Page 111 of It All Started with a Bite

The first vampire kicked me in my flank and sent me staggering sideways.

It was enough for the witch to fire off another energy blast while she struggled against Marcus. I gasped as it slammed into my left shoulder and sent me flying into a bookcase. I landed on the floor with a thud, Didi’s shout echoing in my ear.

That did not go as planned.

Bo rose shakily and limped toward me, anxious whimpers working up his throat.

I groaned and rolled to my feet. “I’m okay.”

Though the magic stung something fierce, it hadn’t broken through skin or bone.

I lifted my head and glared at the witch and the vampires blocking my path while Camilla made her escape. Marcus was on the floor, all but knocked out.

“Didi, we’re moving to Plan B!” I snapped. “Let Samuel know what’s happening!”

Camilla laughed from the doorway. “Your precious alpha and his friends downstairs won’t be able to hear you. Not with the magic my witch cast. And they’re about to get very busy.”

A loud rumble shook the mansion. Distant screams erupted from the direction of the ballroom. Fear squeezed my heart.

“What did you do?!” I snarled.

“Let’s just say the party just got interesting.” Camilla’s eyes glowed with malevolent glee. “Get rid of her and bring Marcus to the ballroom. I want to see Priscilla’s face when I kill her precious son in front of her.” She vanished into the corridor.

The vampires and witch advanced on me, their expressions murderous.

“Any last words?” the witch sneered.

“Yeah.” I gave them a dark smile as I finally let the beast inside me loose. “You should have brought more backup.”

My wolf surged forward, the dress Claudette had chosen for tonight shimmering and changing with me as I transformed.

Like the Hawthornes had promised, this time shifting was as easy as breathing.

The vampires and witch froze, their faces turning ashen at the sight of my white wolf.

“Holy shit,” one of them breathed.

Bo’s hackles rose.

I launched myself at the nearest vampire, my jaws snapping. He screamed when my teeth sank into his shoulder. I used my momentum to throw him into his companion. The witch cast another energy blast. I dodged it and pounced, my claws raking her arms as she tried to shield herself.

The third vampire came at me with his silver knife. I twisted away from his swing and clamped my jaws around his wrist while Bo bit his calf. He howled as bones crunched and flesh gave way.

The knife clattered to the floor.

Footsteps thundered in the corridor. A pair of figures skidded into view in the library doorway.

“Duck!” Didi yelled.

I dropped as a fireball whooshed over my head and struck the witch square in the belly right as she’d been preparing to launch another attack. She flew backward and hit the wall with a sickening sound.

Gavin’s horns and nostrils smoked as he and Didi rushed in.

The vampires lunged at them.

Didi blasted one away with magic and cast her broomstick straight into the jaw of a second vampire, knocking him out. Gavin sent the third vampire flying into the fireplace with a powerful strike from his tail.

I transformed back into my human form, my dress rippling with the change.

---