Page 112 of Blood that Burns
She runs her hand down my back as I cry into my palms. “I-I’m sorry. I’m h-happy you’ll live.”
“Shh,” she coos. “I understand. It’s forcing you to confront your mortality.”
We sit in the quiet of the library, my sniffles the only sound to be heard. After several minutes, Marina turns my head toward her. “Share his blood, Mags. Complete the bond and you’ll live.”
“Good luck convincing Law of that.”
She scoffs. “It’s not just his decision. If he cares for you, and I know he does, he needs to listen.”
I blow out a breath, wipe my nose, and sit up taller in my chair, pulling myself together.
“There’s something else,” she says, and I eye her wearily, not sure I’m up for more. “I can speak to birds. Well... one bird. Mosely. He’s mine. Shante called him my guardian.”
I squint through tear-reddened eyes. “You... talk to a bird?”
She bobs her head. “Yes. A black crow. He doesn’t talk to me out loud. I’m the only one who can hear him.”
“In your mind?” I ask, trying to keep the doubt out of my voice. “I’ve been followed by a black crow, but it hasn’t talked to me. Do you think I have a guardian?”
“I’m sure. How often was it around?”
“It was outside of Marc’s house. It would tap at the window sometimes, but I never got close to it. Birds creep me the hell out.”
She chuckles. “I wasn’t too pumped about the species of guardian at first either, but now that I know, it’s kinda cool.”
I’m not sure I’ll ever think having a bird talk to me is cool, but crazier things have happened.
“What do you know about a guardian? What’s the purpose?”
She shrugs. “No clue. Julian sort of talked me out of asking.”
“Why?” I ask, leaning forward. “I’d think that is a pretty important detail to uncover.”
“I have no idea, but now I’m suspicious,” she admits. “We should do some digging.”
I sigh. “Last time you went digging, you ended up trapped behind a wall, from what I hear. I’m not sure that digging for things the vampires want to remain hidden is the best bet.”
She clucks her tongue in response. “I don’t think Julian is trying to keep anything from me; he just thought I was already overloaded, and it might be better to accept all the changes gradually.”
“He might’ve been right about that,” I muse.
Marina’s eyes widen. “Maybe we can find a book in here about guardians.”
I nod. “But not today. Let’s focus our energy on one thing tonight.”
Diving back into the book in front of me, I only make it a few pages before Marina speaks.
“Oh, I forgot to tell you. Addy wants to have a girls’ night tomorrow. A sort of sendoff before she leaves for the Carolinas.”
I push the book aside, drumming my fingernails on the table. “We should probably plan something fun, since it’s her going-away party.”
Marina waves that off. “Addy lives for party planning. She’s the vampire version of a socialite. I’m perfectly happy leaving the details to her.”
She knows Addy better than I do, but even I can tell Marina speaks the truth. The girl is all French sophistication and high-end bling. Anything I planned for her would likely fall flat.
“She’s looking for low-key, but I’m excited. A night of normal girl talk is just what I need.”
“Who’s coming?”
“It’ll just be us, Addy and Reese.”
I have to school my features as to not give away my trepidation surrounding Reese. Maybe a girls’ night will be the perfect time to ensure she plans to keep her trap shut. Loyalties have been tested and shattered with lesser stakes when girls have gotten a night out.
Tomorrow, I’m going to get to the bottom of Reese’s motives.
But before that, I need Law to teach me how to block people—witches included—out of my head.