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“And then came back for you?” her friend asked, her voice suddenly soft and soothing

“No,” Jade said “Walker found me He took me back 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 the people around e”

“And they just let you?”

“I left when they were at the town hall on a Sunday Michael’s father cae and tried to persuade me to return with him, but I refused I think he had it in hishimself to do it He let me stay”

“Hoful”

Jade considered the first few years and had to agree “It inevitably got better The solitude was somehow helpful And the fact I felt a connection with h soone away”

“I’ularly”

“They did Everyone found soh I’ve always had an independent nature, so I didn’t have trouble fending for myself”

Sheena considered this then ad Here we’ve been criticizing you for being so autonomous, yet it’s a characteristic that has obviously seen you through difficult situations”

Jade thought of how she’d recently opened up to her huht Sheena to this sacred spot she’d never come to on her own—nor had she ever shared this much detail of the worst day of her life with anyone else

Brushing away her tears, she asked, “Do roups?”

“Yes That’s likely why there are a number of them who live within the castle The shifters prefer the woods, of course The other deh most of them live outside the castle walls”

Sheena was quiet a moment then said, “I won’t lie and say all demons want harmony with humans We still have the desire to be the dominant species And ant the freedos”

“Humans want that for themselves as well”

“I understand” The vampire smiled “I believe that’s e’re all able to inhabit this world at the same time, with the exception of the offshoots, of course They do set back our progress when they rise up But for the hting and want to enjoy the fresh air and the green land and the untainted waters”