Raven Mask (Camren) Book 2

Chapter 3

I went inside alone to grab a few things and didn't bother turning any lights on. Being a werewolf has its perks, one of which is excellent night vision. Wolves in the wild rely mostly on their sense of smell, but they also have good night sight. In a wolf's eyes, the abundance of rods, or nerves that are sensitive to low light, is what gives it the ability to see in the dark.

Unfortunately, rods are monochromatic, and in the dark the number of rods washes away my ability to perceive colors other than those of a black-and-white film. Fortunately, if there's light, my vision is normal. Not being able to perceive color in the dark may seem like a downside. Truthfully, it isn't such a high price to pay given the fact I can actually see. When you make a living hunting and killing things that aren't human, you learn to appreciate life's small mercies.

In the bedroom I opened the top drawer of my dresser and pulled out two pairs of undies, socks, and a clean bra. It really didn't matter what color they were. I fished my backpack from beneath the bed, tossing the undergarments in, along with a nightshirt that was originally black and white.

Lauren had given me the shirt that promoted the club she owned. The two little white Vs on it, like upside-down mountains, were supposed to be vampire fangs. Underneath the fangs in cryptic bleeding letters was The Two Points. I yanked two pairs of jeans off a hanger, what I was hoping was my green thermal, and what I was pretty sure was a black-and-white striped sweater.

I stashed everything in the bag and tossed it over my shoulder. My leather jacket was in the car. I thought about grabbing another coat, but I was just going over to Lauren's, not to a fashion show. Hell, she had seen me when I'd woken looking like the Bride of Frankenstein.

Of course, not a curl on Lauren's head was ever out of place. Looking perfect in the morning so doesn't count if you're a vampire. They don't move. Trust me, I know, because trying to move them is a bitch. I learned not to fall asleep on the very edge of the bed with Lauren holding me, because when I woke about to fall off, she wouldn't budge. Being a lycanthrope, I could have moved her, but it was easier to just move myself.

There was an upside. I didn't have to worry about accidentally kicking her in my sleep and we never fought over the covers.

I shut all the doors in the apartment, grabbed my laptop, and left. After I nodded in Shawn's direction, letting him know I was ready, the Mustang's lights flicked on and I squinted, stifling a growl. Sudden bright lights shattering my night vision hurt like hell. He was just messing with me. I unlocked the Tiburon, tossed the backpack into the passenger seat, and carefully put the laptop bag flat on the floorboard.

Shawn waited for my lead.

He had, after all, never been to Lauren's house, so I was curious to see his expression when we got there. It was a house worth staring at.

Shawn followed me to the porch with only the sound of our boots crunching the dead grass. I knocked on the door, lightly, waiting for footsteps on the other side. I could usually hear Dinah, friend and beta werewolf of the Blackthorne pack, bounding down the stairs. She was the one who customarily opened the door. Dinah was one of the many residents living under Lauren's roof. She also worked for Lauren at The Two Points.

Shawn hadn't so much as blinked at the size of the house. What kind of place did he live in? I'd never seen it. We had a bet several months ago, when he'd told me to try and find out where he lived. But the last case I'd worked on with the police had interfered and I'd never figured it out.