Page 49 of Black Bird

Rhaena quieted. “No.”

“I don’t mind, and you know it.”

“If this is some pity-me shit about what happened with Sarah, just know that I would have been there regardless.” She resumed her position, returning her forehead to her arm and cooling down from another surge.

“I know you would’ve. I’ve never liked seeing you like this.”

“Careful, Kane. You almost sound like you give a shit.” Rhaena smiled. He snorted.

“You know I do, Rhaena. And I’ll fuck you up if you tell anybody.” They both laughed, a long pause extending between them.

“Have you talked to her?” Rhaena asked. He didn’t answer and she cut him a glance. “You know you can’t avoid it forever. Whatever we blame this on, she still needs to know the truth before something ends up happening to her. We don’t even know how she’s still alive, or how long she has left before—”

“Stop, please. I know. I’ve been keeping an eye on her. I haven’t seen one sign of her slowing down, or the mark trying to kill her off. If nothing happens, then I’m debating not telling her anything.”

Rhaena spun around to face him. “Are you kidding?” She slammed the freezer door shut. “You can’t do that to her, Kane.”

“If we come up with something to tell the Cap, then I don’t see why we can’t let her believe the same thing if this mark doesn’t claim her life. Then she can go about that life without having me fuck it up for her, Rhaena!”

“You say that shit like you’re not bound to her. You know she feels it too, don’t be fuckingstupid!”Rhaena dropped the water jug onto the counter.

“What she feels is only because I bit her.”

“You’re a damn fool if you believe that.” She crossed her arms in front of her. “You know, don’t you …”

“Know what.”

“I knew it. You must have figured it out when I did. Werewolves have mates. I’m willing to bet vampires have the same.”

“Who told you that?” Athan stiffened against the doorway.

“Nobody told me anything. It dawned on me when I saw you two at the precinct the day you left to go talk to Nick Specter. Everything she’s said about you up to this point? If she’s not your mate, you’re an idiot not to be honest with her at least. That girl deserves that much from you.”

“When did you have a sudden change of heart about her?”

Rhaena stepped closer. “Since I realized that you want her just as much as she wants you.”

“Psh …” Athan stared at the floor and shook his head slowly.

“Tell me I’m wrong.” Rhaena waited for some clever retort, but he continued to stare at the floor. “She’s a good one, Athan. Don’t fuck this up. Find a way to tell her the truth. Even if she chooses to kick your ass to the curb, at least you did right by her. Don’t spend the next few centuries, or your whole damn eternity being eaten alive with regret because you didn’t do it.” Rhaena dug her keys out of her bag and handed them over. Athan reached for them, and she jerked them back. “Do. Not. Smoke. In. My. Truck.” She held the keys to her chest and stared him down, sweat starting to trickle down her back and chest again.

“I got it, Rhaena.”

She gave him the keys and he slipped out the door as she turned back and opened the freezer again, waving the entire door to fan herself through the next hot flash. Every part of her dreaded the agony of her shift, but the bigger part of her just wanted to get this over with. She’d already secured the next three days off at the precinct in preparation for this. Rhaena found herself wondering how, after all these years, no onenoticed that she always took the same three days around the lunar cycle. Humans truly were oblivious. She growled and leaned into the freezer, panting again, and grabbing for the gallon jug.

As badly as she wanted to wear her new t-shirt, Sarah opted for a slim-fitting black shirt with sleeves long enough to cover most of her tattoos, and a pair of matching scrub pants. It was a lab, after all. It would be cold, clean … familiar. She couldn’t say that she didn’t miss it. Couldn’t say that she wasn’t even a little excited about her first day at EverLife, although she kept the facts in the back of her mind about their unjustified snatching of her lab records at the hospital. They had to be aware that she knew, and that there were people watching them. Both of which seemed inclined to rip the throat out of anyone that wanted to toe the line where Sarah was concerned. Detective Northwood hadn’t answered her texts in the past couple of days, and she hadn’t been brave enough to try Kane again. She still wasn’t sure what to say, especially now that if she truly wanted anything to eventually come of whatever this relationship was … Rhaena had basically given her a blessing.

“Miss St. James? Are you ready?” a petite young woman asked, snapping her out of her thoughts. She held a camera forward and Sarah nodded, straightening herself as she stood in front of a blue square on the wall. “You can smile if you want, most people don’t. Just remember this photo will be on your badge for the entirety of your—”

“Just take it.” Sarah smirked, standing still while the girl nodded and angled her camera. A quick click of the shutter and she was reviewing it, turning it toward her, and Sarah hardly glanced at the picture before nodding in approval.

“I’ll go ahead and send this to Sam. She should have your badge ready by the time we’re done reviewing your drug screening and supplying you with all your gear. If you’ll just step into this office over here on the left and have a seat. I’ll be back in five.”

Sarah slipped into a hard plastic chair and crossed her legs. She could admit she was nervous. Whether this whole thing was a scam, it was also one hell of an opportunity. One she’d worked her ass off for, and she wanted this to go in her favor. She hadn’t even warmed the seat good before footsteps sounded from behind her near the doorway. “That was quick. I didn’t think y—” Sarah stopped dead as she turned in her chair and saw Detective Kane leaning against the door frame.

“Morning.” He smirked.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, quirking a brow.

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