‘So far? Pretty well. Since she came out with her new plans, everybody’s been quiet. The vamps don’t love it, but so far they’re playing by the rules even if they’re gritting their teeth while they do it.’

‘And Captain Obvious?’

‘Silent so far. I get the sense that he’s giving this the chance to work out.’ Michael automatically referred to Captain Obvious as he, even though the latest incarnation of the pro-human resistance leader was, in fact, female. And their friend. ‘Let’s hope everybody can keep it together this time.’

‘Let’s hope,’ Claire said. ‘And like Shane always says, pray all you want, but keep the shotguns loaded.’

It was, in fact, a favourite saying of Shane’s, and they all smiled at it … but then Michael and Eve’s smiles faded, and they exchanged a look.

A look Claire didn’t like. ‘What?’ she asked. Neither of them answered. ‘Where’s Shane?’

‘Working,’ Michael said, before Eve could answer. ‘Sorry. He’s a little hard to get hold of right now or I’d link him in. He misses you, though.’

‘Yeah, I can tell, he’s been really texting me all the time.’

Eve’s eyes got round. ‘Really?’

‘No.’

‘Well, in his defence, his hands are really big,’ Eve said. ‘He’s never been that good at it.’

‘I hope you’re just talking about texting,’ Michael said.

‘Well, you can hope,’ Eve said calmly, and Michael choked back a laugh. Eve sobered, then, and said, ‘Seriously, Michael’s right. Shane doesn’t do anything but miss you. All the time. But he promised you he wouldn’t bug you, and he isn’t. He’s just … giving you space. Takes a lot of strength.’ Michael put a hand on her shoulder, and she looked up at him and smiled. ‘If it was Michael telling me to wait, I couldn’t do it. I’m just not that strong. Or that patient.’

‘You forgave Shane awfully fast,’ Claire said. ‘Both of you.’

Michael shrugged. ‘I lied to him, and he’s hardwired to trust me, from all the time we’ve spent together growing up. So I don’t blame him for believing me. I hear I was pretty convincing.’ He looked grim about that, and she knew it still hurt like a raw open wound inside him. He’d been controlled by another vampire, made to push away those who loved him, like Eve and Shane and Claire. He’d done it in one bold move, just by kissing Claire and telling them all he’d been doing it for a while.

They’d believed him. For a while.

But they hadn’t believed Claire.

‘I still owe you,’ he told her quietly. ‘Believe me, I haven’t forgotten.’

‘Better not,’ she said, but she smiled as she said it. ‘I’m not still mad, Michael.’