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.
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.