My words may have come from the internet, but the hug I’d given them in return was all mine. I wished I could save them from the tragedy and suffering of mortality. During my quietest moments, in that waking dream space just before sleep, I imagined returning for them once I was vampire again, to offer them the gift that had been given to me so many years ago. But they were too young, of course. It was a total violation of the Treaty of Annis, and with my luck, I’d just get caught and shoved right back through Sal’s stupid, magical, human-making fence.

Something of my thoughts must have shown on my face, because Dexter asked if I was okay.

“I’m fine,” I snapped. How annoying of him to notice me now when I was probably making some sad-girl face. Sad girl was not a good look for me.

He didn’t flinch from my sharp reply. “I just meant your parents.”

Oh, right. Maybe sad girl was the appropriate look after all.

“Of course!” Poe said, gripping Reg’s hand.

I barely had time to be annoyed with this PDA, because he quickly leaned forward and wrapped his other hand around mine. His grip was tight and sincere, and it brought a prickle of tears to my eyes. Why Poe’s sympathy over the death of my imaginary parents would make my eyes want to leak was inexplicable. Tears remained an utter mystery to me.

Poe said, “This must be bringing up terrible memories for you both. It’s okay if you don’t want to talk about it.”

“Talk about what?” Lina was looming over us, a serving tray tucked under her arm and her wild blond hair escaping from the haphazard bun on the back of her head.

“Charlie and Reginald lost their parents recently,” Poe said. “It’s unimaginable.”

“So much for not talking about it,” Dexter muttered, shooting me an apologetic look.

“Lost your parents, huh?” Lina asked. She didn’t sound remotely sympathetic. In fact, she could have been talking about the weather.

I knew she was eccentric, but that was just downright rude.

Poe managed to hold both pity and curiosity in his eyes, while Reg’s gaze communicated an intense warning to be careful how I responded.

I sniffed at Lina. “We don’t like to talk about it. It’s very painful, as you can imagine.”

Lina stared at me inscrutably, holding my gaze so that it felt impossible to look away.

“Terrible thing to lose a parent. Almost seems like it would be better to have the mind erased to forget the person, rather than feel the ache of losing them.”

I didn’t have to look at Reg to know his face was probably a startled mirror of my own.

“That would be awful,” Dexter said to Lina. “I would be so sad to forget someone I lost.”