My mind was trying to process the scene that was unfolding in front of me. I couldn't keep up with the shadows darting across the castle grounds. Every time they collided, a sound like thunder cracked the atmosphere.

"Julian!" I screamed and ran closer to the fight. I knew there wasn't much I could do being human, but I couldn't let him get hurt.

Julian had a vampire with white-blonde hair and dark clothing by the neck, and I could hear the cracking sound again as the vampire started the gasp for air. The sight caused me to freeze. Julian's black eyes darted to me before he reached his hand out and dug it into the vampires chest, ripping his heart out. A loud thud reached my ears as Julian dropped the bloody organ on the ground. In a split second, Julian's arms encased my body, giving me warmth.

"Are you alright?" He whispered into my ear.

My body shuttered. I glanced at the the bloody mess on the ground, coming to terms with the reality of vampirism. "I think so." I just witnessed someone get their heart ripped out of their chest, but for some reason I was detached from it.

He stepped away from me and looked me over, checking for any injuries. After tracing his hand over my slightly bruised cheek, he locked his brown eyes with mine. I looked over to the side of him at the dead vampire and realized that he was one of the vampires that sat at my table at the ball.

"Julian, I sat by that guy at the ball. What was he doing?"

His jaw clenched. "He was trying to kill you."

"Why?"

"I'm not sure, but we need to alert everyone of what happened," he replied, on edge as we started to walk back to the castle.

"I guess it wasn't you I should've been worried about killing me, huh?" I said playfully, trying to lighten up his mood.

"Ah, princess," the side of his lip twitched upwards. "Someone just took an attempt on your life, and you want to tease me?"

I blushed. "I told you before I can handle myself."

That wasn't half as bad as some of the stuff I was put through.

He held my gaze for moment before we went inside the castle to let the royal family know about the attack. When we entered, the butler was taken back by my face. Julian ordered him to get the King, Queen, and Tristan together in the study. Julian swept me off my feet, and used his vampire speed to get us to the room. Although I said I was fine, Julian insisted that it was necessary. Moments after we arrived, the vampire King, Queen, and Tristan joined us.

"What happened?!" Tristan demanded as he rushed to me and touched my face, causing me to wince.

Julian explained, "We were attacked by the lake."

"Why were you guys by the lake?" Tristan questioned Julian.

"Julian wanted to show me it. We were just hanging out," I interjected, not wanting to anger Tristan more.

Tristan was about to open his mouth again, but the King spoke, "Do you know who it was? What happened?"

"He attacked Claire, but I stopped him before he could really hurt her. I handled it," Julian answered nonchalantly like he didn't just rip a man's heart out.

"He has blonde hair. He sat at my table at the ball," I tried my best to describe him.

"Blonde hair?" The Queen asked and looked to her husband. "That could be anyone. We need to get the body to identify this person."

Tristan looked to me. "The man sitting to your left?"

"Um...yeah. He was the one with the navy suit."

"Nathan Evorsky," Tristan stated. "Why would he go after her, especially after you said that she was under the watch of the crown?"

"Nathan has never liked the idea of coexistence. He wanted us to come out to the public, but he wanted to enslave the humans, not make peace with him," King Gabriel answered.

Queen Aurora approached me and tilted my chin up so she could look over my injury. "Gabriel, if one person went after her knowing that she isn't to be harmed, then there could be more."

The King nodded. "Then we need to amp up security and start questioning anyone that appears suspicious. Maybe it would be a good idea for Claire to stay inside of the castle until we can assure her safety."

"We should start questioning anyone close to Nathan to see if they know anything," Julian suggested as he leaned against the wall.

"I'll let Vincent know to bring in anyone that knew him. In the mean time, you and Tristan will watch over her and keep her safe. Don't let her be alone." Julian and Tristan nodded their heads in agreement at the Queen's order.

"Julian, why don't you address the guards and make them aware of the situation," King Gabriel instructed as he held the door open.

Julian glanced over my way before he nodded to the King and left.

"Tristan, why don't you take Claire back to her room and have Olivia fetch her something to eat. Your father and I are going to discuss some things," Tristan's mother requested as her and her son shared a look.

"Okay, let me know if you find out anything." Tristan grabbed my hand and led me out the door. His grip tightened as he fixed his steely gaze ahead of us.

When I squeezed his hand back, it released him from his thoughts, and he asked me, "What happened?"

"Julian and I had a meeting with your dad about the ball and me staying here, and after, Julian took me to the lake to get me out of the castle. Out of no where, I was thrown across the floor. The next thing I knew, Julian was ripping that guys heart out." I recalled the events with a shiver. It was something I'd rather not witness again.

"Well, I'm happy you're okay." His face hardened again. "Julian shouldn't have taken you out there. He should have known better. If he would've used his brain, then this whole thing wouldn't have happened." His grip tightened once more.

