Blackfeather Woods Shadows fall

It was... strange to stand so openly in front of Damien - crouched and bowed with a desperation for acceptance greater than her desire to wander. Her hate and fear of abandonment had been replaced with an eerie kind of lust she was unable to act upon but also unable to ignore. She wanted to be on his side - to please him. She certainly had attachment issues, but this was the other side of the spectrum. Suddenly she realised something; he had said he hadn't thought he had lost his throne. Did that mean he... partially came back for her? Astrid grasped that theory like fact and looked away when Damien spoke again.

Because... Even with your absence, you felt more like a friend to me than Nemesis ever felt like a mother. She dared not to look up, fearing she might say the wrong thing and did not wish to see her killer go for her throat. You said we were both meant for great things... Throwing her from your throne certainly would count as great... don't you think? She left pauses in her speech for a more dramatic effect - much like how he had told her stories moons ago.