Page 5 of Black Bird

“Fine,” she forfeit, watching his blurry reflection in the elevator doors.

The parking deck was already dark.Good.The sound of rain roared through the space as they trudged between cars, Rhaena’s heels clicking against the cement. The alarm on her black SUV beeped twice and Athan peeled the cover off his motorcycle that was parked next to her.

“Why don’t you just ride with me? It’s pouring.”

Athan ignored her, zipping up his jacket and pulling the helmet down over his head. She watched him start it up, lingering in her open door as he sped out and disappeared into the storm.

Rhaena Northwood was a good cop. She was tough, had thick skin, and could piece together cases better than most in the 12th precinct. She ignored the bullshit her male colleagues liked to throw at her—when her temper would allow it. When it didn’t, she’d take it out on the bag in the training center or toss around a rookie or two who mouthed off on the wrong day. By all standards, her weaknesses were few … except when it came to her partner and only friend—Athan Kane. Together, they were the masterminds behind covering up the existence of their kind from human knowledge.

Athan had been too aware all those years ago when he’d moved into the apartment next door to hers just a couple of nights before the full moon that month. On the night she changed, she’d nearly killed him whenhe broke in to investigate what sounded like a murder in his new building. She hadn’t locked herself in her chains quick enough and left four huge gashes across his abdomen when he tried to offer his help. There were two things she’d realized then. For one, he didn’t seem surprised to see an enormous werewolf hiding out in an apartment in Boston. For two—the wounds she’d inflicted on him had disappeared beneath his torn shirt when she’d shifted back into her human form.

He had almost looked grateful. Grateful that she’d asked what the hell he was, and grateful that he wasn’t alone even though she could tell that was the only thing he wanted people to think. A loner … just like herself. They were an unlikely pair, and never romantically involved—except for a handful of times when their sexual frustration got the better of them. But that was an understanding between them both that sex was all it would ever be … for a number of reasons. Not to mention her heightened senses made it nearly impossible to enjoy it over the scent of dead blood and old bones. He made up for that with his stamina and the fact that even being a vampire, who werewolves were biologically inclined to despise, he might have been one of the most attractive men she’d ever laid eyes on.

Despite their differences, it was fair to say that Rhaena cared deeply for him. Deeply in the sense that without him, she was just the lone wolf. It was nice having someone who was somewhat like her to share loneliness with. She’d defend him, even if he was wrong. Protect him, even if he was perfectly capable of taking care of himself. She knew that Kane had his weaknesses too, even if he was too closed off to admit it—or even see it.

Something was different about him today. She didn’t want to admit that when she’d spent the last two days calling his phone and talking herself out of knocking on his door, she had actually been a little worried about him. It was definitely not the first time that she’d witnessed the days following a human feed, but itwasthe first time he’d been so … broken about it. It wasn’t unusual for him to shut her out. He did that to everyone. But the way that he had done it this evening told her that whatever life he’d claimed on Friday night had done something to him that even he couldn’t shake off. Rhaena had known that he’d set up a meeting with the coven leader at the Black Bird tavern that night. Athan had told her a little about Dahlia Van Hausen, the vampiress who had sired him two centuries ago. She knew what the meeting was about and what bargain he had made to leave that place and get as far away as the bitch would allow him.

Rhaena’s mind started mulling over what little details she was starting to gather. If he wouldn’t talk now, perhaps he’d talk later and wouldn’t have to give too much. As she drove down the flooded street toward the precinct, her finger swiped across the screen on her dashboard. Two rings and a male voice picked up the call.

“Jenkins.”

“Brandon, it’s Northwood. I need a favor.”

“Yeah, what’s up?”

“I need you to track a GPS.”

“Right now?”

“No, from Friday night.”

“Alright. Who we trackin’?”

She slapped her palm against her steering wheel and bit down on her lip, the guilt of sticking her snout into his business a little heavy.

“… Kane.”

“Seriously?”

“Do it quietly, please. Report only to me.”

“You got it.”

“Thanks.”

She tapped the screen again and the beep from the call ending screeched in her ears way more than it should have. Something about it felt wrong, but she had to know. She could barely see the taillight from Athan’s motorcycle as it weaved through traffic ahead of her. The traffic signal turned red, and she stopped, running a hand through her wavy brown hair, and blowing out a nervous breath. If Athan found out she was going behind his back, he’d likely never trust her again … or worse. But something about the way he looked tonight had her deciding it was worth the risk.

The muffled sounds of a heart monitor beeping eased her into consciousness as weak hazel eyes fluttered open above a cannula that was wedged up her nose. She was freezing. Everything hurt. The smell of pure oxygen hissing into her nostrils had her aware of where she was. Blurred fluorescent lights above her came into clearer view, and an unfamiliar face appeared over her. She flinched. The pain in her neck shot down the length of her body at the movement and she groaned softly as the stranger placed gentle hands on her arms.

“You’re okay, sweetheart. You were in an altercation and you’re in the hospital. Can you tell me your name?”

Her mouth was so dry. Her tongue stuck to the roof of it, and she swallowed as she looked around the room. “Sarah …” she replied hoarsely, her voice little more than a rattled whisper.

“Good, good. Can you rate your pain from one to ten? Ten being unbearable.” The nurse shined a light into her eyes and Sarah blinked from its unwelcome brilliance. She held up seven fingers. “Okay. I’m gonna go get your doctor and we’ll bring you something for that. I’ll be right back.”

She’d barely heard the last few words as she drifted back to sleep.

Athan’s chair squeaked every time he moved in it. As he tossed his helmet underneath his desk, he smirked at the irritated growl from the desk across from his. He could have oiled the thing … or replaced it altogether. But he lived to annoy Rhaena. He booted up his computer and shuffled the stack of folders he’d pulled from the desk drawer.

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