Black Bird (Nevermore Duet #1)

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 2 5

SILVER LINING

Brandon Jenkins had never been much for secrets. He avoided drama at all costs. It was probably why he made a decent detective. Exposing said secrets and crushing drama under a badge. It was also likely the reason that the secret he was being forced to keep about the fierce woman that he loved, ate at him with such force that his very skin crawled with it. He had called so many times to that burner number Rhaena had been talking to him on, and after about the tenth try, she’d finally answered him. She had sounded so pitiful. So wrecked, and helpless. Knowing she wasn’t alone did little to keep his need to be with her at bay. She had finally given him a chance. He wanted her to know that he’d stand by her … no matter what she was, or how scary she thought it might be. He’d begged her to let him come up before she changed tonight, but she very forcefully denied him.

When they’d hung up, he made her promise that she’d speak to him again before sunset. He was hoping that she’d at least allow the call to stay open so he could offer his support through the line. Jenkins stopped for coffee at the truck that always posted up on the corner of 3rd and Main. They had the best roast in Boston, and it seemed like the vendor never ran out of fresh brew. He dialed Captain Foley, getting no answer. Once he’d paid and started making his way back to his car, he called again. This time, it didn’t even ring. It went straight to his voicemail.

“Hey, Cap. It’s Jenkins. Everything is fine, and I don’t have anything new to report. I was calling to let you know that I’d need the night off, but I’ll be available if you try to reach me for anything. There’s some personal things I need to handle today. Thanks, sir.”

He stepped off the curb and hot coffee spilled over his hand. He cursed, shaking it off, and abruptly turned back to grab napkins from the coffee truck. Agent Foster was standing behind him.

“They have caution labels on those cups for a reason, detective.” She offered him a napkin. “I used to find them really stupid, but I’m starting to understand their appeal.”

He took the napkin and wiped down the side of his paper cup. “Thanks.”

“Couldn’t help overhearing. Taking a personal day?” She sipped her own coffee and quirked a brow.

“I’m allowed that. Got some shit to take care of,” he said without looking at her, wiping down the front of his shirt.

“Mmm … wouldn’t have anything to do with your girlfriend, would it? Isn’t she on vacation as well?” Foster smiled and lowered her cup .

“I don’t really see how that’s any of your business.” Jenkins narrowed his eyes at her.

“It’s my business where it concerns the case I’m assigned to.”

Jenkins huffed a laugh. “Yeah, well … her only involvement in your case was doing her job. You’re not gonna find anything to pin on her the way you smeared dirt on her partner.”

“You sure about that? My understanding is that she and her partner were also romantically involved for a time. I’m not saying I blame her.” She turned her coffee up again. “But aren’t you a bit curious about that?”

“I know what you’re doing, Agent Foster. It’s not gonna work. Your tactics are surprisingly predictable. Everybody knows Kane and Northwood were fucking. Other than being close, that’s all it ever was. She’s been honest with me about that, and again, it’s none of your business. So, if there’s nothing else …” He turned away and started to walk toward his car.

“They’re both hiding something, detective!” Foster called out from behind him. He stopped and looked over his shoulder. “I’m gonna find out what it is, and if you get tangled up in whatever they’re going down for, then don’t ever say I didn’t warn you.” She pointed at him with her cup and winked. “Have a pleasant day off.”

“Go fuck yourself.”

“Hmm …” Foster tightened her mouth. “Interesting.”

Jenkins continued forward, jerking his door open and sliding inside. Foster raised her cup in farewell, smiling as he drove off.

It had been a long-ass day. Rhaena hadn’t seemed as bad off as she’d been last month, but today was a different story. Sarah and Wren had moved the animals into the living room, near the fireplace, both of them secured in their cages. Athan was helping Rhaena battle her way out of her clothes, while she sweat profusely and heaved heavy breaths. The sun would set in about twenty minutes, and he could already see her eyes flickering with the beast inside that was itching to break out.

“Lock me in,” Rhaena heaved as a long stream of saliva hung from her bottom lip. It was bad. The chill in the bedroom almost caused steam to cloud over her blistering-hot skin. Deep growls started working their way up from her throat and she lowered her naked body into the small closet while he started chaining her up.

“You told him you’d call, Rhaena.” Athan tried not to look her in the eye while he worked, knowing damn well she’d give some excuse to break her promise to Jenkins.

