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“And Noah?” Dad presses.

I narrow my eyes at the smirking vampire in the corner. “He’s practically a saint.”

Noah, wicked man that he is, smiles to himself as he plays on his phone.

By the timeI’m done talking to my parents, I’m too exhausted to think about anything but sleep. It seems like I’ve just dozed off when we wake to an urgent knock on the door.

I bolt up in bed, my heart leaping into panic mode. Next to me, Noah groans and rolls over.

“Stay here,” he instructs, his voice groggy, and tosses back the covers on his side of the bed.

A few seconds later, I hear Cassian. He and Noah are talking in hushed voices, keeping quiet so they don’t disturb the neighbors more than they already have. I roll over and look at the clock on the nightstand. 7:03.

At home, I’d be out in the garden by seven, but I haven’t adjusted to the time difference, and I just want to roll over and go back to sleep.

“Piper, are you decent?” Cassian asks, pausing in front of the bathroom.

“Yeah.” I sit up in the bed, crossing my legs under the covers.

I can see him in the hall mirror’s reflection, and he looks slightly ruffled. His hair is brushed, but there’s no styling product in it, and he didn’t shave.

He looks rough.

“Do you feel okay?” I ask him.

My conservator steps into view, frowning like he has to think about it. “I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

If he were anyone else, I would think he was coming down with something. I wonder how late he and Sophia stayed up arguing last night.

“Gerald is flying into Miami today,” he says.

“You got ahold of him?”

“I’m afraid not. Alfred called him last night after he was arrested.”

“He called Gerald instead of his dad? Doesn’t he only get one call?”

“He had news to share with Gerald. And I don’t know how many calls they allowed. For all I know, he might have called Jameson, too.”

“What kind of news did Alfred share with Gerald?” I wrap my hand in the soft, white sheet, growing nervous.

“He knows you belong to his line.”

“I’m no one, though—just a random vampire. Why would he care?”

“I’ve shown too much interest in you.”

“So…what now? Is this Gerald guy coming to kill me?”

I think I should get credit for how calmly I say that, when inside, I’m freaking out.

“According to Harold, Gerald is coming in to testify and clear his name—though I don’t know why he’s bothering unless he has an ulterior motive. NIHA can’t arrest him without a greater authority giving them permission.”

“And right now, there is no greater authority.”

“That’s right.”

“No offense, but this is an idiotic system. Why don’t you guys have a second in command? Even vampires can die. Shouldn’t you plan for accidents or assassinations?”