Then do it again.

JULIETTE WAVED AS SOON as she spotted Aprilynne's familiar figure briskly enter the university's dining hall. Even though the older girl, whose long hair was pulled back in her usual ponytail, looked anything but elegant in her favorite oversized shirt and jeans, Aprilynne still carried herself with an air of self-assurance that was befitting the ward of House Bellecourt's lord and master.

Heads turned as the other ward joined Juliette in her table, but while the attention had Juliette awkwardly ducking her head, Aprilynne had no trouble ignoring the gazes that went their way, half of which was envious and resentful, while the other half was just plain curious.

Many preters, Caros and non-Caros alike, craved association with House Bellecourt for the power it wielded, and most of them resented the fact that a twist of fate had enabled lowly humans and outcasts to become the family's wards.

Aprilynne, realizing that the younger girl was still uncomfortable at everyone's scrutiny, glowered at those who were blatantly staring at them, and Juliette, seeing this, quickly straightened her shoulders and gave the older girl a reassuring smile. "I'm good. Please don't mind them."

"Those girls need to be taught a lesson," Aprilynne said darkly.

And that was exactly what she was afraid of , Juliette thought nervously. Her therapist once told her that every person had their own way of dealing with fear and trauma, and what had worked for the other girl was turning herself into a fighting machine. There was nothing the other ward loved more than breaking bones and hunting down evil preters, and the last time Aprilynne had believed someone needed to be taught a "lesson", well...

Juliette repressed a shudder at the memory, and when she saw that Aprilynne still looked unconvinced, she hurriedly thought of something else to talk about, like... ah!

"Why did you ask to meet up?" Juliette blurted out. "Has something happened?"

It was Aprilynne's turn to suddenly look awkward, and the rare sight had Juliette blinking. She could only think of one thing that could cause the older girl such discomfort, and... oh .

Juliette could only summon a strained smile. "It's about me, isn't it?"

Aprilynne slowly nodded. The younger girl had looked so hurt last night, and it had made her feel so despicably helpless because she knew it was one of those situations that punches, kicks, and head butts couldn't solve.

Although she privately believed only an irresponsible ward would fall in love with one's guardian, she couldn't find it in herself to get mad at Juliette for losing her heart to Ga?l. Juliette was just that kind of girl, and since Aprilynne was also the kind of girl who couldn't stand doing nothing when someone she cared about was in pain—-

"I was at Bellecourt Laboratory this morning," Aprilynne began, "when results came in from Hirsche Medical Center."

Juliette shot up in her seat. "Is one of our guardians sick?" It was rare for illness to befall a preter, but not impossible, and when it did happen, such illnesses were almost always fatal.

Aprilynne considered beating around the bush, but then she thought of how the most merciful kills were usually the swiftest...

"A female with a near-perfect match for blood compatibility had been found for Ga?l—-" Aprilynne saw the other girl blanch, but she didn't allow this to stop her from completing the rest of what she had to say. "—-and that woman is still a virgin."

Juliette wanted to throw up. She wasn't so innocent that she believed Ga?l had been celibate all these years, but it had always comforted her to think that none of those women mattered to him.

But this?

A virgin that was a near-perfect match?

Juliette's mind went back to the lengthy discussion they had in class about sangferia. Etienne Hirsche believed that a couple in love with each other would automatically have chemically compatible blood. On the other hand, Luka Georgiades, who was considered to have the finest of minds in the entire history of Caros, believed chemical compatibility preceded attraction.

Luka was of the opinion that a Caro individual was genetically disposed to fall for a woman whose blood was chemically compatible with his, and if that was the case, then...

"Not all hope is lost," Aprilynne said seriously, having correctly read the expression of dismay on the younger girl's face. "Jean Luc told me that he's decided not to let Ga?l know about the match. He wants to wait until after Laura's wedding."

Juliette's eyes widened. "Laura...as in...Ga?l's ex-wife? Don't tell me she's the one whose blood—-"

"She's not," Aprilynne quickly assured the other girl. "But Laura will be walking down the aisle to become Mrs. Antonio Rallos in three months' time, and you know how much Ga?l despises her."

Juliette could only nod. It had been a huge shock to her the first time she had learned about her guardian's previous marriage, and she had originally felt fearful and insecure that the two would eventually get back together.

But when Sydney told them about what Laura had done to Ga?l, jealousy had been the least of her worries, and all she had cared about since then was to help her guardian move on from his past.

"Jean Luc believes there's a possibility that Ga?l could plan his own wedding just to upstage Laura and ruin her big day."

Juliette started feeling sick again. "For him to upstage Laura, then that near-perfect match must be from some wealthy preter family..."