“I can’t let him hear this,” she huffed, tugging at the first chain he’d finished. “It’ll never be something he’ll get used to, Athan. Fuck, I’m not even used to it, and how many times have we fucking done this?” Her voice cracked, and the last couple words were a jerk on the chain in frustration and something that sounded an awful lot like fear.

“What did you keep telling me when I was torn about telling Sarah the truth?”

Rhaena stilled, breathing heavily and focused on his face. Sarah stepped quietly into the doorway, holding the burner phone. “I can’t.” Tears started to stream down her face, mixing with the sweat trickling down from her head. “What if he leaves?”

“I think the words you used were: ‘the fact that you were willing to be that vulnerable will stick with her.’ You remember that?” Athan asked, testing the second chain. Sarah stood silent. Her face was taut with pity.

“It was a lot more than that … that stuck. If someone loves you—really loves you—they love the flaws just as much as everything else. Jenkins already knows what you are. Half the battle is already won, Rhaena,” Sarah’s voice was smooth and soothing. “If you told him you would … you should. If you don’t, he’ll worry himself sick.”

“I’ve done this thousands of times without him.” Rhaena’s back arched and she squeezed her eyes shut with pain as her sharp breaths continued and sweat poured down her chest.

“You hadn’t started dating him yet.” Athan secured the last chain and tested it, continuing to kneel in front of her. “This isn’t fair to him. It’s not fair to you, either. You need him just as much, and you know it.”

“You’re running out of time, Rhae.” Wren crept up behind Sarah, who extended the phone in her hand. Rhaena looked at them both for a moment, and then returned her focus to him, jerking her head toward the phone.

“Call him.”

Sarah didn’t waste a second. She dialed the number and turned on the speaker. Jenkins answered on the first ring.

“Rhaena!”

“Brandon, I—I don’t have long.” Rhaena grunted and paused, her body shining in the lamplight from the bedroom as the sun began to disappear entirely. “I told you I’d call.”

“Babe, you sound awful. Please let me come up. Please …”

“No!” She broke into a cry, shaking under the chains. They clinked against each other, and she sobbed. “Please don’t. I can’t let you see me this way.”

“It can’t be any crazier than the way you look in the morning.”

Rhaena scoffed, and spit flew from her mouth onto the floor. She smiled through the racking of her body and closed her eyes. “You’re such an asshole.”

“Your friends will probably think that too with what I’m about to say.”

Athan glanced at Sarah and Wren, all of them looking at the phone in Sarah’s extended hand. Rhaena breathed raggedly. “And what’s that, dare I ask? ”

“I know he helps you through this, Rhaena … but it shouldn’t be him that you’re leaning on anymore.”

“He’s right, Rhaena …” Athan agreed.

“You’re my Sherlock, now. Nobody else’s.”

Wren poked her bottom lip out and pressed a hand to her chest. Sarah cracked a smile.

“You’re human, Brandon …” Rhaena wept. “I don’t wanna hurt you.”

“We’ve got Athan for that,” Sarah offered, placing her hand on his shoulder. He leaned against her thigh and curled his hand around it.

“Please, baby.”

Rhaena’s legs spread, exposing everything, and she bowed backward, struggling to breathe and jerking forcefully against her restraints. The back of her head rested against the beam, and she let out a guttural moan. “I love—” she gasped, panting and swallowing back growls. “I—” Her words gurgled out and bones started snapping and reforming themselves. Sarah and Wren’s eyes grew wide, and Athan stood up, forcing them back as Rhaena let out a blood-curdling wail.

He’d seen it dozens of times. It never got any easier. Especially this time, when someone she cared about was on the other line of that phone, and desperate to get to her. How anyone didn’t treasure humanity, or its many precious aspects, still evaded him. His chest ached, and Rhaena’s wolf form started taking shape.

“Rhaena!” Jenkins sounded just as helpless as she did. Athan bristled.

Rhaena stood on her haunches as her spine started crackling and thick fur started spreading over her body. She screamed again, and it broke off into a labored sob, before her animalistic roar finally took over. Sarah and Wren stared frozen and wide-eyed, and the phone shook in her hand while Rhaena struggled against the chains, growling and clawing at the air.

“The hard part’s over, Jenkins. Ride like the wind,” Athan said, keeping an arm in front of both the girls.

“I’ll be there in twenty. Thanks, Kane.”

