Jessica made a face. “Of course they did.”
“I didn’t want it,” Edith said. “I didn’t wantanyof it. And when I said no…” She stopped and swallowed hard. “They didn’t care,” she finished quietly.
Jessica’s hand tightened slightly where it still rested on Edith’s arm.
“So you ran,” she said.
Edith nodded. “I ran,” she confirmed. “Shifted. Made myself small. Easy to overlook. Easy to forget.”
A faint, sad smile tugged at her lips. “Then you found me.”
Jessica let out a soft breath. “Yeah,” she said.
“And I stayed,” Edith continued. “Because for the first time in my life, no one expected anything from me. No one tried to control me or decide my future. I just got to… exist.” Her voice softened. “And I didn’t want to lose that.”
Jessica shook her head slightly, emotion flickering across her face again. “You wouldn’t have,” she said.
Edith gave her a small, uncertain look.
“I hope you’re right,” she replied. “But there’s more,” Edith added quietly.
Jessica stilled. “Of course there is.”
Edith nodded. “They’ve sent hunters,” she said.
Jessica’s expression hardened instantly. “What kind of hunters?”
Edith met her gaze. “The kind that don’t fail. And they’re here,” Edith continued.
Jessica’s eyes widened. “In Krakens Hole?”
Edith nodded once. “I saw them last night whilst I was in the pub.”
Jessica stayed silent for a second then straightened, something fierce sparking behind her eyes.
“Right,” she said.
Edith blinked. “Right?”
Jessica nodded, already shifting into something determined.
“Right,” she repeated. “Then we deal with it.”
Edith stared at her. “That’s it?” she asked. “That’s your reaction?”
Jessica gave her a look. “What did you expect? Panic? Running? Dramatic declarations?”
“Yes, actually.”
Jessica snorted softly. “Not happening,” she said. “You’re not facing this alone.”
Something in Edith’s chest loosened. Just a little.
“Are you sure?” she asked quietly.
Jessica didn’t hesitate. “Abso-bloody-lutely.”
Edith let out a shaky breath. “Okay,” she whispered, andfor the first time since everything had come crashing down, she believed it might actually be.
