Page 107 of It All Started with a Bite

“You can trust these ladies,” Victoria stated confidently.

“I hate to admit it, but we could do with having Lauren and Beatrice on our side,” Samuel said reluctantly.

“Wait,” Didi exclaimed in my ear. “You’re not seriously thinking of bringing civilians in on this assignment, are you?!”

“That’s a bad idea,” Gavin mumbled.

Lauren narrowed her eyes, oblivious to the arguments taking place over my earpiece. “Now I’m positively dying of curiosity.”

My gaze swept our surroundings. “Let’s move this conversation somewhere the walls don’t have ears.”

We found a quiet spot on a terrace outside the ballroom. Caroline and Kent kept a lookout while Samuel and I briefly explained the situation to Martha, Felicity, and the Luptons.

“Holy shit,” Beatrice said leadenly.

Danielle had gone pale. “Thatcrystal skull went missing?”

I nodded reluctantly and glanced at Lauren’s scowling face. She seemed terribly upset for some reason.

“You really think Priscilla and Marcus are going to use it at this ball?” Martha asked uncertainly.

Felicity clutched her walking stick. “I know Priscilla can be unpleasant at times. Arthur’s disappearance really affected her, after all.” She frowned. “Still, I can’t believe she would do something so dangerous.”

Caroline came over. “We should head back. It looks like our hosts will be making an appearance soon.”

Bo padded toward us when we entered the ballroom. “Where’d you go?”

“We were on the terrace,” I explained. I tensed at his agitated look. “What’s wrong?”

“I got a close whiff of one of the bad guys,” Bo whined. “They’ve got something strange on them.”

Pearl’s eyes shrank to slits. “I hope I’m wrong, but I think it’s wolfsbane and silver.”

Caroline swore. Kent scowled. Lauren looked like she wanted to say something.

A muscle jumped in Samuel’s jawline.

My stomach sank. I’d forgotten to ask the Hawthornes about werewolves’ weaknesses.

“What happens if we come in contact with those?” I asked nervously.

Samuel opened his mouth to answer when a commotion at the head of the ballroom drew our gazes. Our hosts had appeared.

Priscilla looked resplendent in an emerald gown. Diamonds glittered in her ears and at her throat.

Lauren stiffened at the sight of Marcus shuffling nervously beside his mother in a black tuxedo.

The rest of the Holts gathered around them as Priscilla accepted the champagne flute a waiter handed her.

An expectant hush fell over the ballroom.

“Welcome everyone,” Priscilla said with a smile. “It has been some time since the Holts last held a ball.” Her expression turned misty. “Although I still miss my dear Arthur, my son Marcus convinced me I should let go of the past. It was his idea to host this ball and I am truly pleased that he will be soon be the alpha of the Holt pack.”

Marcus paled at little at her words. He put on a brave smile as a round of applause echoed across the ballroom.

My pulse quickened. I exchanged a startled look with Samuel.

“The ball was Marcus’s idea?!”

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