Page 79 of Memories Like Fangs
“You havealwayswanted to propose on New Year’s Eve. You said the fireworks are so romantic and that you want an explosive kind of love like them. You always talked about there being something so beautiful about asking for someone’s hand in the first few moments of a new year. So, this is perfect! New Year’s is literally in a couple of days, right?” Byrd whispered quickly.
Everett shook his head. “That isn’t important right now. It can wait. Youarewhat matters right now.”
Byrd frowned, looking so adorably offended by his words. “No, thisisimportant, Everett!” Then, she raised her voice to make sure Teddy could hear from where he was still making her water. “My dad said when my mother died that we have to find our okay, our normal. We have to continue living in the face of the bad that gets thrown at us. We can’t let anyone rob us of our happiness. We can’t let them steal our moments that we pull from the shit. You know what I looked forward to the most while my past was being thrown in my face and used to attack me? Building a future, a real one, with each and every one of you. We can’t let one crazy bitch ruin one of our only acts of rebellion. So, thiscan’twait. If I matter, then do this because I want you to.”
I smiled, loving that I fell for such a hopeless romantic. Everett laughed. “Oh, the things I do for you, kid. Fine. But, you girls have to come with me.”
At the same time, Byrd, Maisie, and Simone said, “Deal!”
“Where are y’all going?” Teddy asked curiously as he returned with Byrd’s drink.
Everett looked at him with a knowing smile. “Nowhere, love. It’s just a promise I made to Byrd.”
Byrd drank over half the cup of water before her eyes widened. She looked to Everett, teary-eyed again. “Promises… Mom…”
He nodded solemnly and squeezed her hand. “I know. Maisie told us.”
“Don’t worry, Byrdie Bee. We’ll take care of her once things are more settled, okay? She would want you to be healed first and foremost,” Talli reassured.
“Oh, and I texted the Guardians,” Maisie said, checking her phone. “They and the Archive are so happy that you are safe. They said it’s the first time that the Archive has been calm indays.”
“Oh, my gods, I’m so happy!” Byrd beamed. Then, she yawned, long and wide. Her exhaustion was starting to catch up to her, and I could feel her initial bursts of energy waning.
“I think it’s time for bed, baby girl,” I said.
“No, but?—”
I stopped her protest before she could disagree further. “You need your rest to recover, Sweets. How many sleepless nights did you have with the Blood Bitch?”
“Oh, Blood Bitch is a great nickname for her,” Byrd chuckled.
I smiled. “I think we could all finally use some rest.”
“I hear the fuck out of that!” Cody hollered, having not had a full night’s rest either, since he was staying up all night tracking Byrd. I would have to think of a way to thank him and the other cousins for helping me and working so hard to do it.
Tonight, I had other things to think about.
We all made plans to meet tomorrow afternoon to give us all time to sleep in. Cole and Simone went to her place, Maisie went back to her place, Talli returned home for the first time in ages, and the rest of the cousins returned to the hotel room.Teddy said Everett would sleep at his place for the night to give us some alone time, which made Teddy wink my way, Everett grimace, Byrd giggle, and me roll my eyes. As everyone prepared to leave, I scooped Byrd up into my arms and carried her to her room in the back of the condo. I could hear the cute little nails of Clarkson and Dinah following close behind me.
“I’m surprised,” Byrd whispered into my chest.
“About what,mi tesoro?”
“You didn’t mention anything about me questioning you back there. I was expecting at least something in my thoughts about it.”
I leaned down and kissed her head. “That’s not what you need right now, babe. You need care, love, and rest. We will have time for the rest later.”
Byrd pouted. I could tell there was more there, but she didn’t want to say it. Somehow, I couldn’t use the bond to figure out what it might be.
I opened Byrd’s bedroom door. It was the same as she had left it when she left for Montana. She had worked hard the day before to ensure it was clean and pristine for her return home.
Byrd’s room was what would happen if someone gave a girl like her an unlimited budget at every thrift store in the Atlanta area. Despite the luxurious modernity of the rest of the condo, her room was very bohemian with various colors, lights, paintings from nature, plants, and crystals all over. Curtainless windows gave a stunning view of Blackbell’s Little Salem down below. Her bookshelves were full of all kinds of books, most of them romances, and most of those were monster or paranormal ones. There was an egg chair hanging in front of her bed and a desk with a chair next to the bed. Sliding barn doors led to her bathroom and walk-in closet. Her king-sized bed was made and ready for us with numerous pillows and blankets as well as freshly clean sheets that I could smell from the doorway.
I slid open the door to Byrd’s bathroom with my foot. I set her on the counter while I started the water for her shower, switching it to swelteringly hot, just how Byrd liked it. I personally preferred cold water, especially since I ran warm anyway and hated being hot as a general rule, but I didn’t mind the sacrifice. I would walk through hot coals in the Arizona desert for Byrd if that’s what it took.
“Your tub is magicked to always stay warm and not overflow, yeah?” I asked Byrd. She nodded, so I started the deep soaker tub, too, waiting for it to heat before I plugged the drain. I poured in some of Byrd’s bubble bath wash and dropped a few bath bombs in. The smells of vanilla, cranberry, and peppermint filled the bathroom. Remembering where Byrd’s hair stuff was the last time I was here and gave her a retwist, I pulled out the bin from under the counter and grabbed her shampoo and conditioner to put in the shower.
When I turned back to Byrd, she was watching me with her brilliantly colorful eyes, her tail flicking behind her like a cat watching a bird outside. It was hard for me to read her expression or her feelings. I approached her, taking in her sweater and leggings riddled with holes that had blood on the edges where I could see her exposed skin. I went to take the bottom of the sweater and lift it over her head, but one of her hands stopped me.