She’d probably kick his ass for it later. He knew that. But he also knew that as bad as she didn’t want him to see her in this state, she wanted him here. And she’d need him here when it was over, no matter what she chose to do with Sarah’s blood tonight. He and Sarah had spent another night weighing all the options, and how they were going to offer Rhaena the opportunity that could end this madness for her. They’d decided that the moment Rhaena allowed him to put that ring on her, she’d likely be coherent enough to give them some kind of answer when Sarah presented her with the syringe. If they could get her through the first few hours of hell, she’d get a break, at least, from the poison of that silver. Athan had warned her and Wren yesterday about how shocking this would be, and he never expected them not to react the way they were right now. It was how anyone would have responded .

“Come on,” Athan guided them along the wall, a safe distance from where Rhaena snapped at them in the closet, thrashing and slinging strings of foamy drool from her maw. They stepped into the living room, and Athan cracked the bedroom door. It didn’t do much to muffle her roaring, and the harsh sounds of metal clanging together.

Wren turned toward them from the middle of the den with her eyes full of tears and a hand over her mouth. “This is gonna break his fucking heart. It’s breaking mine. ” She sniffled. “How do you do this every month, Athan?” Wren shook her head slowly, her mouth staying open. “How does she? ”

“It’s who we are, Red. She’ll be okay, I promise. Rhaena’s tough as nails. She trains almost every day for this,” Athan said, sliding an arm around Sarah’s waist.

“She shouldn’t have to,” Sarah breathed, wiping at her nose. “What if she doesn’t take the blood?”

“Then we have to be okay with her decision. She may change her mind one day.” He reached into his pocket and pulled his cigarettes out, handing them to Sarah along with his lighter. “Go out there and cool off. I’ll keep an eye on her for a while. It’s gonna be a long night.”

Sarah nodded, taking the smokes and reaching for her jacket on the coat rack. Wren wiped her face and followed her outside, closing the door behind her.

They had spent almost fifteen minutes out here and it already felt like an eternity. Hearing Rhaena’s racket beyond the window at the end of the porch only got worse by the second. Wren lit another cigarette.

“I know he cares about her. I don’t know if I could handle watching you repeatedly go through something like that.” She met Sarah’s attention, seeing the mutual understanding in her eyes.

“You could. You handled a lot worse when I was in the hospital. And then that shooting … you’re just as strong as he is. You’re as strong as Rhaena is.”

“Sarah, that’s nothing compared to what’s happening in that room. I fucking heard her bones breaking.” Her throat ached with the need to cry a little again. “It’s so awful. I mean, I know … in theory, you know … all the movies and shit about werewolves changing. I knew it would be something like that, but actually seeing it? Experiencing it?” Wren shook her head and took a long hit from her cigarette.

“I just keep flashing back to when I talked to her in her kitchen. When Athan was still using her coffee maker, I was waiting on it to finish brewing and she came home from here. I saw bruises all over her. It looked like she’d been jumped and beaten down with crowbars. She hides it so well. The next day, after she’d slept it off … you couldn’t tell anything had ever happened to her. That was before I knew what she was. Before ei ther of us knew. She’ll get through it, Wren. I’m sure Athan’s first time seeing her like this wasn’t easy, either.”

“It’s kinda funny ain’t it?” Wren snickered, staring down at the wooden planks in the porch and flicking the ashes off the end of her smoke. “When we first came to stay at their apartments … I gave her a tattoo of a damn wolf.” They both snorted. “Dude, she acted like that was the worst pain she’d ever felt. You remember?”

“The irony is kinda laughable.” Sarah giggled, taking a drag. “You think she was playing us?”

“Hell no. I’ve tattooed enough people in my life to know when they’re struggling. Rhae-Rhae was being a little pussy.”

Sarah cackled. “Oh God, Wren … don’t call her that.”

They quieted and froze when Rhaena let out a howl that sounded almost identical to what you’d hear in a movie. Athan’s muffled voice tried to soothe her, but the sound of chains and banging followed after it. Sarah moved to go investigate and Wren grabbed her arm.

“Sarah, don’t. Don’t go in there. Let him handle it.”

Headlights bounced in the long driveway and reflected off the remnants of glittering snow in the yard. Jenkins threw his car in park and shut it off, slamming the door and jogging to the porch. He paused on the top step when Rhaena loudly wailed from inside.

