Page 77 of Memories Like Fangs
QUINN
Irefused to let her out of my arms from the moment we found her.
After drinking my blood, she was looking and feeling miles better than she was when I found her, but she was still weak. Her wounds were still taking longer than they should to patch themselves together. Subtle and faded, bags remained under her eyes, and her skin lacked its usual vibrancy and shimmer. Her tail twitched with some life in it, as did her wings. She was speaking freely, albeit with a huskier, more scratchy voice than usual. Her eyes were open, even if they were half-lidded with her exhaustion. She seemed so small and delicate in my arms. She could barely lift her head from my shoulder, although I wasn’t sure how much of that was because of how tired she was or how much she enjoyed being nestled against me. Both options flowed through our bond, twisted together like a plait.
I carried her all the way to the teleportation point. Once we got to her condo, Simone squealed and hugged Byrd in my arms. Teddy said he would heat up some food for her and grab her some water, while the others caught Cole, Simone, and Nat on what happened in the kitchen. I sat Byrd and I on one of the couches in the living room for her to rest. As soon as I did, Dinahand Clarkson pounced on Byrd, ecstatically demanding equal abundance of attention and love. Dinah yowled and purred with the same volume as an old car engine as she headbutted Byrd’s hand. Meanwhile, Clarkson couldn’t get enough of licking Byrd everywhere she could reach. Hearing Byrd’s giggles was everything to me.
There’s my girl indeed.
“Clarkson! Dinah! I’ve missed you, too!” Byrd laughed, trying to pet them both as much as she could. “Did you both get along with each other while I was away?”
“Oh, they are the best of friends. They share food, groom each other, and cuddle together at night. Oh, and Dinah loves Clarkson’s toys.”
Byrd’s mouth dropped, and her eyes looked up at me with pure elation. “Hertoys?! Oh my gods, she’s never liked toys before! I can’t wait to see! That sounds so adorable!”
Talli sat on the couch across from us with a sigh of exhaustion. “Why haven’t you shifted back yet, love? Are you able to?”
Byrd shook her head. “My dragon is still exhausted, and my magic is fully depleted. I think I’m just stuck like this until I get my energy back.”
Teddy brought her a bowl of sausage and lentil soup he had made a few days prior, as well as a large mason jar of ice water. I helped move the furry babes away so she could eat and drink. As soon as Byrd took the first spoonful, her eyes closed. She hummed.
“This issogood, Teddy! Literally, the best thing I have had indays,” Byrd complimented as she ate.
“I’m so happy you like it, honey. There’s plenty more, if you need it.”
“Yes, please!” She said, holding up her already empty bowl while downing the water. I smiled. The food and water helpedto give her more energy and herself back, but it was nothing compared to my blood and the magic that it did. It gave me a strange sense of pride that I couldn’t deny.
While another bowl was in the microwave, Teddy brought Byrd more water. He also passed me two protein bars. Before I could protest, he leveled me with a look. “Byrd drank alotof your blood, and you didn’t exactly eat your dinner before we left. You need to get your own energy up. You can’t fill someone’s cup if yours is empty with a hole in it.”
I nodded, opening a bar and taking a bite. Then, another one. Before I knew it, I had scarfed down one bar and was onto the next one. I hadn’t even realized I was hungry until I took that first bite. “Thank you, Teddy.”
“Anytime, girlie.” Teddy winked.
Teddy returned with Byrd’s bowl of soup steaming from the microwave, and she finished this one off a little slower but still in record time. Everyone mingled for a moment in the kitchen, letting Byrd have her space and recover more of her strength, but it was clear they were eager to talk to her and hear what happened.
I was just happy having her in my lap, holding her close to me. That was enough for me.
When Teddy returned from taking her second bowl to the sink, Everett joined him to sit on the couch across from us. The others trickled in as well, finding seats where they could. Softly and tenderly, Talli was the one who finally opened the floor for Byrd to speak. “Byrdie-Bee, do you mind telling us what happened to you? What did she do to you?”
Despite having just taken another large sip of water, Byrd swallowed hard like she was trying to ingest something thick and large. She tensed in my arms, and I could feel so many feelings rising to the surface for her and overflowing into me from our bond. I rubbed slow, soothing circles on her backand her thigh to bring her back to the present and to help her focus. I whispered in her ear, “It’s okay, Sweetness. You’re safe, and you’re surrounded by people who love you and understand you’ve been through a lot. Say what you can, and skip over what you can’t, yeah?”
Nodding, she instantly relaxed at my words. She snuggled as close to me as she could, like I was her support beam through this, lending strength by just being here.
You have no idea how much ofmylifeline you are,mi vida.
Byrd cleared her throat before recounting everything that happened to her over the past two weeks. She detailed Lilah searching and manipulating her memories, Cooper’s presence, Lilah trying to find her father’s enchantment, and her being tied up in the barn for us to find. She even talked about Lilah’s torture: how her blood magic not just restrained Byrd but fed off of her blood, how Lilah stabbed her withmyblade, how she used Byrd’s love as a weapon, the pain of not being connected to her dragon or me. Absentmindedly, Byrd rubbed at the marks on her wrists. They were healed on the surface, but I sensed the lingering aches there through our bond. It was going to scar deeper than just along her skin. I kissed her forehead and pulled Byrd even closer into me like I could heal her with just my embrace. I wish I could.
I can’t wait to get my hands on that bitch. I would make hersufferfor what she’d done to my girl.
At some point, Everett and Teddy had gotten up to sit closer to Byrd. Everett held her hand while clinging to Teddy like his life depended on it. Talli spun her wedding ring, likely thinking of her husband and children at home. Cole and Simone were in a tight embrace, Simone’s eyes overflowing with tears as her friend recalled what she had been through. I could hear Cole whispering in her ear, but I couldn’t make out what he was saying. I couldn’t help but wonder if they were all thinking ofwhat they would do if their mates were in the same situation as me and Byrd, how they would react, and how they would rather wish death upon anyone who tried, like I was doing right now.
Then, Byrd turned to Maisie. Byrd was on the verge of tears as she said, “I-I don’t know how to tell you this either, Maisie, but… Well… When Lilah wasn’t getting the information she wanted, she summoned your father. I… He died. She killed him right in front of me, using her blood magic just to prove a point. She wanted to show that she could summon any of you and do the same. I headbutted her for even thinking she could threaten to do that. I made her nose bleed for it.”
“Great job, kiddo,” Everett said, his chest swelling with pride. I had to agree with thepanocha.
I’m so proud of you, baby girl, nicely done.
Byrd sniffled, despite the praise. “There…There wasn’t anything I could do to stop her from killing your dad, Maisie.”
