Page 151 of Black Bird

Pat huffed a laugh, looking away from him as she drew the mug to her lips again. “You haven’t been either of those things in a long time, sweetheart. You don’t have to stay. I haven’t seen you in weeks now, anyway.”

“Pat …” His chest tightened and if she’d been looking, she might have seen him swallow down the emotion that was gathering in his throat. He couldn’t blame her for not wanting to entertain his bullshit. It’s all he’d offered her since she’d fallen ill.

“I want to see my son. Whatever you’ve done to keep him from coming back … fix it. It won’t be long now. Christmas is only a couple of weeks away. I’d like to spend my last one with him.”

“I’m not going to let you die.”

Pat stared into him, and there was silence for several minutes before she softly shook her head. “You still believe that you can control everything. You’re still so hungry for that power that you think you can keep Death from bringing down our door? Do you not understand that I want it to, Conrad? I’m tired. You can’t force this away any more than you can force our son to become someone he isn’t. Don’t make promises you can’t keep. Save that energy for when I’m gone. Use it to better yourself.”

“I never tried to pretend I was a good person, Pat. But I do love you.”

“You used to be. You used to have my knees buckling with your dreams of giving this country a bright future. I used to admire that fierceness in you, Conrad. I saw that same hope light up in Brent’s eyes when he was a little boy, and wondered what kind of team you’d both make … changing the world together. Butyouchanged. You’re taking us all down with you, and I might be on my way out … but I won’t let you kill off what’s good and pure in that boy. You think I don’t know about the restraining order? About the marriage you were trying to force on those youngsters? I may be sick, but I’m far from blind. And I’m certainly not stupid.”

Conrad took another step forward. “Everything I’ve done has been for this family, Pat … for this family, and for you.”

“Don’t.” She leaned forward, trying to set her mug on the side table and missing it. It shattered on the floor, and she coughed violently. Blood flowed from her nose and into her lap, and Conrad surged forward.

“Patricia!”

She held one hand under her nose, trying to staunch the bleed, and forced her other hand forward to keep him away. Her nurse rushed in to tend to her and he stepped back, watching the chaos unfold. She was right. He was a piece of shit. He deserved any ill will that came his way … but she didn’t deserve this. She didn’t deserve to suffer and die this way. His wife was always the best part of him. The only good part he’d had left.

Conrad backed out of the library and shut the door, standing in front of it and breathing heavily. He needed that damn blood … and he’d do whatever it took to get it.

Sarah woke, laying against Athan’s body on the couch. Late afternoon sun warmed them through the cabin windows, and she looked up to find him peacefully sleeping with an arm behind his head, his other draped around her. She looked over at Wren, who was snoring loudly next to the fireplace. Denver was curled up against her, finally free of his carrier after Rhaena’s return to her human form. They had all slept through most of the day. Everyone had been exhausted. One, in particular, who she was desperate to see. She didn’t have to wait long. Rhaena crept out of the bedroom, hair wet, and some loose pajamas covering most of her body … although Sarah could see several large bruises on her arms.

“Hey,” Rhaena whispered, smiling at her softly. Sarah eased off of Athan, careful not to wake him, and stepped off the couch.

“How are you feeling?” Sarah asked, quietly. They met in the kitchen doorway.

“Honestly? Other than being a little groggy, I feel excellent. It’s kind of strange. I’m not even really sore.”

Sarah followed her to the kitchen counter and they both started gathering what they needed to make coffee. “I’m glad, Rhaena …”

Rhaena paused, turning toward her with the empty pot in her hand. “You don’t look glad. I’m perfectly fine, Sarah. I’m really sorry that you had to see me like that.”

“It’s not that it wasn’t hard to watch, but that’s not what’s bothering me.”

Rhaena narrowed her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

Sarah opened the coffee container, scooping the grounds into the basket. “I’m so happy that it worked. I really am. But when you passed out, I thought—I thought this was gonna go in a different direction. If you’d died, it would have been my fault. I shouldn’t have sprung it on you when you were that bad off. I should have let you decide that for yourself before you even turned last night. I’m sorry.”

The last scoop was stopped by Rhaena’s firm hand on her wrist and Sarah looked at her. “Don’t do that.” She shook her head and leaned forward. “Do you have any idea what you gave me? Do you see this?” She turned her elbow to show her the bruising that, strangely, was a pale green and yellow, and not the deep purple that she’d seen on her body at her apartment. “If I hesitated at all, I was a fucking idiot. You have nothing to be sorry for. I don’t think you could ever understand how grateful I am to you.”

“Jenkins was so adamant about you not changing anything about yourself. What made you decide to do it?”

Rhaena eased back, releasing her wrist, and filling the coffee pot with water. “Hearing him say all that just confirmed everything I wanted for my future, Sarah. Maybe he would have been okay with it … I just don’t want him to be. What if he asks me to marry him one day? What if we decide to have children? If I didn’t take the chance of having a normal life,” she paused and sighed as she stared out the kitchen window, “then I’d never have one. I chose him. I chose him, and I’m not the least bit sorry to be rid of that part of my life.”

Sarah took the coffee pot from her and smiled as she poured the water into the back. “That’s an interesting notion,” she grinned. She could see Rhaena turning her face toward her through her peripheral. “Rhaena Northwood … married.”

Rhaena snorted and nudged her side. “Speak for yourself. It wouldn’t be as interesting as seeing somebody like Athan take the plunge. Be careful what you say.”

“Speaking of plunges …” Sarah pressed the button and slid the coffee maker back against the wall. “I’ve gotta figure out how deep the hot water is that I’m about to jump into tomorrow.”

“I forgot about that. Is Wren going home with you two?”

They both looked back at the living room. Neither Athan, nor Wren had moved at all. “She hasn’t said—wait—are you not leaving?”

Rhaena smiled and eyed her bedroom door. It was cracked just enough to see Jenkins curled up in his hoodie and jeans across the bed. “Maybe not just yet.”

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