Page 35 of Blood and Hexes

Chloe redirected her ire to him. "Whose side are you on?"

"Currently? Diana's."

Chloe smiled sweetly. "Sounds to me like you don't like sex anymore.”

His grin reached his brightening eyes. "Yours, darling. Your side, always."

Chloe stuck her tongue out at Diana. "There."

Diana laughed, not just because these two were ridiculously sweet. She laughed at herself for her idiocy. For having thought the worst of this girl simply because of the blood in her veins. She hated prejudice, and yet she'd fallen for the anti-Eirikrson propaganda hook, line, and sinker. It was no wonder that the rest of the world was so ready to believe her to be a monster, too. The Eirikrsons’ horrifying reputation was long established.

She liked Chloe. She liked all the residents of Night Hill, actually—and even their visitors. More than that, she loved being here, in her home, away from the pollution, surrounded by magic. She could be herself in Oldcrest. No one needed her to sheathe her fangs when they popped out in order to feel safe.

For all that, it didn't change the fact that she couldn't stay. Not for good. Not when everyone here was engaged in a fight that wasn't hers. A fight she still didn't know much about. She would have to go on her way.

She'd told herself that most days for the last three weeks. And for some reason, she was still here.

Diana looked out the window, to the lake stretched out at the feet of Night Hill, and beyond, to the cliffs and reddening sky.

Soon. She'd leave soon.

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