Page 53 of Black Bird

“Are werewolves really allergic to silver?”

She paused, mid-gulp and looked at him with her mouth still on the bottle. She finished that swallow and breathed raggedly while he stared back at her. “Yes. That’s always been true. Silver can kill me. Not a myth.”

He secured the second chain, testing that one too. “But have you ever tried to find out if it can stop your shift? What if you had a necklace. Or this?” He held up his hand, nodding toward his silver ring he wore on his thumb.

“Wearing it won’t kill me. Getting stabbed with it would. I’m not sure what would happen, honestly.”

“So, if you tried suspending yourself with say … silver-plated chains or shackles?”

She glared at him. “Did you not just hear what I said?”

“Yes. But would you be willing to try it?” He shrugged, reaching for her hand as he pulled the other chain from the wall.

It was something to consider, she supposed. She didn’t feel confident enough trying something without being restrained. “Finish this first. I don’t wanna hurt you.”

She watched him fasten the chain around her wrist and he jerked at it. “Pull that as hard as you can.” She did, and it clanked loudly, not budging from its metal post they’d fashioned into the wall behind her. “What usually happens if you wear silver?”

She reflected back on her childhood with her uncle. His warnings about it. “I’ve been warned since I was young to stay the hell away from it. That it can weaken a wolf to near death. Gives an enemy a fighting chance to take us out.” Their eyes met, and Rhaena knew they had likely been thinking the same thing. “Finish it.” She panted. Athan made quick work with the other wrist and when he jerked his head toward where it met the wall, she tested that side. Secure.

“Should I put it on a chain? Or just whatever finger it would fit on? It needs to be secure enough not to fly off, or this probably won’t work.”

“Try it on my forefinger.” Rhaena said, pointing toward him. She braced herself, not knowing what to expect and he slid it off his thumb, holding her hand steady as he pushed it over her skin. Rhaena jolted back, the sudden intrusion of fire licking her skin shooting all the way up her arm. She screamed and Athan lunged forward, reaching to grab the ring. “Don’t!” She ground out, tears pouring from her eyes. “Wait! —Just wait!” She banged the back of her head against the wall as the pain traveled through her shoulder, then across to the other and down that arm … her torso … her legs.

“Rhaena! Let me take it off, this was fucking stupid! Gimme your hand!” Athan leaned over her, taking her face in his hands and nearly straddling her to keep her steady. She clutched her fingers into a fist and tucked it behind her, slowly feeling herself surrender to paralyzing muscles. The burning eased and her breathing slowed. “Take it off!” Athan demanded again, she could just make out the blurred image of his face as he hovered over her.

“It’s—working …” She panted in a whisper. “Get back, Kane.”

“We don’t know how safe this is, Rhaena … I shouldn’t have fucking said anything, take it off … please, take it off.”

“I can reach it. If I think something bad is gonna happen, I’ll take it off. Just leave me here.” She felt herself relax against the wall; her body felt heavy on the wooden floor.

“Yeah? Move your legs.” He seethed.

She stared up at him deliriously, trying and failing to move anything. He could be right. It was poisoning her. Leaving it might weaken her enough to stop the shift, but how long would it be okay? Her uncle didn’t warn her about it that often because it was an easy fix to their issues. If it had been that simple, he would have taught her how. “I can’t …” she admitted.

“I’m sorry … I’m so sorry.” Athan gritted his teeth and reached behind her, prying open her fingers and tearing the ring off. “Don’t ever listen to me again.” He hurled himself back and Rhaena’s body arced, every bone in it creaking … every muscle tensing and tingling as it fought its way back to life. Back to agony. She widened her mouth in a scream. It wouldn’t be long now. She could feel pressure in the tendons of her feet … her hands. The ache in her head was a familiar reminder of what she was about to become again … what she wished so badly she wasn’t.

The lone wolf.

Athan sat close by on the floor, his back resting against the side of the small bed and his legs outstretched, looking every bit the shamed friend that wanted so badly to help her, but knew he couldn’t. “Athan …” she started, breathing frantically. “I don’t have long … talk to me … please.” He raised his knees and braced his head on his hands, staring at her like he was her biggest failure. “Stop looking at me like that!” She panted. “Just get my mind off of it …. where’s Sarah?”

“She said she’d be with Wren tonight.”

“Be with her where?”

“I dunno, Rhaena.” Athan shrugged, his tone a bit too smart ass for her current state of mind. “It’s Halloween … maybe they’re going trick-or-treating?”

Rhaena groaned and clenched her teeth … they were starting to hurt too. She breathed through it. “Have you not talked to her? One of us needs to … keep up with her.”

“Just a text here and there since she started at the lab a couple days ago. I’ve got eyes on her. What about Jenkins?”

Rhaena jerked her face toward him, sweat dripping from her brow. “What about him?”

“Where did you tell him you were going for three days?”

“We’re not dating. I don’t … have to tell him shit.” She nodded toward the jug of water. “Can you help me?” He scooted closer and held it up for her so she could drink a bit.

“You don’t think he’s gonna wonder?”

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