Victoria glanced up at the anger in Alex’s voice, but quickly returned her head to her hands and leaned back in the chair. She took a couple deep breaths, trying to calm her still ferreting heart, and listened to the vampire and warlock talk, hearing their voices more than their words. Ever so slowly, the frantic beating in her chest slowed, the fear and adrenaline that had flooded her waning sluggishly.
	Noticing Alex’s movement, she looked to him as he spoke to her. She looked away with a shake of her head and entwined her fingers in her long, dark hair.
	“Like... like you said,” she began softly. “I would’ve been hunted, anyway.” Such a difficult concept to fully grasp, [i]her[/i] being [i]hunted.[/i] The whole things was insanity, and all because she could see the supernatural. “It’s not your fault.” She took a deep breath. “So. What do we do now?” She glanced to the front door as if expecting Nyaira to come barging back in with an army behind her.

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	Outside, Nyaira paused on the opposite side of the street and glared up at the building as if her gaze alone could send it crumbling into dust. Luc would not be happy. But at least she knew the blood-compass worked. If it could find the girl once, she was confident it would find her again. And next time, she would not come alone.
	She patted her back pocket to make sure the compass-watch was still there, then moseyed down the street a few blocks before pulling out her phone to give Luc an update.