Page 13 of Taken By My Guardian's Fangs

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 Gaël. 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 Gaël—-" 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 Gaël 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 Gaël know about the match. He wants to wait until after Laura's wedding."

Juliette's eyes widened. "Laura...as in...Gaël'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 Gaël 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 Gaël, 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 Gaël 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 Gaël 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 Gaël's match would be an invaluable alliance even for House Bellecourt.

And if I truly care for Gaël, 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.

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