Page 59 of Black Bird

“For?” She looked at him as she dug into the bag she’d packed with her extra clothes.

“For not being here when you needed me.” He seemed genuinely bothered by it. She wasn’t sure why she didn’t feel a stronger ache in her chest at the one thing she’d always wanted from him.

“You were, Kane.” She smiled, her strength steadily failing her the longer she stood. “Get going. I’ll turn my phone back on if you need me for anything, okay?” He smirked back at her. “What?”

“You should text your side piece. I think he misses you.”

Rhaena grabbed a rolled pair of socks out of her bag and threw it at him, hitting him in the neck. “Get out, fucker.” She giggled. She understood it then … while she watched him out the window as he put his helmet on and started up his motorcycle. Whatever part of her that had once seen Athan as someone she wanted to be romantically involved with was shifting, too. She’d started moving past that without really trying. All it had taken was that one step forward … and that girl he was about to go see. That acceptance. They’d always have this closeness. That shared bond between them that no one would ever break. Two supernatural misfits that should never have been friends but would be forever. Rhaena smiled to herself as he left the wooded driveway, and she padded toward the bathroom.

She could feel the deep ache in her head before she ever opened her eyes. She felt warm, but wholly uncomfortable … and what the hell was that noise? Sarah groaned and stretched underneath a soft blanket as she peeled her eyes open, feeling resistance against her legs when she’d pushed them too far.

“Please, no … five more minutes.” Wren complained, pushing back against Sarah’s feet on the opposite side of a leather couch. She looked over to find Wren still in her lion garb from the night before and fuzzy images of a flashing loud club started pouring into her mind. They had gone out … and for some reason she thought she remembered Brent being there? And Little Red Riding Hood … and—

“Oh my God …” Sarah whined, palming her face. She peeked an eye between her fingers and saw a huge bird cage standing at least seven feet high against the wall of an immaculately tidy living room. She moved her hand away and met the eyes of a curious raven staring at her through the confinement. He trilled at her, ruffling his chest, and moving along the narrow bars to get a better look at her. Sarah slid the blanket off of herself and eased off the couch, finding her feet bare, save for the fishnet tights still on her legs. She slowly walked across the carpet toward his cage and couldn’t help smiling at the creature. Kane … this was Kane’s apartment. That meant … “You must be Poe …” She smirked, reaching a finger toward the bird. He opened his beak as her fingertip slid between the metal slats but didn’t make any moves to bite her and she gently stroked his feathers.

She startled as a key rattled in the door and it opened, Kane stepping quietly through it and locking it behind him. He turned towardher, stopping at the end of the short hallway between the living room and the kitchen and they stared at each other for a moment. “Morning,” he said, no trace of any amusement on his face.

“I—” Sarah started, not having any idea how to explain herself. “I’m so sorry …”

Kane crossed his arms and leaned on the wall. “Sorry for what, exactly?” She was surprised to notice his eyes didn’t travel over every part of herveryrevealing costume, instead they stayed glued to hers and she could swear he was staring into her soul. It burned a little. She felt her face heat and knew she was probably flushing five shades of red.

“What did I do … to you?” She dared ask, Kane’s bird sputtering noises behind her. He clenched his jaw but said nothing as he slowly shook his head. “Must have been bad if you’re not willing to tell me.”

“You pretended to be a stripper for a night.” Wren grumbled from under the blanket. “Everybody got quite the show … especially that one.” Kane snorted and Sarah felt the need to cover her breasts with her arms.

“Shut up … I did not.” Sarah bit down on her lip.

“That about covers it,” Kane agreed, easing off the wall and moving toward her. She rubbed at her face, and he scooted past her to the bird cage. She watched him open it, reaching in and letting Poe hop onto his finger before closing it back up and holding him out in front of her. She looked up at him, and then back at the bird as it studied her intently. “His name is Poe.”

“Northwood told me about him … he’s beautiful.” She smiled, brushing the back of her finger against the silky plume of his chest. Poe squawked. Kane didn’t ask how that conversation had come up, but instead perched the bird up onto his shoulder and walked back toward the kitchen. She watched them through the breakfast nook as he opened the fridge.

“I don’t have much for breakfast—” He made a strange face, fumbling with something in the refrigerator. She couldn’t see past the door what had caught his attention, but he continued to bang around in it for a moment before offering up a piece of raw meat to his pet. “I could go get you something.”

“Coffee!” Wren barked, not moving from under the blanket. She sounded miserable. Kane looked over at Sarah through the nook and ran a hand through his hair. She nodded her agreement.

“I don’t … Rhaena has some next door. I can go make it. She might have more options as far as food, too,” he offered. Sarah drew her brows.

“She’s your neighbor?” she asked, smirking.

“Yeah … it’s how we met. Coffee, or no?” He dismissed her curiosity completely. She noticed he was a bit more broody than usual. Whatever she’d done must have been truly humiliating.

“Sure.” She nodded, admitting defeat. They stood there silent for another moment, and he walked back into the living room.

“You wanna hold him?” he asked, leaning his shoulder toward her. “He only bites Rhaena. And she’d shit if I let him in her house.”

“She’s not home?” Sarah asked, extending her arm and taking the animal.

“No, she takes a short vacation every month at her uncle’s cabin. She should be back tomorrow.” He made to turn away but hesitated and stared at her. “We really need to talk.” Something fluttered in her stomach … unfortunately not the good kind. His tone and the look in his eyes made her nervous. He glanced at Wren who was only visible by the teased hair that stuck out around the edge of the blanket. “All of us.”

“That doesn’t sound very good.” Sarah shifted on her feet and Wren rolled over toward them, peeking from behind the cover. “Did something happen?”

“Yeah … if you want, I can lend you both some clothes. You can take a shower and we can sit down and discuss it. I need to be at the precinct around noon to talk to … your ex.”

“Brent? Why?”

“I’ll explain it all. If you’re not comfortable getting cleaned up here, or you’d rather do this at the station then now would be a good time to go get what you need or get ready.” He divided his attention between them both. “I hope you have a strong stomach.”

“Oh, shit …” Wren murmured, pulling the blanket back up to her nose. “Somebody got whacked.”

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