Page 51 of Black Bird

“Knock ‘em dead, St. James.” He saluted her like an asshat and pocketed his hands as he turned and disappeared down the hallway.

“Everything came back great. If you’re ready, I’ll take you upstairs?” The little blonde offered, trying to hide her interest in wherever Kane was headed. Sarah turned back toward her.

“Lead the way.”

Athan found himself smirking the entire way to Nick’s office after he’d left Sarah to start her first day at EverLife. It wasn’t like him. He was beginning to realize that Rhaena was right. It wasn’t like he didn’t already know that she was changing every part of him. Sarah didn’t know him well enough to know that though—she didn’t know him at all. Truthfully, he didn’t know anything about her, either. It didn’t stop him from wanting every part of her. In that ancient heart she’d set beating again, he knew that it couldn’t be anything more than just an instinct … but it felt better than he’d like to admit. He was dying to ask her everything. It was clear that Rhaena’s observations were heading in the right direction. Sarah’s edge to her voice seemed just as territorial as his any time anyone so much as looked at her. He knew that flame. The itch in her blood that must be driving her as crazy as it drove him when people got too close to what his body demanded was his. She was healing, but it was obvious that the five stages that Rhaena had mentioned was clearly something they needed to look further into.

He should take his partner’s advice. She needed to know the truth. It killed him to think of how this was going to devastate her. How much she’d hate him. Athan wasn’t sure how to even have this conversation. He’d put it off for as long as he could manage. The assistant that he’d scared the wits out of gaped when he stepped out of the elevator, and he slowed into a smooth gait as he approached her.

“I’m sorry … I’m not going to hurt you, I promise. I acted … unfavorably my last visit. I apologize,” he offered as she tensed behind her desk. She gave him a slow, wary nod.

“He’s alone. You can just go in.”

“Thanks.” He patted the top of the desk, his silver ring on his thumb clanging against it. Athan didn’t bother knocking as he opened the door and found Nick standing by the large windows with his hands tucked into the pockets of his slacks, staring out over the campus. Nick didn’t acknowledge him.

“She’s a very pretty girl,” Nick said dryly, hanging his head.

“She is,” Athan agreed, snicking the door shut and moving toward the chair across from Nick’s desk. He dropped into it and sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair.

“I can see it. Whatever it is between you. I understand why you went for the psycho approach the last time you were here.”

“Don’t elaborate on that. I’m not in the mood.” Kane rubbed his chin. “Nick, I need you to be comfortable playing both sides of the fence here. Comfortable and discreet. I need to know you’re capable of that.”

Specter turned toward him but stayed by the window. “I can do it. If that’s what it’ll take to stay alive.”

“It will. And if anything happens to her, staying alive will be the last thing you want. I wanna be clear on that. I’ll make you suffer in every way. You’ll be begging me to kill you. You understand?”

“I got it, Kane. I’ll ask you not to elaborate onthat.” He shifted on his feet. “I’m assuming you’re up here because you found something?”

“I don’t have the proof I need … but I’m pretty confident that the ones that broke into the lab were Dahlia’s crew,” Athan said, meeting Nick’s confused stare.

“I don’t understand. Why would she purposely contaminate the blood supply she needs?”

“I don’t know that either, but I’m tossing around a few ideas.”

“Such as?”

Athan spun his ring. “If she’s working with Stratford, it’s gotta be something they cooked up together. If I’m right, and the suspects were from the coven, then it would explain why it was so difficult to identify them. That’s gonna take some time to prove. When I left your office, I went to the club to confront her, but that didn’t end up happening.” Nick stared at him, urging him to give more. “The only thing that would make sense to me, is that she’s doing it to have a reason to nullify the agreement and pull her funding for EverLife. The why, is still a mystery.”

“There’s something else. I can see it on you,” Nick pressed.

“It’s personal.”

“Well, it’s a little personal to me too, Kane. My nuts are on the line here as well. If you want me to be confident in playing both sides of the fence, then I’m gonna need your honesty. I’d say that’s fair.”

Athan couldn’t disagree with that. “She knows I’m the one that set this up. That was an agreement between me and her. I won’t bother explaining the details of coven loyalty but … it was the only card I found to play in getting myself out from under them. The deal was basically to get the coven a steady amount of bags and they wouldn’t feed on humans. In exchange, I get my freedom … when I’ve satisfied my debt.”

“And how long until you meet that quota?”

Athan stared at the wall. “Seventy-three years.”

Nick scoffed and flailed his arms. “Kane, I’m not immortal, man. How long did you think you’d be able to keep this shit up with the center? Or was your plan to turn me into one of you?” Athan glanced over at him, and Nick palmed over his face. “Christ.” He paced for a moment. “So, you think she sabotaged it to keep you tied up with her?”

“I think that’s a likely possibility.”

“So … how does all this tie in with your girl?” Nick asked, pausing again in front of the window, but keeping focused on Athan.

“What do you know about Sarah’s mother?”

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