Page 124 of The Howl
He started tapping his leg, an indication we’d touched on an uncomfortable subject. I didn’t know what else to talk about, though, so the rest of the ride passed in an awkward silence. When I pulled in front of the Roost, he immediately got out but then leaned down to look at me.
“Thanks for the ride and the distraction. See you tomorrow.”
“Yep. Tomorrow.”
He closed the door and walked into the Roost without a single comment or backward glance.
Worried, I sat there for a moment before starting home. Fenris didn’t do silence, and he never forgot to flash his flirting smile and try to talk me into joining his herd at the Roost. Was his delayed mate run really bothering him that much? I felt bad for him and wished there was something I could do. Sighing, I added it to my list of things to try to fix.
Mom was waiting for me in the kitchen when I walked through the door.
“I was just about to call you,” she said, standing.
“Did they find Ashlyn?”
“Not that I’ve heard. I’m sure she’ll be fine.”
My steps slowed as I noted her glittery, floor-length dress and short white fur coat.
“Are you going out?” I asked.
“Since we’ve rid ourselves of the useless pretext of partaking in human meals, I thought we’d go to the Roost. Back in my day, it was called the Fledgling. Dumb name. No one wanted to go there. Mrs. Quill said it’s changed drastically since then and that everyone your age spends their spare time there. I’m eager to see that for myself.”
“It’s a teens-only place,” I said. “Except for the staff.”
“Don’t you worry about that,” she said with a wave. “I already cleared it with Adira and swore I wouldn’t feed while out of the house. This is just for a look so I can see where Adira has you spending your time.”
That she and Adira both were okay with this meant they were up to something. What, though? Probably to get me to feed. Everything revolved around that with them.
Mom watched me expectantly, and I smiled, already knowing this plan of theirs would backfire spectacularly.
“You know what? Sure. Let’s go to the Roost so you can see the wild nightlife of the young and imprisoned. You’ll love it.”
I turned around and went to my car, opening the door for Mom.
She smiled and patted my cheek before getting in. I hurried to join her and got her talking about New York and all her amazing parties during the short drive. Her amazingly high-end parties.
“Here we are,” I said, parking on the sidewalk almost a block away.
Mom leaned forward to look up at the neon sign in the distance.
“The sign’s a little tacky, I know, but it gets better inside,” I said.
She didn’t say a word as she got out and followed me down the sidewalk.
“It’s usually not this packed,” I said. “Most of the time I can park by the door. There must be a decent crowd tonight.”
When I parked by the door, it was because I normally arrived early enough to avoid the late crowd. I’d probably go to hell for the way I was bending the truth, but at the moment, I didn’t care.
Music floated on the air and became blaringly loud once I opened the doors. Two sirens were on the stage already, singing for a crowd of maybe twenty, which included Fenris and his girls. None of the humans were here yet, so I headed for the back booth and slid in.
“Don’t lean back against the seat,” I said. “It might be a little grimy. They don’t clean very well in here.”
Despite her best efforts to hide it, Mom’s horror was showing as her gaze swept the space.
“And if you have to go to the bathroom, check the bowl before you hover. I’ve had as much as I can stand with brownies,” I said as if the two topics were related.
The horror in her eyes grew.
