Page 107 (1/2)

Jade had no doubt the alliance had swiftly put an end to the rebellion, yet her sto on the bench outside her cottage

She slipped fro her thoughts, she walked over to the patio

Settling next to Sheena, she asked the va?”

“Yes” Sheena swept back strands of long, dark-auburn hair and then stared at Jade with piercing green eyes “You were supposed to stay within the village I came to keep you company, but you clearly had other plans”

Jade shook her head in astonish?”

Ignoring the query, Sheena said, “I’ve been waiting for you since the sun set And when you didn’t return to your home, I knew precisely where you were”

She sighed “I can’t seem to help myself No matter how hard I try to do what I’m told, I constantly find myself in a bad position”

“Yes, well, I suspect you don’t helpyou thrive on sticking your nose where it doesn’t belong”

Jade’s teeth bit into her bottom lip but for a moment She couldn’t hold back what she had to say on the matter “Has it occurred to you I don’t wander into these messes, but that I’m somehow thrust into them? I don’t seek out trouble, Sheena And as a matter of public record, I’m now one of the feho are supposed to counteract these h

azards”

Sheena crossed her arnant “You act iotten you”

Jade stood Facing her friend, she said, “I’reat deal of thought intoin order to stall the fire wraith In order to keep Tanner, Michael and I safe In order to keep dean arrived I didn’t do anything careless or premeditated,” she insisted

Continuing, Jade told her, “Tanner caan to materialize I couldn’t let them penetrate the woods—that ell established between the slayers and the king So instead of beco duck, I took a stand I won’t defend that anymore, Sheena I did what I had to do Plain and simple”

The vampire stewed Jade permitted her to do so

Then Sheena got to her feet and de?”