Raven Mask (Camren) Book 2

Chapter 26

I wasn't against coming up with a good strategy. A lot of the time I devised spur-of-the-moment plans, and so far...I'm still alive. Obviously, I'd made mistakes in the past. I'd been trained to follow procedures and protocol, but I'd too often seen them crumble like grains of sand in the wind, especially when dealing with the preternatural. Anger and momentary stupidity made me want to charge into the abandoned church full force and try to take out the Count of Counts. I understood that. The wolf wanted that...wanted to hunt, to kill. It would've been so easy for her, for us.

Which is why I was sitting on the couch between Vanessa and Dinah. Normani sat across from Shawn. He'd let me know when he arrived that he too hadn't found anything on Taylor Swift. Either she was careful or I was paranoid. I had a feeling it was the former.

Lauren stood deathly still by the fireplace.

She had gotten her way. In the end, we were trying to make a plan, or at least lay the foundations of one. If it failed there had to be a plan B, which in my book always involved trying to stay alive and not get anyone else killed.

Currently, the most important thing was to get Jacob and Beatrice out of the Count of Count's deceptive care.

Lauren interrupted the silence, her voice as cold as dry ice. "The Count of Counts is mine," she said at last. "If he believes he can overthrow me, then it is only fair I give him the opportunity to try. I am within my rights to challenge him."

"I agree with you," Vanessa said. "Yet he does not play by our rules. What then, Countess?"

Lauren shook her head slowly. "I will be the hands of his undoing. I want you and Normani on guard. If the Count accepts my challenge you are to take out any of his henchmen that try to interfere with the duel. I have no doubts he will try and bend the rules, if not break them outright."

"Lauran," I said. "I care about you, but I don't care much for your plan."

"Camila." She knelt before me and touched the white streak in my hair, allowing it to slide through her fingers. "This is what it means for me to be Countess. I must protect my people." Her expression was one of compassion and understanding. She knew I loved her. I hadn't understood until then just how much she realized, or really how much I felt, but the idea of her challenging another vampire didn't sit well. The idea of losing her sent a chill through my heart like a splinter of ice.

"This is as much my business as it is yours. I have people to protect, too."

"And I know you will do your best," she said, "as I will do mine."

"The Count of Counts has defeated many formidable opponents," Vanessa noted in a casual tone, as if we were all just friends gathered around to sip tea and enjoy the fire.

"Do you doubt her?" I asked, not because I was angry, but because I truly wanted to know.

"No. You are the one that doubts, not I."

What Vanessa said was somewhat true. My worry made me uneasy, thinking Lauren was putting her very existence at risk. She was one of the most powerful vampires in Florida, but I couldn't squash the little voice inside myself that told me there's always someone out there bigger, stronger, and ready to kick your ass.

Was she more powerful than the Count? Could she defeat him all on her own? I wanted to believe she could, but reality wouldn't let me. The risk was too great.

Overestimation of your abilities can get you killed. I don't care if you're human, vampire, or the freaking Easter Bunny.

"I take it Shawn and I are supposed to get the kids?" I asked, suddenly depressed. Where was my anger? I needed it. I knew how to work with anger, to wield it like a sword. It helped me to deal, damn it.

I looked at Shawn. He'd been quiet for most of the conversation, listening intently. It wasn't obvious by a glance, but I knew he was armed. He always was.

"I'll help," Dinah added.

Suddenly, I had an idea. Lauren knelt by my legs, still watching me.

"What is it?" she asked.

"I can scout ahead. We don't know how many vampires we're dealing with. You said earlier we were going in blind without a plan. I'm fairly confident I've got enough control to shift to the raven." I didn't really doubt I'd be able to. Lady knew the actual shift itself was very different from the wolf. It wasn't painful. If I fought my beast, especially on a night when the Moon Mother calls, it hurts like a bitch and a half. Yes, in fact, I did learn that the hard way.

The corner of her mouth twitched. "There is one fault in your idea."

I blinked. "That would be?"

"What happens when you shift back?"

"The naked thing. Right. There is that."

"Naked thing?" Shawn asked. "Do I want to know?"

"Not really," I said.

Dinah said, "Camila is naked after she shifts into a birdie."

"Birdie?" Shawn asked. "What?" He looked so genuinely confused I knew I'd failed to mention the whole raven thing. How do you tell your best guy friend you're a freak?

You let others do it for you.

"Camila has been Goddess blessed." Lauren glanced at him. "The Morrigan has granted her a gift."

"Mila, I have no fucking idea what your girlfriend is saying."

I sighed. "I don't know how to explain it, Shawn. I'm not just a werewolf anymore."

"You are truly so ignorant of the blood in your veins." Normani 's voice held an edge of surprise and disbelief.

"What are you talking about?"

Normani looked at Lauren. "You have not told her all of the truth, have you?"

"I do not know if she is ready to hear it."

"Oh no," I said, "someone better fucking tell me something."

Normani seemed to wait for a signal from Lauren. When Lauren nodded, Normani looked at me.

"Camila, you were never purely human."