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She said, “I re I should run away Find a slayer But I couldn’t move I was literally paralyzed with fear—the way I’d been in the an shoved me out of the fire wraith’s path I wanted to scream for my parents to run as well” The burn in her throat noas as strong as it had been all those years ago “I opened my mouth, but no sound came out And I knohy”

Sheena stealthily joined her once again, but didn’t speak

“I knew there was nothing I could do,” Jade continued “If I did cry out, the shifters would come after me too If I fled, they’d followat s to distract the shifters’ attention froet the wolves to chaseI’ve never forgiven myself for”

The vaently on her shoulder “You siet”

Jade’s eyes flashed to Sheena’s concerned face “I never thought of it that way”

“Why must you always first think that you should be the savior?”

Their gazes locked Jade’s heart beat faster She had no answer for her friend’s question, aside fro, “I possess special abilities others do not Doesn’t that mean I should try to save those weaker than me?”

Sheena gaped, but for a moment “You’re not invincible, Jade You’re human and mortal So even if you had distracted the shifters, you wouldn’t have gotten away from them or survived their swift attack They would have circled back for your parents Then, Jade, all three of you would be dead”

Tears crested her eyes “I know this, Sheena But it doesn’t comfort me Can you understand that? I cowered here, and while s I wanted to do—I couldn’t physically move, other than to turn my back and cover ”

Her body jerked at the memory and tears streamed down her cheeks

“Jade…”

“Eventually,” she told Sheena, “the ground vibrated and I peeked again, seeing a rider descending upon the shifters They’d already…dis upward “The wolves took off and the rider pursued thean He killed the shifters”

“And then ca

“No,” Jade said “Walker found me He took me to Michael’s parents’ house and I had a horrific couple of weeks there, with night and no one could consoleto calm me I didn’t want to be calm I wanted to scream, but I couldn’t do that with all those people constantly surrounding e”

“And they just let you?” Sheena admonished