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She was a Senseque, and she hated me. At least that's what she claimed.

Did I really intend to find out if she was lying? And if so, what then? Would I be able to live with the truth, or would it completely ruin me?

My thoughts were racing, so I looked back at Julie, trying to focus on her.

Julie just stared at me, even though it felt like she was looking right through me and her thoughts were somewhere else entirely.

“Whoever J is,” I said calmly. “He would reduce this city to ashes for her.”

I, too, felt the urge to set this town on fire, but for different reasons.

Overwhelmed by my own thoughts and exhausted by all the chaos in my life, I turned around and disappeared through the exit.

I moved across campus far too quickly, but who would see me at this hour? Since the new curfew that had been in place since the murder of Police Chief Bardot, no one was on campus after ten o'clock, unless it was the weekend.

Somehow, my mind brought me back to her, back to the moment when I had touched her soft chin.

Why had I done that?

Her gentle feminine scent still lingered in my nose, and I wished I had never dared to inhale it.

A ringing sound tore me from my forbidden memories.

I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and looked at the display in confusion, before I answered it.

“Olivia?”

“Hey, Miles,” Olivia hummed into the receiver, and I knew immediately that she had been drinking. “I hear you like to speed in your car?”

Actually, I just wanted to go home and start my night training. Laurent was probably already waiting. I also had to study for law school.

“When Nicolaj isn't in town...” I began, wondering where she was this time, because loud music was coming through the phone in choppy bits and pieces.

“Nicolaj is in Toronto this week,” she giggled. “No, fuck off! I have a boyfriend.”

I raised both eyebrows.

Olivia didn't have a boyfriend. She used to have many affairs. Before me, after me... during me. But right now, she was single.

“No means no! Damn idiot!”

“Where are you?” I asked, alarmed.

I wasn't worried that something had happened to her, because Olivia was excellent at defending herself. Rather, I was worried that she was drunk, hungry, and alone with a human.

“There's this club I told you about...” she slurred. “You didn't want to come with me.”

I sighed.

She just laughed amusedly.

“Just pick me up. I need you, Miles...”

A strange pain shot through my chest.

“Come on. Just pick me up and show me how fast you really are in your car,” she laughed, sounding dazed. “And next time, don’t leave your partner hanging.”

Partner.