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“Should I call animal services then, and say I saw a wildcat roaming around campus?”

“You could, but they would be woefully unprepared for this particular animal. It is no ordinary cougar.”

“What do you mean?”

“Do you remember the man who was watching you at the mall?”

Claire nodded in confusion, recalling the strange, dreadlocked man who’d been staring intently at her that day. “What does he have to do with this? Does he control the cougar?”

“He
is
the cougar,” Helena answered grimly. “He is one of the Fallen, and that is his gift. He can shift shapes between a human and a mountain lion.”

“You mean—like a were-cat?”

“A crude term, but yes. Were-cougar would be more specific.” Helena sat down on a bench beneath an enormous tree and gazed at the vista around them. “He’s a well-known mercenary who will do anything for the right price. He works for both sides but has proven very useful to us on occasion, which is the only reason he’s still alive. I don’t know who he’s working for now, or if—for a change—he’s just acting on his own. Regardless, it seems that you are his target—and based on his history, if tomorrow night’s attack fails, he’ll try again.”

Claire sat beside Helena, knotting her hands uneasily. “How am I supposed to live a normal life if the Fallen are always going to be coming after me and death is lurking around every corner?”

“Unexpected danger can strike anyone at any moment. You will get through it the same way that every human gets through their life—one day at a time. Your gifts will help you. And so will I.”

Claire stared at Helena. “You’ll help me? Really?”

“I said I was your guardian angel, didn’t I?”

“Then you’re not going to report me to the Elders?”

“I
am
an Elder, Claire.”

Claire felt a tiny flicker of hope. The life that lay ahead of her didn’t sound pretty, but it didn’t sound quite as desperate, either. Without Alec by her side, it still seemed to stretch away into oblivion like a great wave of loneliness—and she might never be out of danger. But at least now she had a psychic companion who would try to prevent the worst from happening.
One day at a time
.

“So,” Claire said, deep in thought, “back to the were-cougar. When I go to the dance—”

“If you
must
go,” Helena interjected with a sigh.

“If it’s not enough to change the dress,” Claire went on firmly, “how about if I don’t go anywhere near the place where I saw it happen?”

“That might be effective. And as an extra precaution, I wouldn’t go anywhere on your own tomorrow night.”

“Got it.”

“Now promise me one more thing, Claire.”

“What?”

“That afterward, you’ll come back to see me as soon as you can. Once we avert this immediate threat, I will be able to see beyond it to what you might face next.”

“I’ll be back on Sunday morning,” Claire promised.

Helena smiled. “Good. Just come back to me safely. Good-bye.”

Claire opened her mouth to reply, but suddenly, in less than a blink, the mental connection was gone. She was back in the hospital room, sitting at Helena’s bedside, holding the comatose woman’s hand in hers. And someone else’s hand was moving in circles in front of her face. Claire jumped. It was Brian.

“Whoa! Sorry,” Brian said. “Just testing to see if you’re conscious. Are you … back?”

Claire nodded.

“That was trippy.” Brian blew out a bemused breath. “You never said a word, but your eyes were open the whole time, and you had this vacant, thousand-yard stare that was really creepy.”

“Well, that’s safer than floating. I guess I am getting better at this.” Claire stood up and put her glove back on, trying to collect herself. “Let’s get out of here quick.”

They slipped down the corridor unnoticed and leapt onto the crowded elevator. The minute it deposited them in the lobby, Brian said eagerly, “So tell me what happened! It’s
her
, right? Did you talk to her?”

“Yes to both.”

“What’d she say?”

“Short version: I most likely won’t die tomorrow, but every day after that is a toss-up.”

thirty-three

L
eaning close to the mirror above her dresser, Claire added a subtle dash of glitter to her eye shadow as she got ready for the dance. But her thoughts weren’t on her makeup—they were filled with worry about the evening ahead.

Meeting Helena had been unnerving to say the least. Helena claimed she was Claire’s guardian angel, that she would try to warn and protect her. Claire knew she should be relieved—but she couldn’t stop the spasm that tightened her stomach at the memory of the cougar’s gleaming eyes, the paws as big as saucers, the teeth as sharp as spikes. Was there a chance she might die tonight?
You’ll be fine
, she told herself. She wouldn’t go anywhere near that spot on the hillside, and she wouldn’t go anywhere alone.

Claire sighed and stared at her reflection. Lamplight shimmered and danced off the folds of her dress, which clung to every curve of her body, and the deep blue color complemented her skin tone. She’d kept her hair simple, just curling it a bit. She felt beautiful.

And steeped in guilt.

Her heart ached for Alec. Where was he now? In some far-flung country, utterly alone, tracking a member of the Fallen? She felt like a fraud, going to this dance with someone else, knowing the sacrifice Alec had made for her and how miserable he must be. She wondered what it would be like to know that
he
was waiting for her at the bottom of the stairs … what he’d look like in a suit … what it’d feel like to dance in his arms.

Claire shook her head vigorously, banishing those thoughts from her mind. It wasn’t fair to Neil for her to fantasize about someone else. Neil was a great guy. She’d promised to be his date, and she was determined not to disappoint him.

