Page 48 of Memories Like Fangs
And, that was just the physical agony.
No, the physical wounds would heal after some time. But, her inner turmoil? My girl had already been through so much and had already suffered more than most. Her pain was already so consuming. Sure, beneath all the confusion, anger, hurt, and sadness, there was a strength that I could see her still holding on to with bloodied, shaking fists. But, how would she bear this, too?
I just want to kill that Blood Bitch, break Byrd out of that chair, pick her up, burn this place to the ground, and take her so far away from all of this that we forget this ever happened.
But then, I remembered what Izzy said before I got here:Remember, Quinn, you won’t be able to touch Byrd. You’re just going to be an illusion, but you should be able to speak to her. Get as much information as you can in those seven minutes, okay? Good luck.
I wasn’t here to save her. Not yet. No matter how much that idea killed me, I needed to focus so I could rescue her when I was actually able to.
“What the fuck is happening? What happened to her?” Byrd’s voice came out barely above a whisper when she spoke. Her eyes were wide and confused as she looked in front of her. Lying sprawled across the cellar floor in front of a table was a tall, twentysomething white woman. Her inky waves pooled under her head lolling to the side. Her eyes were closed, thick lashes resting against pale cheeks. She was pretty, with dark gothic makeup that complemented her black dress well. Even unconscious with her magic locked away, there was a smirk to her lips that made her look like she was waiting to wake upand start some trouble. I could sense the power laying dormant under those perfectly manicured nails.
This had to be the Blood Fitch.
Now, I really wish I was more than just a fucking ghost.My fingers twitched toward Tina, aching to close around her hilt and to feel this bitch on the other side of the black blade. But, this wasn’t real. Not in the way that mattered.Not yet.
I turned away from the unconsciousperraand crouched in front of my mate. “Sweetness, are you okay?”
Even though I was whispering to her, she reacted like she had been hit when I spoke. It was a brief reaction, but it was enough to hammer away at what was left of my heart in my chest. Byrd shook her head. “What is going on? Is this… Is this even real?”
I shrugged half-heartedly. “As real as I can be, baby girl. Izzy, Rhois, Journee, and the others sent me here, but I’m more of a ghost than actually here.”
Byrd’s eyes narrowed. Her head tilted slightly to the side, and I watched confusion ripple across her face. “B-but… But, I can feel our bond. I can feel you. Th-that’s us, right?”
I nodded, sending love, reassurance, and strength to her. I wanted to plead with her to look at me, but I could feel her trying to make sense of all this on the other side of our connection. She needed time to put everything together. For her, I was more than willing to be patient. “That’s us all right, Sweets. You can feel it because Teddy knocked the Blood Bitch out and subdued her magic.”
“I…I… I’m sorry,” Byrd sniffled as tears started to flow. “I-I still don’t know, Quinn. I still have no idea if this is even real. She’s been messing with my memories and digging through my head. I don’t trust myself anymore. I’m so sorry if this is real, but I need you to prove it. Please tell me something I can believe, that I don’t know, so I can know this isn’t her doing it. Please.”
I was so fucking wrong before.
Thisdestroyedme.
Tears streaked down my cheeks seeing my girl sob, feeling so lost like this. I wanted to hold her so fucking bad that it was hurting me more than anything else. “Hey, hey,mi tesoro, it’s okay. Don’t you apologize. How about that you purr in your sleep instead of snoring when you’re with me ever since our mating bond formed? Or, how much I love hearing you talk about things you find fascinating? Or, how much I love the sound of your voice and how it’s my favorite song? Or, that sound you make when you eat some really good food, especially when I make it? Actually, that last one is definitely my favorite song.”
Byrd chuckled through her tears. Her lips trembled as she smiled. “It really is you, Starlight.”
“It is indeed. Now, we don’t have much time,mi vida. Do you have any ideas on where you are?”
She shook her head. “Not a clue. What you see is all I know about this place. She also comes at irregular times from what I can tell, but my concept of time is also very fucked down here. I’m so sorry. I wish I had more to help.”
“Hey, what did I tell you about apologizing?” I gave her the smirk that I knew that she loved before I continued. “That does help, actually. We can work with that. So, what does the Blood Bitch want? You said you were having your memories manipulated by her?”
Byrd nodded. “Her name is Lilah. She wants to find a dragon enchantment. I don’t know why. But, she’s digging through my memories to get me to tell her the location of one of my parents’ enchantments. I think she also believes that without you and my dragon, I won’t be able to hold on for much longer. She…” Byrd swallowed deeply. “She might be right about that, to be honest. I mean, I don’t know where my parents’ enchantments are, and if I did, I wouldn’t tell her anyway. I don’t know what she wants, but I know it is more than just blood and it has to be bad. I justhave a bad feeling. But, I… I don’t know how much longer I can keep doing this. I don’t know what’s real and what isn’t anymore. I can’t trust myself or my thoughts. I never know what she is going to use against me. Everything hurts, and I’m hungry and thirsty. I miss you and everyone back home. And, I’m so fucking scared, Quinn. I’ve never been this terrified before. And… I just don’t know what to do.”
Sobs raked their way through Byrd’s body, making her shoulders shake. Without realizing what I was doing, I reached my hand out to her to try and hold her face and catch some of her tears. But, my hand went straight through her like I was nothing more than air. I knew it would happen, but I had to try. Needing to do something for my baby girl, I sent her as much love as I could through our bond until I felt it practically overflow and spill over. This made Byrd sob even more, but I also felt such gratitude come through our bond that it made it worth it.
I said, “I know, baby. I know. But, you are so strong. So much stronger than you know, than you can even understand. Just… just focus on the after. Think of the memories we will make once this is all over. This Blood Bitch cannot affect your thoughts of the future. Besides, youknowyour memories. Youknowyourself. She can try to change them all she wants, show you everything she can throw at you to make you change your mind, but you know the truth and what’s real. You know what really happened.”
“I do, but I’m so tired, pumpkin.”
“I know. I’m coming. I’m going to find you. I swear it. Then, I’ll carry you far the fuck out of here.”
Byrd sniffled again before she lifted those mesmerizing brown eyes to meet mine. “Can we take a long as fuck vacation away when you do?”
“Of course. We’ll go far, far from here. We will go to the other side of the planet if you want.”
“Just us?”
“Just us.”
