As I slammed the door behind me, I found myself on a semi-enclosed balcony with twinkling lights draped from the ceiling and vines covering the walls. If I wasn't so heated, I would find the view breathtaking. From the balcony, I could see the garden and the forest across the clearing. This would be any teenage girl's dream—to be at a ball in a castle under twinkling lights. I let out a sigh as a single tear fell down my cheek. I didn't want to be that weak girl that cries over a boy. I angrily wiped the tear away and put my face into my hands as I leaned against the balcony.

"Claire."

I jumped at the sound of my name from behind me, and a hand lightly turned me around. "Are you alright?"

Julian's brown eyes searched mine, and I could tell he was being sincere instead of his usual joking self. In my mind, I was screaming that I wasn't okay, but I couldn't form words because I knew I would lose it. My emotions were out of control.

"I know you're not okay," Julian whispered. "I can hear your thoughts."

I sighed and looked away. "Of course I'm not okay. Tristan told me to go home with Collin...like I'm the type of girl to go home with a random guy."

Julian lifted his eyebrows. "He told you that?"

"Yeah... He told me to leave with him." I sniffed and casted my eyes down.

He lightly grabbed my face and tilted my chin up so I would look into his eyes. "Tristan says things he doesn't mean out of anger all the time. It's one of his faults, and I'm not trying to defend him, but try not to take it to heart. Why did he tell you to go home with Collin though? He hates him."

"He asked me to dance after you left, so I did so that I didn't come off as rude. Then, Tristan came up to us and wanted to dance with me. He got all tense with that guy and told me to stay away from him. I thought he was just being jealous or something, and we started to argue."

His lips formed a thin line. "You should stay away from Collin. He's not someone you want to be around," Julian agreed with Tristan. When I started to look away, he moved his head in my line of sight again.

"I kind of got that vibe from him honestly..." I admitted.

Julian chuckled, "Then why did you argue with Tristan about it?"

"I don't know." I threw my hands up, exasperated. "He just makes me so mad. He acts like it's the end of the world that I'm here, but then tells me to watch out for someone like he suddenly cares. He brings out the worst in me, and I feel like I'm thirteen all over again."

Julian gave me a meaningful look and replied, "Give him a chance. He's a great guy if you get to know him."

"I doubt he would let me get to know him. He hates me," I complained like child.

"He doesn't hate you." Julian leaned on the balcony. "You just have to knock down the walls he puts up."

"Well, then I'm going to need a wrecking ball."

Julian laughed at my comment, and when I glanced his way, I couldn't help but join in. We were quiet for a few moments as we both looked out over the balcony.

"You actually called me by my name," I pointed out.

"What?"

"Earlier when you came in here, you called me by my name and not princess," I elaborated.

His lop-sided smile formed crinkles at the corner of his eye as he paused momentarily. "Don't get used to it, princess."

A giggle escaped me. "I just wanted to sa-"

Julian's eyes suddenly went wide, and he stilled before pulling me close to his body. "You have to trust me right now. Do you understand?"

The urgency in his voice made my stomach drop. I truly didn't know if I could trust a vampire, but in that moment, my body automatically made me nod in fear of what was alarming him. I did feel safe with him, after all. In a split second, pain erupted in my neck and a weird sensation went through my body. I realized that Julian's fangs sunk into my skin, sucking my blood.

Suddenly, I heard the door from the ballroom open, and one set of footsteps entered. I began to feel a little dizzy, and my vision blackened. Although Julian pulled away, he still held me against him.

"Oh, Julian. Sorry, I didn't know you were feeding in here... on Claire," I heard a familiar, unsettling voice say.

"Oh, yes. How nice to see you Collin, but if you would excuse me. I'm a little thirsty," Julian flashed his fangs at the other vampire.

"I can see that. I didn't think it would be tolerated to drink from the guest of honor, let alone a human on castle grounds," Collin taunted him.

