Jack gave a little laugh. “That’s assumin’ that there are others like me. I know you say you’ve got all this super secret information on what I am, but I’ve come to the conclusion a long time ago: I’m the only one of my kind, and my time is runnin’ out. One of these days I’m gonna make the wrong move or take on the wrong victim and then no more me. And when I die, my species dies.”

Tanith folded her arms against the cold. “Ever think about settling down? Maybe try raising a few springheeled kiddies? They wouldn’t be pure-blood, but that’d probably be for the best, if I’m being honest.”

“Sure,” said Jack, “no problem. Because I got scores of women linin’ up for the chance to settle down with me.”

“You don’t need scores,” said Tanith. “You just need one.”

“Yeah? You offerin’?”

“Not me,” she laughed. “But maybe I know one who might be interested. Maybe you do too.”

Jack hesitated, like he didn’t want to appear too eager. “I... I have had my eye on someone.”

“Have you told her?”

“What? You told me the best thing was not to say anything. To ignore her.”

“I did?” said Tanith, frowning. “Oh, yeah. Well, I was busy. I really just wanted you to shut up.”

Jack sighed. “Anyway, what would I say? You’re a pretty little thing – do you want to spend the rest of your life with me?”

Sanguine couldn’t stop himself. “Pretty?” he echoed.

Jack whipped his head round. “Don’t you even think about insultin’ her.”

Sanguine held up his hands. “No, no, hey, whatever floats your boat, man. Far as I’m concerned, Tanith’s got the prettiest face in all the land...”

“Aw, thank you,” said Tanith.

“... followed closely by that China Sorrows.”

Tanith scowled.

“But yeah,” he continued, “I suppose, in her own way, Annis is a pretty little thing.”

Jack stared at him. “What?”

“She might be in need of a bath, and a hairbrush, some moisturiser and maybe some light cosmetic surgery, but slap a new dress on her, nothing too revealing or tight, and you’d have... well, you’d have a short, squat woman in a dress. Which is great, if that’s what you’re after.”

“I don’t fancy Black Annis.”

“OK then, you love her, whatever.”

“I don’t love Black Annis! Why does everyone think I love Black Annis?”

Tanith frowned at Jack. “OK, I don’t understand. Who have we been talking about?”

“Sabine!”

“Sabine? You and Sabine? You? And Sabine?”

Jack’s face burned, and he turned away. “I know it’s ridiculous. Beautiful young woman like her. Ugly old freak like me.”

“It is fairly ridiculous,” Sanguine agreed.

“The heart wants what the heart wants,” Tanith said, patting Jack’s shoulder.