By the time I rejoin them, I’m in just the right mood to begin a very lengthy rant against the gruesome cave of devil bats. It doesn’t take long to figure out that the wounds are still a little too fresh to carry on anything close to an actual conversation. All I’m doing is railing on while repeating the same basic idea; they should all be burned the ground.

There’s an excitement to the idea that catches on with Quinn, but appears entirely lost on Shepherd. His total indifference only spurs me to try harder to convince him of the danger living a few mountains away. “Oh, and I haven’t even told you the most astonishing part yet! I merged with one of the devils—long story there—and buried in its horrible life was the memory of an infant vampire! A true pur...

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