He’d been watching from the window, because how could he not? What he’d seen was the birds, and then shadows of those birds, and more that he couldn’t really fathom from a distance and because he wasn’t Jena.
He had this feeling that she too would struggle to find the words.
Whatever had happened, though, she was smiling when she re-entered the house, looking more confident than he’d ever seen her. Weirdly calm amongst the chaos.
‘Well?’ he asked.
Jena went straight to the kitchen and filled a large glass of water, drinking it all before shrugging, the smile still on her lips, touching her eyes.
‘It was them, Will. My family.’ Her eyes glistened. ‘Whatever Rose did … it linked them to the birds, all of them, even Ernest.’ Her hand went to the pounamu around her neck. ‘But Cade got some of Rose; the rest is in here. This is how we get him to come.’
The necklace was nice, but it didn’t strike Will as anything out of the ordinary. The way Jena radiated when she touched it made him understand that she thought it was, though. And even if it wasn’t true, that belief would help Jena get through this.
She seemed … transformed might be too big a word for it, but different, anyway, more comfortable in her skin. It was a good change, after all the shit they’d been through since she arrived, but it somehow made him feel less, like she’d grown but he was still the same as he ever was, and no real help to her in this situation. It was her battle, her fight, and he didn’t know what he could do to help.
But he’d try. He’d be there, support her however she needed. He’d see this through to the end, just like he knew she would.
‘So, what comes next?’ he asked. ‘What do you need me to do?’
Jena placed her hands on the counter, spreading her fingers out. ‘Just be you?’ Her voice wobbled a little then. ‘I can’t do this alone. Just, be there. Do what you do best.’
He wasn’t sure what that was, but it didn’t feel like the right time to lack confidence. She didn’t need that from him now.
‘And we’re going to call Ca—the Dark Man. I know just what to say.’ She pulled her phone out and found Cade’s number, started the call, put it on speaker and then placed it on the bench between them.
‘Little Bird, I thought I’d put you in the ground.’ The Dark Man’s voice was part Cade, part something else.
‘You’ll have to try harder than that to kill me. In fact, why don’t you?’ Jena pushed her fingers into the bench; they turned white with the pressure. Will moved his over hers, dark against white, and she turned her palms, gripping on to him instead.
The Dark Man laughed. ‘And what might that mean?’
‘Oh, don’t be coy. You didn’t get my light, and I know you didn’t get all of Rose’s, because I’ve got that too.’ Jena flicked her gaze up to his, and he nodded, encouraging her. He could feel the tremor in her fingers, but her voice was firm. Strong.
There was a rough intake of breath over the phone. ‘You little bitch. I’m going to take everything. You’ll get what’s coming to you.’
‘And so will you,’ Will added. He let go of Jena’s hand and swiped the call to end it, then he turned the phone upside down so that he couldn’t see the screen.
‘You shouldn’t have let him know you were here,’ Jena said softly, though her words were without blame.
Will’s gut clenched, realising that she was right. But he was angry too. Angry at Cade, and the Dark Man. At himself. He shook his head. ‘It doesn’t matter. We’re bruised and battered. Even if he knows I’m here he’s not going to consider me a threat.’
‘More fool him, right?’ Jena took a deep breath, licked her lip, her faux confidence bleeding away. ‘I guess now we wait.’
Will gave a short nod, and then moved into the kitchen. ‘I’ll make coffee,’ he said.
Maybe that was the thing he was best at.