Page 37 of Taken By My Guardian's Fangs

The door silently closed shut behind him, and Juliette could no longer hold back her sobs.

It was over.

I love you, Gael. I love you, I love you.

And because she loved him, she must find a way to be happy for her guardian...if Emilia were to ask Gaël to marry her in exchange of her sangferia.

Go to the ball.

SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED.

Again.

The thought was at the top of everyone's minds as they piled inside the Bellecourts' stretch limo, which could comfortably accommodate the entire family. But as always, nobody said a word, and even Severin was privately troubled by the tension between Gaël and his ward.

The Mayor's Ball was one of the few annual events that Jean Luc required his entire family to attend. As those invited were the city's wealthiest and most powerful human and preter residents, Jean Luc wanted the guests to see House Bellecourt presenting a united front.

And because both Gaël and Juliette knew this, the two didn't hesitate to play their role of doting guardian and obedient ward as soon as it was their turn to pose for the press.

Juliette usually asked Gaël to keep their time on the red carpet to a minimum, but because this might be one of her few chances to stay by his side, her shyness was all but forgotten as she held on to her guardian's arm while smiling this way or that.

She could feel Gaël's icy blue gaze on her all the while, but Juliette pretended not to notice and told herself she had nothing to feel guilty about. She was only doing her duty as his ward, and it just so happend that tonight's duty meant sticking to him like glue.

Gaël's mood turned increasingly brooding as he watched his ward nearly break her neck in her effort to catch the eye of every reporter they came across. She usually hated having people's attention on them like this, but now she was acting as if she loved being in the spotlight. Was this her way of trying to make it up to him? Did she think her rejection would hurt less if she strove to become the perfect ward?

Juliette's heart started to pound when they finally reached the end of the red carpet, and they began to descend the stairs leading down to the ballroom.

With events like this, Gaël would typically have her first dance before proceeding to do business with other preter guests. She was hoping it would be the same tonight, but upon reaching the end of the steps, Gaël turned to her with a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"I need to speak to Emilia Moretti. Will you be alright if I leave you alone?"

Juliette felt like she had been slapped, but she somehow managed to summon a smile. "Of course."

She blinked furiously as she watched him walk away. Did this mean he now knew that Emilia was his near-perfect match...and he didn't want to waste time in seeking a strategic alliance with the other woman?

Juliette tried to act normal for the rest of the evening, but when an hour passed, and Gaël remained locked in some private room with the princess, she knew she had to leave before she completely embarrassed herself and her family.

The woods behind the city hall were dark and cold as Juliette ventured outside to take a walk. So lost was she in her pain that when she started to feel she was being watched, it was too late.

Something had already leapt out of the dark, and her whole world crashed when she realized what it was.

Oh God.

It was that creature again.

The vampire that had killed Glynis.

It was still alive, and it was staring at her the way it did that day.

(PREY)

She wanted to scream and cry. Fight back and run away. But just as adrenaline and panic warred inside of her, it was then Juliette heard the worst sound in the world—-

No, no, no!

Juliette and the creature saw him at the same time.

A little boy, whose laughter now had the creature greedily licking its lips.

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