‘You don’t need to call that press whore.’ He went to take Reign from me, and for a moment I thought we’d have to fight. There was no way I’d let him hold this fragile little bundle. He’d was clearly on something. But I was saved by a thin, guttural female scream from outside.

I tensed, holding Reign close to my chest.

Michael went to the window, and I saw him in profile, nose long and hawk-like, eyes blacker than ever.

‘Stay here,’ he said.

Michael left, and I started shaking uncontrollably.

‘I’ll get you back to your mother,’ I told Reign, sniffing back tears. ‘Okay? I know he’s lost it. I’m not going to let him take you.’

I headed to the rain-splattered window, holding Reign close to my chest, looking to see Michael. Under a bright full moon, at the edge of the woods, below spooky dark tree branches and pouring rain, I saw a lone figure, ghostly white.

A first I thought Michael had magicked himself out of the house at lightning speed, but then details floated into place. The figure was curvy and female and watching the house, an anguished look on her face.

My teeth started to chatter.

Annalise.

She stood half naked in the rain, soaking wet in a black Michael Reyji Ray T-shirt, thighs white, feet bare. When she saw me at the window, she let out a scream that could shatter glass. Then she started shouting something, but I couldn’t hear her. I opened the rickety little turret window.

‘Pleeeeease,’ Annalise screamed. ‘Give me back my baby. PLEASE! I won’t try to run again. I promise. I’m sorreeee.’

Michael appeared then, striding over the moat bridge. He had a shotgun under his arm.

‘What are you doing out of the cottage?’ he shouted. ‘I told you what would happen if you left that cottage.’

‘Give me my baby.’

‘I warned you. I’ve been warning you for months. I told you about the other girl, didn’t I? The one who got out. She’s chopped into pieces.’ He held up the gun and took aim.

Annalise ran then, disappearing into the trees. Michael followed.

I was frozen to the spot. Utterly frozen. Run, a voice said. Don’t wait here, a sitting target. But I just couldn’t move.

Then there was a cracking sound, like fireworks.

That’s when I ran. I bounded down two sets of stairs, baby Reign held tight to my chest. I ran straight down the path and into the woods, hardly seeing or hearing as rain lashed down.

On the winding woodland path to the gate, baby Reign squirmed and whimpered under the rain, flinching and grimacing as cold drops fell on her brand-new skin.

Please. Please don’t cry.

As we neared the gate, Reign let out a long, loud howl.