Page 57 of It All Started with a Bite

“But no one is gonna go after the Hawthornes,” Gavin said hastily at my expression. “Besides, the penalty Samuel and Victoria impose on their pack members for breaking supernatural laws is often harsher than what local enforcement would do.”

I started feeling a little sorry for Hugh. But only a little.

Lunch was an enjoyable affair despite Gavin accidentally setting his napkin on fire halfway through the meal and me canceling Bo’s order of a Moonshine Milkshake when we saw a guy at the counter start floating after one sip of his.

My dog burped and licked his chops as we exited the diner. “What’s on the agenda for the afternoon?”

Didi checked her watch. “We should pay Nigel a visit. He’s probably seen the video footage from Moonlight Coutureby now.”

Bo’s ears drooped a little. “That sounds about as much fun as going to the vet.”

I grimaced. “You mean the boogeyman is our head of IT?”

“He’s a nice guy,” Gavin said as we climbed into Didi’s BMW. “Amazing with technology despite his terrifying appearance.” The dragon newt paused. “Also, he radiates light when he’s excited, so try not to, er, stimulate him too much.”

The prospect of stimulating a boogeyman was right there at the very bottom of the list of things I wouldn’t be caught dead doing.

The moon’s influence was even stronger when we reached the office. We passed several restless werewolves in the lobby and in the elevator. Bo whined softly and pressed against my leg at the hints of amber in their eyes.

Even Janet looked tense as she chatted with a translucent Mindy by the copy machine when we emerged on the fifth floor, her foot tapping a nervous beat on the floor.

Didi led us down a corridor I hadn’t noticed yesterday and stopped at a door markedIT Department.

“Isn’t this a janitor’s closet?” I said warily.

“It is,” Didi said breezily. “Nigel likes confined spaces. Says they make him feel secure.”

I was wondering whether that was why boogeymen liked to lurk under beds and inside wardrobes when the witch issued a terse warning.

“Remember,” Didi said, “no sudden movements. He scares easily. And whatever you do, don’t mention his tentacles.”

“Don’t move, don’t talk,” Bo mumbled. “Gotcha.”

She knocked. A muffled voice answered. “Come in.”

Didi opened the door. The narrow office space beyond was dark except for the glow of multiple monitors. A figure hunched in the shadows.

My gaze rose. Bo stared, equally transfixed.

The shadowy figure’s head brushed the ceiling.

I caught a glimpse of purple fur, tentacles, multiple eyes, and a bevy of mouths with sharp teeth before the shadows shrank and took on the shape of a slender human.

“Holy tenta—!” Bo gasped. I muzzled him with my hand.

“Hi, Nigel,” Gavin greeted cheerfully.

“We need your help with that footage we had forwarded to you from Moonlight Couture,” Didi said briskly.

“Oh. I was wondering what that was about.”

I blinked, still reliving that split second of bladder-loosening horror at Nigel’s true form. His voice was surprisingly sweet.

He moved in the gloom. There was a click. A light came on.

I stared at a quiet-looking young man with glasses.

“He-hello,” Nigel stammered nervously. A tiny tentacle sprouted from his left ear and waved. He grabbed it and pushed it back inside his body.

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