"You shouldn't blame Julian. He had no idea people would act out against your father, especially on these grounds, and this would've happened regardless of whether I was outside or not."

"Why are you defending him?"

"Because he did nothing wrong." I started to get irritated at his tone and stomped into my room.

Tristan stared at me for a few seconds before turning his back to me. I could see his hands tighten into fists and his shoulders stiffen. He was mad for some reason, and I had no idea why. It's not like Julian put me in harms way on purpose.

When he finally turned around, his aqua eyes were as black as night—a peaceful ocean dominated by a deadly storm. My stomach dropped at the sight of his animalistic face. Fear washed over my body.

"Tristan, I—stop. You're kind of freaking me out..." I backed away until my thigh bumped into an end table.

My door busted open and Julian rushed in, his panicked eyes raced between me and Tristan, "Claire, are you okay? What's going on?"

Tristan's brows pinched together as he too glanced between us. His black orbs suddenly darkened with rage. "You gave her your blood, Julian?!" He shot forward to stand directly in front of him.

Julian's eyes widened, tentatively looking at me, then Tristan. He was unfazed, despite Tristan's monstrous face.

"Tristan, calm down. I had to at the ball to heal her."

Tristan's eyes shot to mine and shifted back to their endless pools of blue. "What happened at the ball, Claire? You didn't tell me you got hurt. Who did it?"

"Uh...well, I...". My eyes nervously shifted to Julian. "Julian had to feed on me because Collin walked in. He gave me his blood to heal the puncture marks."

His eyes returned to their vampire-like state again, and he suddenly had Julian up against the wall. "You fed on her too?!"

"Stop it!" I yelled and rushed over to them. "He was trying to make Collin think that I wasn't that special. For some reason, he was interested in me because I'm staying in the castle. Julian was just protecting me!"

"Protecting you? He tricked you into drinking his blood! Do you know how intimate it is to blood share?!"

Julian was still hanging by Tristan's hand and choking. He fixed his stare at the ceiling. Seeing them like this after what happened at the lake was too much.

Before I could stop it, tears were spilling down my cheeks. "No he wasn't! I don't believe that. You gave me your blood too, remember?" My voice was shaking. "What is your problem?!"

Tristan finally released him, and Julian immediately went in front of me, blocking me from the angry vampire.

"My problem is that he hurt you, and then did a very intimate thing with you. It's something that is not done that often and is not taken lightly with our kind. He can feel what you are feeling, and know where you are at all times," Tristan spat as his face was level with Julian's.

"He only did that to protect me! Julian would never hurt me."

Julian and Tristan glared at each other for a few moments before Julian spoke, "He's jealous, princess."

My eyes snapped to Tristan's, but he continued the staring contest with his best friend. "I'm not jealous, Julian. I don't care. Do whatever you want with each other." He shoved Julian before turning his back on us. He was shutting down again.

"Tristan," I spoke softly, but he already left the room, leaving me alone with Julian.

Julian turned around and faced me. "Are you alright?"

I sighed. "I don't know. I just—I didn't mean to make him upset. I was finally on his good side, and I don't want to be the reason you guys fight."

He gave me a reassuring smile. "It's not your fault, princess. Tristan is just being protective because of what happened to you."

I looked away to hide the tear falling from my eye, but his fingers found my chin, moving my face to look back at him. Julian pulled me into a tight embrace, entangling his hand in my curly brown hair. "It's okay," he said huskily.

"I just—I'm not crying about him being upset...". I sniffed. "I just haven't had someone care about me in awhile."

A small, sad smile stretched across Julian's face and diminished as quickly as it appeared. "Well, you better get used to it."

I was taken aback by his response. It's been a long time since I've had people who really care. My lips turned upwards, and I let out a breathy laugh. He released me from our embrace and stepped back, never breaking eye contact.

"Why don't you get some rest? You took a beating," Julian suggested with a playful grin on his face.

"I guess I should. I need to shower first though," I agreed. "Are you staying here?"

"Yep," he answered as he made himself comfortable on the couch with his hands behind his head. "Queen's orders. Don't worry though; I'll stay on the couch like a good boy."

"Okay." I suppressed a laugh and shook my head. I made my way to the bathroom. Having him stay was a relief with being hunted and all, and after what happened with Tristan, I wasn't sure I wanted to be alone.

Even though I put on a brave face, I really felt like I was falling apart. I felt like I was suffocating under the weight of everything: vampires, Tristan and Julian, my emotions, being hunted, and seeing a man die. I also couldn't help but feel guilty about how upset Tristan was.

As soon as I got in the bathroom, I took off my dirty clothes and sat under the hot water in the shower. Being on someone's hit list is pretty scary. Hurting someone you care about is terrifying.

●●●