“Dear, God …” he mumbled under his breath. He palmed over his thickening beard and blew out a deep breath. Wren stood, gripping his upper arm.

“Look … whatever you’re imagining right now, it’s probably worse. I’m not gonna try and sugar-coat it for you. But … I just keep reminding myself that she’s in there. Somewhere under all that rage, Rhaena’s still in there fightin’ her ass off. I dunno if that helps.”

Sarah smiled softly and nodded. Jenkins looked between them both and did the same before opening the door and stepping through it. Sarah trailed behind him and looked over her shoulder. “You coming?”

“No … no, I think I’m gonna stay out here a little longer. Give them some space.”

Sarah offered her a half-smile and closed the door. Wren turned toward the yard and stepped forward to lean against the post. She couldn’t muster the strength to see that guy’s face when he realized all that Rhaena was going through—what she’d been going through all these years. She realized something then. What she’d told Rhaena about being too selfish to be in a relationship … maybe that wasn’t completely honest. Wren found herself alone. Rhaena had this man. A man that had quietly pined for her for God knows how long and accepted her for who and what she was. Drove like a bat out of hell to get to her, all the while knowing that what he’d find when he got here wasn’t the woman he loved, but a beast that could rip him to shreds … and he wanted to be here anyway.

Sarah and Athan had finally come to some kind of understanding that offered them peace enough to be together … even after everything that had happened, and what Athan truly was. She had always overheated just being close to them when they stared at each other—even before th ey’d actually gotten together. They had something real, and it ran deeper than an ocean. It exploded like a supernova when they finally let it happen, and now … now they couldn’t be apart for more than a few minutes.

But here she was. Cold and alone. And it wasn’t as pleasant as she thought it would be. In fact … it hurt a little. Wren peered down at the steps, dropping her cigarette and stomping it out. A lone tear inched down her cheek as she kicked it under the porch.

It was almost 4:00 in the morning. Wren was barely awake, laying next to Denver’s carrier near the fireplace, and wrapped in a blanket on the floor. Rhaena had nearly taken Brandon’s throat out every time he tried to get close, and he’d given up trying hours ago, but refused to leave her side. Athan had finally seen the exhaustion in his partner and was able to slip his ring over one of her claws. That had been a good half-hour ago, now. Sarah leaned against his chest as they sat on the couch, her legs draped over his lap. He held onto her, and his fingers idly stroked her forearm. Sarah noticed that it had gotten a lot quieter, and Rhaena’s growls were becoming more of a whimper as her claws scraped against the wooden floor in the closet.

“Should we ask her now?” she asked, turning her face up to him.

“We could. I’m gonna have to probably take that ring off her in the next few minutes, either way. She doesn’t need to keep it on longer than an hour. It’s basically poisoning her. She’ll rage, but if she keeps it on, it could hurt her. I dunno what kind of long-term damage that could do.”

“Does she know that?”

Athan nodded softly. “Yeah, we’ve talked about it. We only came up with this game plan last month. It was the first time we tried it. It gave her enough time to get some strength back and get through the rest of the night. I didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of leaving it on her the whole time.”

Sarah stared off, lost in thought at what something as simple as silver could do to someone like her. She supposed mercury had a similar effect, but who even knew what a werewolf could endure? Where would one even start in trying to figure it out? Her blood wouldn’t be much different. It was just as much a trial-and-error situation as the ring Rhaena was wearing. She decided it was time to see if the brave detective was willing to take the risk. Sarah leaned in and kissed Athan’s neck before sliding off the couch and walking to the fridge to get the syringe. Wren sat up, watching her, and Athan stood. Sarah took the impossibly old first-aid kit from the top of the refrigerator and grabbed the sealed needle from inside, unwrapping it and fixing it to the end before allowing a couple drops through it.

“Let’s go,” she breathed, making her way towards the bedroom door. She pushed it open and poor Rhaena was slumped in the closet with her snout resting on her paw. Her golden eyes raised when Sarah walked in, and Brandon lifted his head as he leaned against the nightstand.

“What the hell is that?” he asked, looking at the needle.

“It’s my blood. It’s the magic everybody seems to be after. If she wants to try it … it could, possibly, end all this.” Sarah felt Athan’s hand on her lower back.

“Possibly?” Brandon’s tone was defensive. She understood why. Athan would have been the same way. “You’re saying you don’t know what it’ll do to her?”

