Page 58 of The Crimson Wolf

“Where else would we have a banquet in Dayton?”

I smack his arm. “Cameron! I am most certainly overdressed!”

“I think you look delicious. I could swallow you whole.” He plants a kiss on my exposed shoulder.

I grunt with a smile. “Let’s just get this over with.” I walk toward the entrance, dragging Cameron behind me.

He pulls me backward. “On second thought, let’s just go home. I don’t know if I can wait hours to get you out of that dress.”

“Cameron!” I stop, spinning to face him and slap his chest. “There are people!” I look around to assess who’s nearby. If I thought I was overdressed before, now I’m worried we’re completely out of line. Cloaked figures pass by, making their way toward the entrance.

I turn to Cameron, confusion riddled across my face.

“Their identities are a secret, remember? I’m the only one who’s known by the public.”

“So I will be in a red ball gown, and everyone else will be in dark cloaks? Got it. Let’s go home.” I start toward the car, but Cameron grabs my wrists. “Once they make it through security, they’ll de-robe. I can’t promise everyone won’t be staring at you, but it won’t be because they’re displeased with your outfit. Maybe jealous, but I promise you look perfect.”

I grunt. “Fine, but only because it took me like an hour and a half to do my hair.”

He kisses my lips, and I wipe the red lipstick off his face before we turn and head toward the front door.

Two burly men in black suits and dark sunglasses stand at the front, their arms crossed over their chests. They nod, moving to the side and opening the door for us. “Cameron, Mildred, welcome.”

“It’s just Red,” I call over my shoulder as we step inside. They ignore me.

“Wow.” I gasp as we step into the banquet hall. Candlelight illuminates white linen tables covered in red roses. A string quartet plays in the corner of the room. Waiters in fitted suits pass around glasses of champagne on silver trays. I peer at the attendees entering, shedding their cloaks and handing them to the coat check at the front of the room. My nerves about being overdressed melt away until we walk further into the room, every head turning toward me.

“Um, should I be worried I will end up in a werewolf prison again?” I ask, not lifting my gaze from the people around me but folding into Cameron.

He laughs, taking my hand and kissing my knuckles. “News travels fast in the werewolf community. Nobody can stop talking about the newcomer who killed one of the most dangerous Hunters.”

“But I didn’t kill him,” I whisper.

“I mean, your powers did most of the work. Besides, I didn’t think it would hurt to embellish the details of your victory to the board members. You did escape their prison, remember? You needed some points in your favor.”

“Ms. Hoodsman.” A handsome man in his forties with dark hair and a clean-shaven face appears before us. “I’m glad to see you could make it to our Blood Moon Banquet tonight.” He extends his hand. “I’m Minister Grimm.”

“Nice to meet you,” I say, flashing a smile and shaking his hand.

“Oh, we’ve already met,” he says before sipping his champagne.

A waiter comes from my side and offers me a drink. I grab it, thank him, and take a sip before addressing Grimm. “We have?”

“I must admit, it’s not the best circumstances to meet our new Lady Liaison by throwing her in a dungeon. My apologies, but I promise we would have given you a fair trial if you had only waited until after the Blood Moon. The time leading up to it can get a bithairyfor us—we don’t always act most rationally.” His cheeks heat.

I offer a soft smile. I can’t be too angry since I understand what he’s saying. There was no way I could have controlled my primal needs on that Blood Moon night, and I wasn’t fully into my powers yet. Goosebumpspepper my skin as I think about that night, and I lean into Cameron, who grabs my arm and squeezes it as if he can read my mind. He can’t. I’m still the only one who seems to have that power, although I’ve only been able to demonstrate it during sex with Cameron. Maybe with more fucking it would become more powerful. There’s only one way to test it.

“May I introduce you to my nephew, Jeremy.” Grimm’s words knock me back to the moment.

“Hello,” the freckled teenager says with a wave. His eyes shift nervously.

“Hey! I know you!” I exclaim with a laugh. His shrill voice puts me right back in that dungeon. “Sorry about tricking you. I hope you didn’t get too much heat.” I say, slapping his arm.

The boy’s face reddens, but his uncle speaks for him. “We cut him a break since his brain wasn’t working fully due to the Blood Moon. We’re just happy that it’s over, and we are all back to our full, cognitively functioning selves. That’s what this Banquet is to celebrate—the end of the Blood Moon.”

“Gotcha.”

Grimm sighs. “Well, I’ll let you two get back to your night. Enjoy yourselves, and thank you both for all you’ve done to keep our people safe.”

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