the open space and down next to Michael. “What did you do to

him?” she demanded. “He’s hurt! Michael, baby, are you okay? Mi-

chael!”

“He’s fine,” Hannah said, and took her finger off the button.

“No permanent damage, I promise. But I have to make sure every-

body obeys the rules. It’s the only way this works.”

The vampires hadn’t moved, but there was a new feeling in the

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air, Claire thought. A kind of tension that was reinforced by what

sounded almost like a low whisper of sound.

A growl.

“I’m fine,” Michael said. He sounded shaky, but he wrapped

his arms around Eve and held on tight. “God, there you are. All in

one piece. I was so worried.”

“Me? I’m not the one who got an arrow to the chest, bucko.”

“I didn’t know what happened to you.” He raised his hands

to cup her face, and brushed her black hair back. It was growing

longer again, and she hadn’t braided it, so it fell in a sleek cur-

tain. “I was so scared they’d— they’d done something to you.

Not hurt?”

“Just my feelings,” Eve said. “Seeing as how our old friend

there stuck a knife between our collective shoulder blades.” She

followed her statement up with a rude gesture, to which Hannah

didn’t bother to react. “Honey—” She reached out toward the col-

lar around his neck. He captured her hands in his and held on

when she tried to pull away. “Honey, what is that thing around

your neck?”

“Shock collar,” Shane said. “Isn’t it, Hannah? Like you’d put

on a dog. You’ve got them on all of them.”

“We have to maintain order,” Hannah replied. “It’s the least

violent way we could come up with to do it. They need to stay in-

side this building for their own protection, and we need to have

order for the safety of my officers.”

Amelie had the same collar on, Claire realized. So did Oliver,

standing with his graying hair loose and wild around his shoul-

ders.

And where was Myrnin? Her heart skipped a beat and then

sped up. She didn’t see him anywhere. Surely he’d be here if he was 9780451414274_Daylighters_TX.indd 32

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able to, which meant that he wasn’t able to make an appearance.

That something had gone wrong with him.

Michael had steadied by now, and he kissed Eve’s hands and

then leaned forward to press his lips to hers— a soft, gentle sort of kiss that made her let out a cry when it was over, and bury her face in the crook of his neck. He held on to her, but his blue eyes remained fixed on Hannah. Hard to read his expression. Claire had

never seen him look quite that closed off. “Eve can’t stay here,” he said. “You can’t let her stay here with me, you know that. Not even if she wants to.”