Quickly, Claire pulled on the long blue satin gloves her mom had found her. Grabbing her shawl and evening bag, she hurried from the room. When she arrived downstairs, her mom was sitting on the sofa, talking to Neil. He was dressed in a black suit with thin pinstripes and a crisp white shirt. He had some kind of loose, narrow blue scarf wrapped around his neck instead of a tie. As usual, his dark hair was naturally groomed to perfection. Even though she saw him almost every day, Claire was again struck by how handsome he was.

Neil leapt to his feet as she approached, a smile lighting up his face. “Wow. Claire. You look amazing.”

Claire blushed. “So do you. What’s that around your neck? A cravat?”

“It’s an ascot. I’ve always wanted to wear one. I went to six stores before I found this. You said your dress was blue, and I had to guess at the shade, but I lucked out—this comes close to matching.”

She was touched that he’d gone to so much effort on her behalf. “It looks great. Very stylish.”

“You two look perfect together.” Claire’s mom beamed, getting out her camera.

Brian and Erica soon arrived, looking mighty spiffy themselves. After a round of picture taking—and her mom warning Neil to drive safely for the umpteenth time—they all set off in Neil’s hand-me-down Lexus, where they chattered excitedly all the way to the dance.

Claire noticed that Erica seemed a little distracted—she couldn’t quite meet Claire’s eyes, and seemed to be thinking carefully before she spoke. Then Claire remembered that Erica was on the committee and probably knew the results of the Homecoming Court. Did Erica’s discomfort mean that Claire—or Neil—had won, or lost? Claire didn’t want to ask, but Erica was clearly fidgety around them.

When they reached the gym, the foursome passed through the lobby with its glass trophy cases and doors leading to the locker rooms. The double doors to the gym interior stood wide open, and as they strolled inside, the electrified energy coursing through the room lifted Claire’s spirits. It hardly looked like a gym at all. The lights were dim, casting a romantic glow over all her classmates, who were dressed to the nines and dancing to the beat of pop music pumped through enormous speakers. An arch of blue and red helium balloons framed the entryway, and dozens of other balloon clusters decorated the small tables and chairs around the room. Several teachers sipped punch by the refreshment table, while a DJ controlled the music atop a stage on the opposite side of the gym.

“I know it looks pretty standard,” Erica shouted over the music, pointing to several potted trees that defined the edges of the dance floor, “but see the ficuses with the twinkle lights?
That
was me.”

“Very classy,” Claire commented.

“You guys did an awesome job,” Neil agreed.

Erica did a mock bow, accepting the praise with relish. “Now,
entrez, mes amis
.”

The girls dropped their purses and wraps on a chair as Erica continued, “Brian, I made sure there were Rice Krispies Treats just for you. They’re going to announce the winners at eight thirty. Until then, everybody
be careful
.” She darted a meaningful look at Claire. “And go nuts!”

Immediately, Erica took Brian’s hand and dragged him onto the dance floor.

“What did she mean,
be careful
?” Neil asked loudly in Claire’s ear.

She knew Erica was referring to the chance that Claire might be attacked by a Nephil were-cougar, but she couldn’t very well admit that to Neil. “She knows I have two left feet and was just warning me to watch my step when we dance,” Claire shouted.

“That’s okay, I wore steel-toed boots,” Neil teased. He took her gloved hand and led her into the center of the room.

The DJ was blasting the newest hit singles. Some of the other dancers, Claire noticed, were gyrating to the music with no particular style. Neil, on the other hand, began to move with a fluid grace. She’d seen him perform in choreographed musicals onstage, but this was the first time she’d witnessed what he could do on his own. He was so fascinating to watch, Claire almost forgot to dance herself. The music had such energy, however, that she soon got into the swing of things, letting go of all the worries that weighed on her mind. She was getting a lot of sidelong looks—frowns from girls envious of her date, and curiosity from people she didn’t know that well. A few people even came up to wish her luck in the election for princess. It felt odd, as if she were a minor celebrity for the evening.

Several songs went by before the first slow song started, at which point the mood immediately shifted. Half the students drifted off toward the refreshments or the sidelines to sit down, while those who remained moved into each other’s arms.

As she wove her arms around Neil’s neck, Claire silently repeated her mantra to herself, just in case Neil’s hands touched her exposed upper back. As the words resounded in her brain, she couldn’t help remembering how it had felt to be held in Alec’s embrace, spinning through the night air.
Just forget about me, Claire. Let me go. Move on
. Her heart wrenched, and she had to suppress a sudden pang in her chest. But as she looked up into Neil’s eyes, she saw such sweetness and admiration that she forced herself to focus on the present. Neil deserved that.

“Having a good time?” He smiled down at her as they moved in slow circles to the soft beat.

“Yes,” Claire replied. “Are you?”

“I’m here with the prettiest girl at the dance, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Was that an attempt to avoid the question?” The words came out unthinking, and Claire regretted them. Were they prompted by her own guilt?