Chapter 1090

"They're going to come for us," she whispered. "Both of us."

"Let them try," he said, but his voice didn't carry conviction.

She lifted her head. "We can't just wait. We have to do something."

The next morning, they returned cautiously. The camp was calm, eerie in its tranquility. Rose and the others sat in a circle, braiding each other's hair, weaving flowers, feeding each other fruit with slow, sensual fingers. The way they moved, the way they smiled, it was like they were one being in many bodies. None of them acknowledged Jude and Sophie's return, but Rose's eyes followed them, and her smile deepened slightly.

It was Zoey who approached them.

"We were worried about you," she said, brushing hair from Sophie's face.

"We needed some space," Sophie replied.

"Of course." Zoey's eyes glittered. "But you should be here. With us."

"We're here," Jude said quickly, his hand at the small of Sophie's back.