Page 48 of Black Bird

“Move again, and I’ll rip that heart clean out of your chest … and devour every piece of it,” Dahlia whispered as her tongue slipped along the shell of Devin’s ear. His breathing hitched as she sank back down onto his cock, the dark red blood from his neck dripping down her chin. She raised her eyes toward her other newborn slave—what was his name again? “Patrick …” The light-haired, pretty, little drunk she’d found with his fake I.D. at her bar tried not to tremble beneath her smoldering stare as he awaited her orders from the corner of her four-post bed.

“Yes, mi’lady …” He bowed his head.

“I want you to sack me like you would if I was on that football field. You miss it so much? You don’t appreciate the life I’ve given you?” She licked the blood from her lip.

“I—it’s not—”

“Ungrateful little vulture. Show me how angry you are. Get behind me.” She rocked her hips back and forth, Devin groaning beneath her, keeping as still as death as she rode him. Patrick cautiously moved around the bed, and she lowered her body to lay flush against Devin’s chest. “Get on the bed, boy.” She moaned, spreading her moon-white ass with her slender hands, and inviting him closer as she watched him from over her shoulder. Patrick hesitated, making to cover himself as she stared at his length. Impressive for a kid his age. He was barely nineteen, she’d come to learn. All of Boston was still searching for the missing athlete from the local high school. “Come now, pet. You’re too modest. We’re going to have to fix that. Don’t you want to fuck?” She smiled devilishly.

“I—” He looked as if he could vomit.

Dahlia raised herself off of Devin, turning and crawling across the bed to the youngster. She moved his hands away, taking them into hers and pressing his palms to her naked breasts. He swallowed and his eyes lowered to the remaining stains of the blood on her mouth. “You want a taste, love?” She grinned, a cruel wicked thing. His lip trembled and shemoved her hair over her shoulder, exposing her neck and pulling him closer. “Feed.” she ordered, closing her eyes when he moved to obey her. He had almost closed his mouth around the crook of her neck when a knock sounded on her chamber door. Patrick startled, and she snapped her head toward the sound, rolling her eyes and grabbing him by the throat. She threw him like he was no more than a stuffed animal across the room, the sound of his immortal body hitting the wall a sound thud. “Stay right there, you little coward.”

Dahlia stepped off the bed, pulling a black satin robe around her and tying it off in the middle as she padded toward the door. She opened it to find Decclan with his head bowed in apology. “I’m sorry, mi’lady … but you advised me to let you know if anything arose regarding …”

Her thin brow raised, and she smirked. “Athan?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Dahlia chuckled through her nose. “What’s my little detective up to now?” Decclan raised his eyes to hers and her amusement faded. “Speak.”

“He—he was here, ma’am.”

She narrowed her eyes and a slight ripple of rage simmered in her gut. “When?”

“A few nights ago. Before we opened. He had a drink with Tony.”

“And our good bartender didn’t feel obliged to share this information?”

“No, mi’lady. I was checking the camera feeds for the week. He wasn’t here long. Maybe fifteen minutes.”

Dahlia exhaled sharply. “Get him in my office. Now. I’ll meet you there in five.” She turned and slammed the door in Decclan’s face. “You two. Get your clothes on … we have shit to do.” she said, waving an arm over her head as she disappeared into her bathing chamber. She didn’t bother to look back to see if they’d obeyed her.

It was two more days until Halloween. Two more days before the full moon. How wonderful. First full moon on Halloween in ages. Rhaena guzzled down water in her kitchen, sweating like a mule as her heart sped up, and then slowed down. It had been like this all day long. Hot flashes all night, lasting throughout the day. Jenkins had got a little too excited when she’d taken him home with her a few nights ago. She assumed he’d been under the impression that he was to blame for her sudden state of unrest. She let him hold onto that prideful notion. He hadn’t been as bad as she’d expected in bed. He hadn’t been bad at all, if she was being honest. But anyone, in comparison to Athan Kane … would be hard to get used to. She doubted that there were very many that could be as ruthless as he was while having sex.

At least this time she could put her hands on another man’s body. She could face him and be as much in control of the actions as he was. Itfelt good to be kissed on the mouth. To succumb to some sort of passion, and a long-awaited hookup. She smiled at the thought as she stood with her freezer door open and fanned the cold air toward her. There was a knock at the door, and she blew out a breath as the next wave of a hot flash sent her panting.

“It’s open, Kane!” she yelled, resting her forehead on her extended arm.

“Damn … that bad, huh?” He snickered as she stuck her middle finger up at him.

“This is gonna be a rough one.” She huffed, raising the gallon jug to her mouth, and taking another large gulp from it. “I’m gonna need you to make sure I’m locked up good this time, Athan.”

“Is there anything else I can do?” he asked, leaning against the kitchen doorway.

“I think I need to use the cabin this time.” Rhaena cut him a look over her shoulder.

“You want me to go prep it tonight? The boat chains seemed to work better last time you got like this before the change.”

“It’s a thirty-minute drive.”

“You got gas? I can use your truck.” he offered, sliding a cigarette into his mouth.

“Don’t smoke that in here. And don’t you dare smoke in my car.” Athan moved his cupped hands from around the end of his cigarette and cocked his head in irritation, taking it from his mouth and shoving it back into his pack.

Walden Pond was wooded, and just far enough from Boston that no one would recognize them or pay them any heed. The cabin used to belong to Rhaena’s uncle—the only person she truly cared for, aside from Athan. Her uncle had been fatally hit by a transfer truck over fifteen years ago. An unfortunate accident that left her alone. No pack. No family. Just a small inheritance of the cabin and everything he had in it. On the nights that she felt like she could really lose control or hurt someone, she used the cabin to chain herself in and wait out the night. There, she could scream as loud as she needed to, tear the place apart, and know without a doubt that there wasn’t anyone around for miles that would be in any danger.

“You want me to hang out on Halloween?” Athan asked, pocketing his hands.

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