The racing event was buzzing when Portia arrived, dressed to the nines in an outfit that screamed ''party girl.'' She was practically bouncing with enthusiasm. "I''ve heard tonight''s race is going to be wild! It''s been ages since Ist watched one. Do you think Lance will take the first ce?"


    "Probably not," Calliope replied, her voice carrying an edge of certainty.


    Calliope had a vivid memory of the same race from what felt like another lifetime. It hadn''t ended as nned because something unexpected had happened midway through.


    "But Lance is amazing!" Portia protested, her face falling. She idolized Lance and hade specifically to see him.


    Calliope gave her a reassuring look. "You''ll see soon enough."


    Sure enough, not far off, Calliope spotted Valerian. Next to him was Lisette, who also noticed Calliope and narrowed her eyes in a challenge.


    Calliope met her look with a sly smile, one that carried a hint of mischief and a touch of chill.


    The truth was, Lisette felt uneasy. She couldn''t shake the feeling that Calliope might disrupt her carefullyid ns.


    "Hey, Valerian, I see Calliope over there," Lisette said, tugging Valerian''s arm and gesturing toward Calliope. "Do you think she''s here to see you race? But, um, don''t you think her outfit''s too revealing? Everyone''s staring at her."


    Her voice dripped with mock concern.


    Valerian turned to look. Sure enough, there was Calliope with Portia. They both wore dresses that left little to the imagination, and Calliope''s figure was drawing plenty of attention from the crowd.


    Valerian felt a flicker of annoyance. Who was she trying to impress with such a shy get-up? What if


    some random guy tried something? It would bring disgrace to the Jewell family.


    He was about to march over and talk with Calliope, but Lisette held him back. "Valerian, what are you going to do? You know how she gets. The more you tell her off, the more she''ll dig in her heels."


    "Just have someone keep an eye on her," Lisette suggested, giving a subtle nod to a friend nearby who knew the drill.


    Valerian hesitated, catching Calliope''s eye across the way. But instead of acknowledging him, she deliberately ignored him, chatting with others around her.


    "Hey there, beautiful! How about an introduction?"


    Calliope had just exchanged a few words with the fellow spectators when a group of four or five burly guys approached.


    The leader was a hulking figure with tattoos of a snake and a tiger on his arms, looking intimidating as hell.


    The people who had been chatting with Calliope and Portia took several steps back.


    Calliope gave the guy a once-over. "Nice ink. A snake and a tiger, huh?"


    "d you noticed," the guy grinned, stepping closer. "How about being my girl?"


    "Sorry, pal," Calliope shrugged casually, "I''m married, and trust me, you don''t want to mess with my husband."


    "No worries. I don''t mind," the guy said, reaching out as if to touch Calliope''s face.


    But Calliope smoothly sidestepped, her eyes narrowing yfully. "Well, I do mind, and so does my husband."