Julian let out a small, inhuman growl. "Are you threatening me?" I've never seen this side of him; he was more monster than human.

Collin had a jeering expression. "No, Julian. Never, but I do find it a bit odd why the royal family would have a human as a guest of honor, only for you to feed on her like she is nothing."

"That's because she is. She is just a human. You know how the royal family is about their ways. They just used the first human they could get their hands on to show everyone we can live peacefully together," Julian sneered. I'm not sure if he was trying to convince Collin or himself.

The atmosphere began to be intolerable, and I didn't dare to look behind me at Collin. I had no idea what was going on, but I knew I didn't like the way that vampire was so interested in me.

Collin's eyes challenged Julian's for what felt like a lifetime before answering, "Yes, you are right. I know how the royal family can be about humans. I don't know how you can be around them with their beliefs, Julian. You and I are the same. We enjoy our blood fresh. I guess the King and Queen got lucky that this one was hanging around so they could use her for their agenda."

"I suppose they did," Julian replied coldly while not breaking eye contact.

"Well, I'll leave you be then. Enjoy," Collin said as he walked towards the door. "Oh, and I'll see you later, Claire."

Although I couldn't see his face, I could hear a promise in his words. Something creeped me out about Collin. As soon as the door was shut, Julian bit into his hand and put it to my mouth.

"Drink this," Julian commanded. "It will heal your neck."

Despite knowing the side effects from blood sharing, I did what I was told, and Julian wiped the small amount of blood off of my neck with a handkerchief. Thankfully, none of it got on my dress. I didn't need Tristan another thing to argue with Tristan about.

"What just happened?" I stammered as Julian put his handkerchief back in the inside of his suit.

"I'm sorry, but I heard him coming and his thoughts. I had to drink from you to make it seem like you were like any other human. He has a special interest in you for some reason, which is not something you want from a man like him. Tristan was right to tell you to stay away from him," Julian explained as he checked my neck and looked everywhere but my face.

"He does give me a weird vibe. I don't trust him," I agreed while touching my now healed neck. "I don't understand why he is so interested in me though."

Julian ran his hand through his brown hair, and I could tell he was concerned. "It's because vampires don't usually associate with humans. It's against the law to expose what you are to one. I tried to advise the King not to throw a ball with a human as a guest of honor because it would draw attention from the wrong people like Collin, but they wanted to show the kingdom that we can create a world where we all coexist."

"I don't understand. If the royal family is against drinking straight from humans, how do vampires survive, especially if they aren't supposed to expose what they are?"

"The King and Queen created a large blood donation company to collect blood for our kind to drink. Humans think it's for hospitals. They want to eventually show humans when we do expose ourselves that we are capable of living without harming or killing anyone. Not all vampires agree with that though, like Collin."

"Oh..." I stared off into the distance before looking back at Julian. "Collin said that you are like him and like fresh blood. Does that mean you are against what the King and Queen want?"

His face was void of emotion, and I wish I had his ability to know what he was thinking.

Julian finally let out a sharp exhale and rubbed the back of his hand against his forehead. "It's not that I'm against it. I just have a harder time controlling myself when it comes to blood. I drink from blood bags, but when I'm around a human and haven't fed, it's harder to fight the urge." My heart was beating so loudly that it must have been echoing in Julian's ears. "You can trust me though. I wouldn't hurt you. I did what I did tonight to protect you. Okay?"

What he said about controlling himself did scare me, but there was something about Julian that made me want to trust him. He just protected me from Collin, and though he wanted to, he didn't kill me in the forest when he found me. My brain was screaming at me to be apprehensive and not to be naive, but my heart told me that this vampire would never hurt me. I wasn't sure if it was the lack of experience due to being in the asylum, or if I was plain stupid, but I made my decision.

"Okay," I breathed. "I trust you."

Julian smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes, almost wistful. He put his arm around me. "Now, let's get back to your ball, princess."