can’t sleep, man?” Tony shook his head. “Me neither,” Patrick said, turning his beer up and taking a long swallow … then another … then finishing the rest. He could tell the kid was bothered by something. He knew that look. Tony pulled another bottle from the glass fridge beneath the bar and popped the cap off as he walked over.

“I’ll take that for ya, kid.” It was the most he’d spoken in a while. Patrick passed him the empty bottle, accepting the one he’d placed on the bar. “You doin’ alright?” Everything in him screamed to keep his mouth shut. That it would be better for everyone if he could keep the tight leash on the personality that, until recently, he’d thought harmless. But rumors were flittering through the coven about the young newborn and their leader. Rumors that suggested that what Tony suspected was probably right.

“Yeah, I’m good. Just—just a little lost right now.”

Decclan and Devin made their way down the bar, pulling out stools on either side of Patrick and taking a seat. Tony watched them, waiting to fetch whatever top shelf whiskey they’d ask for. “Lemme get one of those, Tony.” Decclan gestured to Patrick’s ale.

“I’ll take one, too. Been a long time since I drank a beer,” Devin agreed. Tony turned and pulled out two more, opening them and sliding the bottles toward them. “Don’t you drink, Tony? Have one with us. Let’s play.” Devin started shuffling the deck of cards in his hands. No one ever asked him to do much other than sing for them. He considered not participating and leaving them to their leisure, but something in him told him to stay. Tony grabbed himself a beer and leaned over the bar.

“I’ve got time for a game.” He smirked. “Who’s dealin’?”

Decclan swiped the cards. “Me. This fucker thinks he’s slick.”

“You’ve always been the dodgy one, you wanker.” Devin rolled his eyes.

Patrick laughed through his nose as he took another swallow. “I don’t even know how to play, so it really won’t matter on that front.”

“That’s cause you’re too busy gettin’ ‘yer slob wet to learn.” Devin cackled, clapping him on the shoulder. Tony couldn’t help but laugh a little.

“You’ve been here long enough to know how much choice I have in it, Dev,” Patrick countered, fanning the cards in his hand.

“Better you than both of us, mate. I’ve never much cared for company when I’m gettin’ mine. I needed the holiday.” Devin lit a cigarette.

“It’s not always this tense around here, kid,” Decclan offered, laying a card down and grinning when Devin hissed. “She’s just on edge from everything going on. She’ll simmer down. We’ve all been through worse as a whole.”

“Last time we all had to move, Decclan,” Tony reminded him, laying his down over Devin’s brutal loss and collecting his cards. “I’ve grown to like Boston.”

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