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Jade thought back a month or two “I’ve yet to see a vampire, that I’m aware of, since they reportedly keep to the castle where there’s plenty of human blood stored up from the wars”

She shuddered to think the preserved blood of her ancestors fed them

Continuing, she added, “I’ve noticed three shifters in the woods, on different occasions—one bobcat, tolves Abnormally sized, so they were easy to spot And I’ve seen horned de intervals Nevertheir exact species”

Lisette seemed to take this all under consideration, then asked, “Any interactions with them?”

“No, but…they alatch ht of the horned demons in particular and added, “They seem curious Almost skeptical of me”

“Questioning so about you,” the witch mumbled as her eyelids drifted closed

Instantly alaric!”

Her eyes snapped open and she sighed dramatically “How else do you expect me to tap into their mystical real

m and find out what motivation there would be to keep tabs on you?”

“Do not use your ic, Lisette,” Jade said in a slow,were to find out—”

“Oh pish-posh” She gave a dise spot-riddled hand “I’er Let him punish me He can’t strip my powers from me”

“But he can i her aretting into trouble because ofaround myself to find out what”

Concern crossed the older wo—”

The door to the library suddenly swung open with force andthud as it slammed into the wall

Jade jumped to her feet and faced the intruder—Max Wilkins, the butcher A flurry of snow followed him in as he said, in a terse voice, “Co terrible has happened”