31

~Aspen

I stare at the large wooden door, a dark feeling of dread curling up in my stomach.

I've stepped through this door many times in my life. I've been dragged through it, I've been pushed through it...and it was never home for me, even if Oliver swore I would never leave here again, after I married him.

I can feel Kastriv looking down at me, monitoring my expression as rain dribbles down my face.

"I really didn't think I was ever going to be back here again," I murmur.

We have come here first thing in the morning. I didn't sleep last night, plagued by new reality. I can never exist in this society again. People hate Demon's so deeply, they won't stop until they have hunted me down and killed me.

There is no going back for me. And it's all because Oliver decided he hated me enough to tell the whole city.

Kastriv's gaze softens. "I can do this alone, if you need me to."

"I know...I should be here," I say, more so to assure myself than him. If I allow him to confront Oliver alone, wh