Page 208 of Black Bird

“I called her on the way over,” Athan answered. “Cap was okay, too. He ended up at her place. I have to say, I wasn’t expecting that part.”

“What happened to you?” Wren asked, pointing her spoon toward him. “Did you—was it Dahlia?” She leaned back, looking at Sarah … this time noticing something oddly different about her. Her eyes were different … her face more defined. Her hair even seemed glossier, and her movements a bit more fluid. “Oh, my God … oh my—”

Sarah stared at her as if she were afraid Wren would sound off some kind of alarm or break into a run. “There’s a lot I need to talk to you about.” Wren flashed her good eye to Athan again, and he turned to close the door.

“Did you do this? What happened with Dahlia?” Wren tossed her pudding cup onto the cart and sat up straighter. Athan stepped up behind Sarah who situated herself on the side of the bed.

“Dahlia’s done.Well done, if I’m being frank.” Sarah’s mouth turned up in the corner, and Athan snorted. “We sort of … kidnapped Nick Specter and forced him to help bleed me dry at EverLife. Athan saved my life. The only way I could live through it was for him to turn me. I’m okay. I promise.”

Wren’s eye narrowed. “Bleed you dry? What the fuck for? What did you do, Sarah?”

“I used my blood to turn the coven against her. It worked. The coven is free. We put the bitch down. Fried her sunny-side-up this morning on the rooftop of the club.”

“Why would you risk that? Tell me you didn’t put yourself through this for me.” Wren’s voice shook as she took in her best friend’s strange new face. She looked the same, but—different. She was beautiful before, but now … she was fucking flawless. Otherworldly. It gave Wren the same feeling of amazement anyone would have when they looked at Athan Kane. Just being around them was captivating.

“I thought she had you. Regardless if she did or didn’t … this would have had to happen anyway, Wren. Neither one of those bastards would have ever stopped coming for me. I wasn’t gonna let one more person lose their life for my sake. She wanted my blood so she could live like Athan lives. The coven won’t come after me for it. They have it. None of us will ever have to look over our shoulders again. This willneverhappen to you again, do you understand?” Wren nodded, and Sarah reached up, tucking a loose strand of hair behind Wren’s ear. Her lip wobbled, and she sighed deeply as she took in all the obvious injuries to her face.

“This isn’t your fault, Sarah,” Wren offered, taking her hand and squeezing it. “People just fucking suck sometimes. I guess it would upset the natural balance of things if other folks didn’t get caught up in the never-ending battle between the good, bad, and ugly. I’m alive, dude. And honestly … I fought like hell. I thought I was gonna lose it a time or two, but … I hustled, nonetheless.”

“I guess you were the one responsible for Conrad’s ear?” Athan asked, crossing his arms with a side-grin. Wren huffed a laugh.

“Guilty as charged. Although, Iwasgoing for his eye. Seemed only fair.” They laughed, but all of them grew quiet, and that stretch of silence was more uncomfortable than Wren had the stomach for.

“We should let her rest, love.” Athan rested his hand on Sarah’s shoulder. “Unless you’d feel better if one of us stayed, Red?”

Wren shook her head. “There’s gonna be too many bodies in here when my parents get in. I could use the quiet for a little bit before I have to hear them fuss and bitch over me.”

“Is there anything I can get for you before we go?” Sarah asked.

Wren eyed Athan, then. “Can you get them to let me see him, Athan? Just for a minute? I can’t stop seeing him in my mind. I thought that piece of shit had killed him. I gotta tell him I’m sorry … for everything. He stormed into that house looking for me like he’d bulldoze anybody that stood in his way. I don’t deserve that. I don’t deserve anything he did … not the way I’ve always treated him.” Sarah smiled softly at her.Knowingly.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Athan winked, turning towards the door.

It was like the horror of every moment was stuck on replay. Over and over, he saw her face. Saw the tape on her mouth … the chain on her wrists. Heard every scream, and every sob. His heart felt like it would explode from his chest every time it thwacked off his ribs. Brent was sure the bastard was gonna kill her. The cold stab of evil had radiated off of his father in waves, and the loud thundering of a barrel at his gut was the only thing he remembered before it all went dark and started over again. The pain of taking that shot was nothing compared to the bitter sting of not knowing whether or not he’d failed her another time. Of not knowing what he had realized he’d felt, and never had the chance to tell her.

What if he never would?

Was this Hell?

Was this his version of eternal damnation? His punishment for being a worthless piece of shit? Having to relive this nightmare over and over for eternity? He couldn’t weather the notion that he’d beenthatbad of a person. There had to be something he’d done right. Something worth saving.

The darkness ensued after another loud crack of thunder, and he could swear he heard her call out to him. He tried to answer her, knowing the next thing he’d see would be his father dragging her across the patio again. He called out one more time.

“Brent?”

The darkness lasted longer this time. His ears rang, and the blooming of a horrible headache started taking hold. There was a smell. Something dry, and way too damn clean. His nose burned. His stomach felt like he’d been hit by a bus.

A bus …

Maybe he’d imagined it all. Maybe it was all a bad dream. Or maybe … maybe Wren had finally gotten her wish and hedidget hit by an actual bus. His chest felt heavy, but he was breathing. His head was foggy, but … no replay …

“Brent …”

He tried to open his eyes, but only managed to flutter his eyelids a little. He couldn’t be imagining it. He forced his voice to work, and it sounded like gravel … but itsounded…

“Wren …” Brent ground out, hoarsely.

“Yeah … yeah, it’s me.”

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