"Actually..." Aprilynne looked at her with pity. "The woman is from the most prominent of all preter families."

And the hits just keep coming , Juliette thought numbly. "It's her , isn't it?"

Aprilynne's expression said it all, and Juliette could only think of one thing: I'm doomed.

Emilia wasn't just beautiful and rich. She was also one of the few women Ga?l genuinely respected, in light of her deadly skills as a fighter. More importantly, Emilia was a Moretti, and one couldn't get more strategic than allying themselves with such a family.

The alpha of Emilia's pack, Domenico, was her oldest brother as well as the prophesied werewolf prince that had singlehandedly united all Lyccan packs under his rule. One of her sisters, Estrella, was now the Queen of Faes, and her other brother Alejandro was consort to panther pack leader Caylie, who also happened to be the long-lost daughter of the Queen of Souris.

Since Domenico Moretti had blood connections to just about every powerful preter clan, having one of his sisters as Ga?l's match would be an invaluable alliance even for House Bellecourt.

And if I truly care for Ga?l, Juliette realized, I should find it in myself to be happy for him. Right?

The rest of the day passed in a blur, and when the last of her classes ended, Juliette found herself sending a text to Aprilynne out of desperation.

Juliette: Can you cover for me? I don't want to go home yet.

JULIETTE'S DAILY ROUTINE for the past three years had been limited to school, home, and a few carefully selected public events...by choice.

When asked about this, Juliette would usually say that it was because she had always been a homebody, and that she was already beyond content just being able to cook in the Bellecourts' beautiful kitchen and take advantage of the family's well-stocked pantry.

Both statements were true...but at the same time, they were also lies. The truth was, she hated stepping foot outside the house because every time she did, Juliette felt as if someone from the shadows was watching and waiting for her to make the smallest mistake.

Fear and paranoia still lurked at the back of her mind as Juliette wandered aimlessly around town. Miami had changed a lot in the past three years, but these changes were the same changes that could be seen across the world.

As one historian had put it, the Information Age came to an end the moment vampires came out of hiding, and the Magical Age began from the moment preter races started living openly among humans. Despite the ever-present threat of supernatural attacks, most people believed it was the best time to be alive...and Juliette wished she could feel this way, too.

She wanted to experience the same kind of wonder and marvel that others experienced every time they saw a restaurant that boasted of blood-laced cocktails in their drinks menu or a boutique that sold winter coats made of real shifter fur (voluntarily shedded, naturally). She wanted to be just as excited as the others when the month of October came howling in, and one would have an excuse to pay an exorbitant amount of money in order to have "wing extensions" and look as angelic as Souris in the hottest Halloween parties in town.

Someday, she would be one of them.

But for now...

Juliette quickened her steps when the hairs on the back of her neck suddenly stood up, and taking a walk to avoid going home started feeling like the worst idea she had in a long, long time. Even though the sun had yet to set, and the streets were still packed with tourists and locals alike, it was already half past six in the evening, and evil preters could already be prowling in the shadows.

Seconds melded into minutes, but instead of fading, her fear only devolved into terror, and Juliette knew if she didn't go somewhere safe soon—-

Nope, nope, nope!

Juliette pushed away all thoughts of dying away and willed herself to stay calm. Relax, Juliette, and don't panic.

She forgot to use the anti-vampire scent-masking spray, which was bad, but what she did have with her was Ga?l's gift on her eighteenth birthday: a necklace with a heart-shaped pendant that could actually turn into a silver-coated stake with the touch of a button.

That means you can protect yourself if you have to, she reminded herself valiantly.

But for now, it was still better to look for somewhere safe and crowded, and Juliette quickly looked around... oh thank God!

The familiar sight of a glass complex that towered over smaller buildings was like a beacon of hope, and she broke into a run just as the sun began to set. Hirsche Medical Center was only a block away, but anxiety made Juliette feel like she had miles and miles to cover, and her heart started pounding like it had done so... that day.

Juliette's eyes stung when she finally made it.

Oh, thank God, thank God, thank You, God!

But before she could even catch her breath, the doors of the center suddenly flew open, and out came...her guardian, his handsome face thunderous.

Ga?l!

Juliette didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He was the last person she wanted to see right now, but maybe this was the heavens' way of telling her she was better off confronting her problem head on?

"What are you doing here?" Ga?l demanded. "Are you ill? Are you hurt?"

Ah, what to say, what to say?

Her guardian raked a hand through his hair. "Well?"

Since she wasn't in the mood to reprimanded for taking a walk all on her own, Juliette then heard herself mumble, "I'm here to ask them to take my sangferia. "