"What's the announcement about? You said it concerns me? Did I do something wrong? Is it because training is going so slowly? I'm trying my best-"

"Chaeyoung!" Juyeon exclaimed, shaking his head at her and laughing. "Calm down. I've told you a million times, your training is going great."

"It's not," she huffed, crossing her arms in annoyance. "You're just being nice," she sighed, glancing at him out of the corner of her eyes as they walked through the palace together. She'd been in the vampire nation for almost two weeks and couldn't feel any improvement to her powers. Practicing was mentally exhausting, and she always left their practice sessions grumpy and annoyed at herself. She should have been stronger. She should have been able to do better. But her powers seemed stunted.

"You're too hard on yourself," Juyeon said gently. "You've been in the human world for like, twenty years, without any vampires around you. Your powers were weakened because of that. It's not your fault. But still, you're improving."

"I don't feel any improvement," she grumbled.

"Well I do, so just trust me," he said, smiling at her kindly.

"Alright," she finally said. "I'll take your word for it. But if this announcement isn't about my lacking skills... then what is it?"

His smile fell, and he looked away. "It's... you'll see when we get there."

Those words made her anxious. "What do you mean?" she asked urgently. "Is something really the matter? Did I do something?"

He laughed again, but his eyes were still worried. "You didn't do anything," he said slowly. "But there's something going on that you should be aware of. Something going on that concerns everyone in the Palace. That's why Younghoon is gathering all of the elites to make the announcement. So we can all be careful."

"But you guys already know what it's about, don't you?"

"I do, and Hyunjae does, but the others don't. This will be everyone's first time hearing about it." He shot her a sidelong glance, and, perhaps seeing how worried she looked, put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Don't stress too much. At least not before hearing what it's all about," he said, winking at her playfully.

She was finally able to laugh, finding that some of the tension was released from her shoulders. "You're right," she said softly. "There's no use worrying before I find out what's going on," she said, mostly to herself. 

"Good," he said, opening the doors to the giant throne room. Everyone else was already seated and talking to each other, their faces worried as everyone tried to figure out what in the world was going on. Juyeon went to his chair and she scurried over to the chair that Younghoon had ordered the royal carpenters to make for her, on the end next to Eric's. There, she had a good view of the lost boy's chair. 

Hyunjun. She was sorry to have not known him. Though she hadn't met him, she could feel his absence sometimes. She knew that the boys were all worried about him. They missed him, and since they missed him, she kind of did too, despite not even knowing him. 

"Okay, now that you're all here... I have an announcement to make," Younghoon said, getting off of his throne and moving to stand in front of all of them. He looked at her. "It involves Chaeyoung." 

He paused, not saying anything else. 

"So..." Eric finally ventured. "Do we get to know what it is, or are you just going to stand there?" 

Younghoon glared at the younger boy. "I'm pausing for dramatic affect," he said matter-of-factly. 

"Well, you achieved it," Sunwoo shot back. "Stop keeping us in suspense, will you?" 

Chaeyoung stifled her laughter, glad that the two of them said it so that she didn't have to. 

Younghoon sighed, turning his attention back to her briefly before facing everyone again. "My parents made me aware of a prophecy before Chaeyoung arrived. May I just say, we've had security measures in place for her to be here safely. But I wanted all of you to know about it too, so we can be on the lookout." 

"A prophecy about Chaeyoung?" Haknyeon asked, twisting in his seat so he could look at her. 

"Shh, let him finish," Sangyeon hushed him, then looked back at Younghoon. "Please continue." 

Younghoon rolled his eyes. "Thanks. Anyways, the prophecy is basically about her. It says that if one drinks the blood of the two half-bloods, then they will become the most powerful vampires in the land." 

Silence. 

"Because of that, we believe that Chaeyoung's life is in danger." 

***

A/N 

Ahhhh I'm so sorry for the long wait on this book! I promise I'll be updating more often now, so thank you to everyone who has waited so long for me🥺 

Anyways, how are we liking it so far?😉