Page 205 of Black Bird

The sorrow in his cerulean eyes nearly shattered her heart.

Athan! Please!

“If I make this deal, you give me your word that you won’t lay a hand on her after you get what you need. Otherwise, you kill me right here,” Athan said sadly. Sarah screamed, catching his eyes again. His pupils dilated and she couldn’t look away.

Be still. Don’t make any moves. You won’t stop this. Sit in that chair and let me keep you safe.

As hard as she tried to thrash against the rope, she found herself unable to do anything other than what he’d said. It was the same overwhelming control he’d had over her in his bathroom. She could do nothing. Tears spilled down her cheeks.

“Oh, you have my word. I changed Lorraine with a single pint. Your human will live the rest of her miserable life. And you, handsome …” She pulled her claws from his chest and grazed her bloody fingertips down his cheekbone. “You’ll finally come back to bed.” Sarah couldn’t contain her growl, and Tony nudged her shoulder in warning. Decclan looked as if he were about to combust. “Do we have a deal?”

Athan glanced back at Sarah, swallowing hard. “Yes,” he whispered, closing his eyes. Dahlia practically purred. Sarah sobbed, hanging her head.

“Good. Now …” She brushed her hair over her shoulder, offering her neck. “Drink.” He didn’t look at Sarah again as he hesitantly stepped forward, taking the back of her head gently, and breathing deeply before he leaned into Dahlia’s neck. His eyes darkened, and his fangs slid out, piercing her skin as he closed his mouth over it. Dahlia moaned, bringing both arms around him and curling her body into his. Athan’s bond was tight, and Sarah could do absolutely nothing but burn alive with rage as she watched the queen’s hand rove down his bloody shirt and palm his crotch. Decclan trembled behind them with anger and hurt. When Athan finally freed his mouth from her, he breathed heavily and Dahlia did the same, her eyes fluttering as she smiled. “Your bite is as delicious as your cock, Athan Kane.” Every nerve in Sarah’s body was on fucking fire.

Athan released her, stepping back and running his tongue over his bottom lip. He looked so defeated. She’d only seen him look like that one other time. The day that she’d figured out the truth. He was subjecting himself to a life of servitude, all for the sake of keeping her alive … and there wasn’t a single thing she could do to stop him. His arms hung by his sides, and his head bowed. His breaths were shuddered and broken.

“I made a mistake,” Dahlia smiled. “Letting you go? In all that time, it seems you’ve forgotten who and what you are, Kane. Don’t feel bad. Over the past few weeks, I’ve come to understand exactly how you feel.” Devin shifted beside Sarah’s chair. “I grew to know what love feels like.” Athan raised his head in confusion. “Oddly enough … I was able to find my mate.” The room went as silent as death itself. “You heard me right. Pretty, young thing. Reminded me a bit of you. I was surprised how quickly things changed between us.” Dahlia stepped forward, slowly closing the distance Athan had put between them.

“Reminded …” Athan breathed.

Something like pain flickered across her face and was gone instantly. “I realized what was most important. I made a decision. Much like the one you’re making now. But … if I can’t have both … neither will you.” Athan eyed her closely. “I can get enough of her blood when she’s just a body. A husk.” Sarah stiffened, and Tony glanced over at her. Athan slowly shook his head, wide-eyed. “Kill her.”

Athan’s back went stick straight, his muscles tightening in war with himself. “You gave me your word!”

“It must be agony to lose control of yourself a second time where she’s concerned,” Dahlia crooned, watching as he took a strained step towards Sarah’s chair. “I told youIwouldn’t kill her. I didn’t say a thing about you.” Her body turned as he passed her until they were both facing Sarah. Tears ripped down her face and Sarah violently shook her head, sobbing. “You really thought I’d let her live so that you could pull some heroic stunt to get her back? It’s a hard lesson, trust me, I understand. Killing Patrick weighed heavy on me. But this is who we are. One day … a century from now … perhaps two? You’ll see it my way, Kane. You’ll always be one of us … a Black Bird. Even if I have to clip your wings.”