“She’s—” Athan came to her defense.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying,” Sarah cut him off. “I’m not gonna keep you in the dark about it. My blood heals. I don’t know how, and I don’t know why … but it does. If she wants it … this could maybe change something in her blood and relieve her. We’re leaving it up to Rhaena.”

“And she knows about this?” Brandon asked, looking down at Rhaena who was watching him closely.

“She does,” Athan finished.

Jenkins knelt down and moved closer to where Rhaena whimpered on the floor. “Rhaena … you don’t have to do this. If it’s because of me, I swear I’ll be here for you every time. I’ll help you through every full moon and bring you Thai food to get your strength back. I’ll let you have the last piece of chicken. I won’t tell you that your team sucks ass or laugh at you when you snore. I’ll be whatever you need me to be, babe. I swear it.” He started to crack a little, and his eyes went misty. Rhaena’s pants started getting a little more rapid.

“Jenkins, we gotta get that ring off her. She’s got about two hours left until sunrise.” Athan’s hand gripped a little tighter on Sarah’s back. “It’s hurting her, man.”

Rhaena whined through her snout and looked up at Sarah. “It’s your choice, Rhae.” Sarah leaned down. “You don’t have to do this, now. You don’t have to do it at all. If it’s what you want … we can give it a try.”

Wren stepped up behind Athan and leaned against the doorway. “We’re all here, Fleabag. We’ve got your back. Whatever you decide.”

Rhaena moved her head closer to Brandon and a purring rumble echoed in her throat. It almost sounded … affectionate. He leaned in and rested his head on hers. She shifted and looked up at Sarah again, blinking slowly once, and then closing her eyes in anticipation. Athan moved around Sarah, joining Jenkins on the floor and holding her paws down. He slipped the ring off just as Sarah jabbed the needle into her side and emptied the syringe into her. Rhaena yelped, and then roared in agony. Neither Athan, nor Brandon moved an inch. They held her steady while she thrashed, and Sarah reached around her massive body and held her tight. Wren joined them, taking a spot on her shoulders while Rhaena fought against them wailing. Thick fur was disappearing. Her roaring started to sound more human. Her body started to mold itself smaller, and Sarah felt the dampness of sweat against her arms. Rhaena’s last roar finished in an exhausted scream, and she took one last gaping breath before she slackened and lost consciousness .

“Rhaena!” Brandon yelled, as they all slowly released her. Athan flipped her hand over and checked her pulse. “Baby, answer me! Rhaena!”

“Pulse is strong,” Athan said, his voice heavy with relief.

Jenkins turned her head around and rested it in his lap while Athan frantically started unchaining her. Wren ran back to the living room and came back with a blanket to cover her up. All Sarah could do was wait in utter fear of her not opening those eyes.

Wake up, Rhaena … wake up … wake up!

She looked at her chest as Athan moved the heavy chains off of her. Her arms dropped limp and lifeless at her sides when Jenkins pulled her further into his lap. Her chest started to rise and fall … deep and strong. Sarah steepled her hands in front of her face. She felt Athan kneel behind her, and Wren pulled the blanket over Rhaena’s body.

“Rhaena …” Brandon whispered, stroking her face and smoothing the wet strands of her hair away from it.

“I’m changing my name …” Rhaena finally whispered, weakly. “You bitches are annoying.”

Wren braced her palms on the floor and started crying. Athan gripped Sarah by the shoulders and leaned down to kiss her neck. He’d never admit it, but she was sure she heard him sniffle. Sarah wept with triumph.

Jenkins pulled her up, wrapping her in the blanket and rocking her back and forth while he kissed her face and held onto her. “Holy shit … you fuckin’ scared me to death,” he whispered.

Rhaena’s eyes peeled open, and she looked over at Sarah. The gratitude in those eyes far surpassed the exhaustion, and Sarah couldn’t stop crying. “It worked …” Rhaena said hoarsely. “Thank you.” Her lip quivered, and she choked back a sob. “Thank you so much.”

She knew she’d made the right decision now. If the blood in that bag could give this to someone else … she’d do this. She’d give that hope to the ones that needed it most. It was the silver lining in this shitstorm that loomed over her life. It would be enough to get her through the magnitude of consequences that sharing this with the world would bring. This … and the vampire that had wrapped his arms around her … making her whole again.