Heartsong (Green Creek 3)

“I’ll take it,” he said. “Come on. I don’t think she has much time.”

She didn’t.

brother

Shannon Wells died later that night, but not before she told us what she could.

She was in Elizabeth’s room, the one she’d shared with her late husband. I hadn’t been inside since I’d returned to Green Creek, not wanting to intrude on a wolf mother’s sanctuary. It was bright and airy, and the walls were a soft yellow, like sunlight on a spring morning. And though Thomas Bennett was nothing but ash, I swore I caught the scent of an unknown wolf embedded into the walls and floor and ceiling.

We didn’t want to crowd Shannon, but we needed to hear what she had to say, if she could say anything at all. She was awake, and her eyes flashed violet. She spoke in a low voice, but not to any of us. At first I didn’t think she even knew we were there.

She said, “Of course we can go, Jimmy. We’ll just have to wait for the weekend.”

She said, “Oh, why are you bleeding? What’s happened? Who did this to you?”

She said, “When I’m with you, I feel like I can breathe.”

She said, “Mom, look out! Look out for the—”

She said, “There was this song I heard on the radio. It’s old. Peggy Lee singing about Johnny Guitar, and it made me ache.”

The Bennett brothers all made wounded noises as if they’d been gut punched. I didn’t understand why.

And then Shannon laughed a terrible laugh, humorless and sounding almost like a scream. It went on and on until I thought I would go mad.

She fell silent eventually, hands twitching at her sides.

Elizabeth sat next to her, cleaning her wounds as best she could. The gashes were red and angry-looking, and though the blood had slowed to a trickle, it wouldn’t be enough. Death has a stench, low and sickly sweet, like rotted meat. It surrounded her like a black cloud, thick and overpowering.

Chris and Tanner stood just outside the room, heads bowed as they leaned against the wall. Rico was with them, muttering quietly about how they didn’t have to go in, they didn’t have to see this, to just stay where they were.

I wanted to be with them, but I couldn’t.

I had to witness it. The full extent.

She deserved as much.

Jessie moved in and out of the room, bringing fresh towels and bandages, though it was almost pointless.

Gordo stood on the other side of the bed, Mark behind him, his forehead pressed against the back of Gordo’s neck. The witch held his hand out over Shannon, lips moving but no sound coming out. His tattoos were vibrant as they shifted, and there was a sheen of sweat on his upper lip. His stump was shaking, and the raven was curling into the roses on his arm.

Ox and Joe stood at the foot of the bed, each with a hand wrapped around one of Shannon’s ankles. At first I thought they were keeping her from jerking her legs, but I felt their energy rolling off them in calming waves, pouring down onto Shannon. Joe’s eyes were red, Ox’s mixed with Alpha and Omega.

Carter stood at the window, looking out at the forest behind the house. The timber wolf sat next to him, as if on guard.

Kelly and I were out of the way in one corner of the room, watching, waiting, though for what, I didn’t think we knew.

We didn’t have to wait long.

I saw the moment clarity returned to Shannon, the violet fading away, leaving only eyes like frosted glass. She took in a deep breath, her chest rising and causing her wounds to stretch. They made a wet sucking sound that even magic wouldn’t be able to make me forget.

A tear fell down her right cheek.

Elizabeth wiped it away before it could fall onto the bed. In its place, she left a streak of blood. It only made things worse.

Shannon said, “This isn’t a dream.”

“No,” Ox said, and it was blue. “No, Alpha. It’s not a dream.”