Athan approached Sarah’s chair, Dahlia only a few feet behind him. Their eyes met, and Sarah tearfully shook her head, unable to contain her heavy sobs. He towered over her, his shadow casting over her body like Death awaiting his due. Tony shifted uncomfortably beside her, watching him in shock. Athan narrowed his eyes.

There was no greater evil, than the darkness of this night … when life was yet a whisper as that evil thieved the light. But my skin was still a prison … a bird denied his flight.

Sarah stilled, recalling what he’d written in the journal he had given to her. The one she’d read over and over. She heard his voice again in her mind.

… Be dark, my lonely captive … until the murder sets you free …

It dawned on her, then. What she had figured out the night that she’d first kissed him in his apartment. A murder of crows. Her mind flashed back to the front porch of Rhaena’s cabin. The night he told her everything. He’d kissed her then, too. He told her the bond between him and Dahlia was—broken. They were mates. He was hermate. She had no hold on him any longer.This was a show. Sarah slowly nodded, andAthan stopped before her, a sly smirk creeping across his mouth. He knelt down, taking the side of her face in his hand.

“You are so fucking beautiful …” he breathed, pulling down her gag and leaning in to brush his mouth across hers. He jerked the rope around her middle, snapping it and freeing her arms. She hooked them around his neck, and he raised her up from the chair, pulling her to him as he kissed her. “Show her,” he whispered, smiling. “Show her how gorgeous you look in my blood.”

Sarah turned her face to the queen, smiling as her eyes darkened and she let her own set of fangs grow longer. Dahlia stood stunned, frozen in shock and rage, as her silver eyes grew wide. Sarah trailed her tongue across his bottom lip, savagely kissing him back as blood trickled down both their chins. Athan groaned in pleasure, and Dahlia lost control. She flew towards them, blinded by her own jealousy, hardly anticipating Sarah’s catch on her pale throat as she threw her by the neck against the wall behind them. Tony acted quickly, grabbing the mic stand and thrusting it through her middle, securing her body as it hung there just above the floor.

She growled in pain, hissing through her teeth and reaching for the pole protruding from her belly as Sarah kept her hold on her throat.

It was a satisfaction like no other to see the monster bleed. To bleed from oncoming death … and not to bleed for control she no longer had. Sarah had become twice as powerful, as they’d found out at the lab … Dahlia was no match for his mate’s strength. Athan met Devin’s pace, each one of them grabbing one of Dahlia’s wrists, and slamming them to the wall as they each drove a large knife through her forearm. She wailed, baring her teeth as her eyes went wholly black and she focused entirely on Athan.

Her laugh made him cringe as she peered through an inky glare. “A crucifixion …” She chuckled, the toe of her boots dangling just above the floor. “How dramatic of you, Kane.”

“I’m glad you were able to find your mate.” Athan smirked, directing his attention to Sarah, who gripped Dahlia’s throat tighter. “Meet mine.”

Sarah leaned closer, snarling in Dahlia’s face. “Sorry, bitch. It’s over. You willnever… touch him again. He’s never belonged to you. And you’ll pay for every single life you took … by slaughter,andby slavery.”

Dahlia huffed another bloody laugh. “And you think the three of you are gonna deal me my punishment? I’ll enjoy watching this coven rip you apart. I hope you’ve enjoyed the royalties of your short immortal life.”

“Funny thing,” Sarah smiled. “You call yourselves the Black Bird coven. Did you know that a flock of crows is called a murder?” Decclan slowly crept up behind Sarah, watching expressionless as Dahlia bled onto the stage. “Crows aren’t as loyal as you might believe. If they find one intheir murder that shows signs of disease …they turn on them.” Dahlia stilled, her face going taut. “Theydecide the fate of one of their own.”

Devin stepped off the stage and opened the emergency exit. Athan watched as every member of his coven walked inside. Every one of them silent and watching. Dahlia’s eyes slowly returned to that moonlit silver, haunted by what she knew was coming for her. She dragged her helpless gaze to Decclan, and Sarah let go of her throat, stepping back.

“Decclan …” Dahlia whispered, her eyes pleading. He said nothing as he stepped forward. “Decclan kill them.” He didn’t move. Dahlia struggled against the hold of all the things that were impaling her. “Kill them!”

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