Page 109 of It All Started with a Bite

A chill danced down my spine. I exchanged a shocked look with Bo.

It was Camilla, but not the Camilla we knew.

The woman who’d just spoken had ice in her voice and sounded infinitely more dangerous.

I clenched my jaw. Was this the real Camilla?

The loaded silence coming from my earpiece indicated Didi, Gavin, and Nigel were listening in on the conversation.

A choked sound escaped Marcus. “What—what do you mean by that?”

Camilla sighed. “This is getting boring. Grab him.”

I tensed as Marcus’s protests got lost in the sounds of a scuffle. Bo tucked his tail between his legs and shifted closer to me.

“What is the meaning of—of this?!” Marcus shouted angrily. “I did everything you asked of me! I got you that crystal skull and convinced Mother to host this ball.” His voice broke abjectly. “You said you would bring my father back! Damn you?—”

The rest of Marcus’s words got cut off. He grunted and wheezed like he’d been hit in the gut.

My blood ran cold. If Camilla had tricked Marcus into working with her by making a false promise, then the only thing he was guilty of was being gullible.

“Make sure he stays quiet,” Camilla said coldly. “I’ve always hated the sound of that idiot’s voice.” She paused. “Well, well.” The Council secretary’s voice hardened. “It seems we have visitors. How about the two of you reveal yourselves? I can smell you rats outside.”

34

How to Ruin a Ball in Three Easy Steps

The doors flew open.

My heart slammed against my ribs as I stared at the scene before me.

Things had just gone way south.

Two vampire mercenaries had Marcus pinned against a wall inside a library. A third vampire held a silver knife to the terrified Holt heir’s throat.

A woman in a purple dress stood beside them, her hands glowing with a sickening light. From the way she was glaring at me, I guessed it was her magic that had caused the doors to open.

My gaze found Camilla.

She watched Bo and me with an amused expression from her perch on the edge of an antique table, the crystal skull resting on a velvet cloth beside her. She looked nothing like the mousy, nervous secretary I’d met at the Council meeting. Her hair was styled in an elegant chignon, her makeup was flawless, and her black dress was cut to kill.

“I was wondering when you’d figure it out.” Her smile was cold. “Though I must admit, you’re much sharper than I gave you credit for. It must be because you’re a white wolf.”

I cursed myself for overlooking what had been staring at me in the face all along.

“It was you I saw at Château Montmartre, wasn’t it?” I said accusingly. “You were also wearing a dark dress.”

“Yes.” Camilla’s eyes glittered dangerously. “I was there to collect the skull from Wheeler, but things didn’t go as planned.” She glanced at Marcus. “This moron interfered.”

My hands curled into fists. The sinister magic radiating from the skull was making my nails lengthen and my jaw ache. My wolf slipped under my skin when she sensed the danger I was in.

“That day at the Crossroads. You deliberately bumped into me to help Wheeler escape.” I could hear Nigel calling the cops in my earpiece.

“Guilty as charged.” Camilla’s expression turned mocking. “I must say, having you and your crew chase Wheeler around town has been most entertaining.”

Bo stamped his paws. “You’re not very nice, lady!”

Camilla’s eyes shrank to slits. “Nice doesn’t always pay in this world, mutt. I played nice for years and look where that got me.”

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