Page 183 of White Raven
“Gray sweatpants, Stratford? Really?” Athan said sarcastically.
“Trying to show off what I’m definitelynotmissing?” Sarah laughed.
Brent rolled his eyes and stuck his hands in his hoodie pocket. “Third degree burn, guys. Thanks.”
Athan smiled at the floor, and when he looked back up through strands of his hair, he extended a tattooed hand towards Brent. “For what it’s worth, Brent…I’m sorry. About everything. You’re a decent guy. And you’re nothing like that piece of shit you called father.” Brent took his hand, gripping firmly, and shook it as he nodded softly, tightening his jaw.
“Thank you, Kane. I wish you guys nothing but the best. I really mean it.” Their hands dropped, and he met eyes with Sarah, who stood clutching her arms around herself, and fighting back tears. “I may not have ever loved you like youdeserved…but I’ll always love you. I hope you two findeverything you’ve been looking for out there. Be good to each other, okay?”
“As long as you promise to loveherthe right way…it was worth everything.” Sarah leaned into Athan and smiled sweetly as a tear shot down her cheek. “You’re gonna do amazing things with that girl next to you, Brent. Life’s one hell of a ride when she’s in the driver’s seat.”
“Just remember that you said all that if you ever find my body in an abandoned little yellow car,” Brent laughed, turning towards the door.
“Take care,seven seconds…” Athan grinned.
Brent offered one last smile, closing the door behind him. He let his emotion get the best of him as he made his way down the treacherous steps, nearly tripping on the last one as he stepped out onto the curb. Wren smiled at him from the car, and he stared at the little firecracker in the passenger seat for a long moment before he blew the biggest sigh of relief and joined her.
He held her hand the entire way through the city, refusing to look at Boston in the rear-view mirror as their tail lights became a blur on I-93.
CHAPTER 37
A BIRD OF A DIFFERENT FEATHER
The terminal was so busy for it to be so early in the morning, and Sarah passed Poe’s cage to the attendant to be carried into a pressurized cargo cabin, clinging to the handle, and leaning into the skinny dude’s face as she all but bore her fangs at him.
“What’s your name?” she asked.
He swallowed, and glanced down at the raven, who sputtered in the small confinement. “S-Simon…”
“Well…Simon? If anything happens to this bird, I’ll find you…and rip your fucking throat out. Savvy?” Sarah smiled, but made sure he knew she meant business as she allowed her eyes to grow a shade darker and narrowing them at him. Athan stood firm behind her as the kid nearly pissed himself.
“Y-Yes, ma’am…you got it.”
“Good boy,” she said, blowing a kiss to Poe as Simon stumbled away uncomfortably.
“Vicious,” Athan snorted, taking her hand. He was nervous. She could tell it in every betrayal of his body language.
“You haven’t seen vicious yet. He better be well fed, groomed, and his fucking claws painted by the time we get to Dublin.”
“Mmh,” Athan agreed, looking around the airport. Sarah watched him and smiled.
“Alright, detective…let's do something about those immortal nerves.”
“I don’t have immortal nerves.”
She huffed a laugh and dragged him behind her, rolling her eyes as she searched for the bar. “Yes, you do. You need something to take the edge off. You’re not even on the plane yet.”
He’d thrown back three doubles of top shelf whiskey, and still hadn’t looked very settled as they announced the boarding for their flight twenty minutes later.
“Fuck…” he whispered, paying the bartender. “Keep the change.”
“Would you relax?” Sarah chuckled, shaking her head. “It’s just a bird, Athan. Just a bird of a different feather.”
“It’s not! It’s a tin can…with people on it. Miles above the ground.”
“You’re gonna love it. Come on.” He was dead weight behind her as they trudged across the airport, and it had nothing to do with their carry-ons strapped to his shoulders. His pale skin had turned the greenish-gray of a week-old corpse when they finally made their way to the plane itself. They found their seats, and he stared out the window, biting holes through his lip. “Athan…for God’s sake.” She couldn’t help but giggle, and he refused to turn his head.
“If this is it…just remember I love you. I also really hate your beautiful ass right now.” She said nothing, and after another minute he turned his face towards her to see her camera recording every second. Sarah exploded in laughter. “Get that shit outta my face!” he bit, covering the lens with a palm.
