“That’s not what your rules did,” Shane said. “They just made it easier for vampires to kill us without letting humans hit them back.”
Amelie sent him a cool glance, but didn’t otherwise react. “I’ve received reports of other incidents, less serious than this. It seems these gangs of thugs are growing bolder, and that must be stopped.”
“They said something about Morley killing a kid,” Shane said. “Anything to that?”
“I doubt it.” Amelie met his eyes for a few seconds, then continued to pace. “I’ve had no reports of children being victimized. As you know, that is strictly against all our laws, human or vampire. I can’t say it never happens, but it happens in human society, as well. Yes?”
“Maybe, but why did they take it out on Morley?” She shrugged. “Morley is an easy target, like all the vampires who choose not to declare an allegiance. They are powerful in themselves, but vulnerable. Morley’s lived rough and alone for some time. It’s not surprising that humans are taking vengeance on those easiest to hunt. In other towns, they target the homeless, as well, do they not?”
“Aren’t you going to do anything about it?” Claire asked.
“There are laws. I assume they will be enforced. Until these thugs are caught and punished, I will caution all vampires to be careful.” Amelie smiled slowly. “And I will allow them latitude in matters of self-defense, of course. That should put a stop to things quickly.”
Claire wasn’t so sure of that. First, Morley and his vamps had gotten all pushy with Amelie, and then Oliver had seemed about to bolt from her camp and set up as a pretender to the throne. Now, there were humans roaming around looking for trouble, too. And Amelie just seemed . . . disconnected.
It seemed that, as much as they’d tried to pull Morganville together, it was unraveling all around them.
“I believe I have heard enough,” Amelie said. “You may go. All of you.”
She kept on pacing, as if she didn’t intend to leave. Claire hung back, watching her, as the others descended the stairs, and finally said, “Are you okay?”
Amelie stopped, but didn’t look at her. “Of course,” she said. “I am—troubled, but otherwise fine. Why do you ask?”
Because you tried to kill yourself two nights ago?Claire didn’t think it would be smart to bring that up. “Just—if you need anything . . .”
Amelie did look at her this time, and there was something warm and almost human in her expression. “Thank you.” Amelie’s personal winter closed in again, leaving her face still and cold. “There’s nothing you can do, Claire. Nothing any of you can do. Now go.”
That last thing wasn’t a request, and Claire took it for dismissal. Shane was waiting at the bottom of the stairs, looking up with a worried not-quite-frown that smoothed away in relief when he saw her coming to join him. “Don’t do that,” he said.
“Do what?”
“There’s something off about her right now. Don’t you see that? Don’t try to help. Just walk away.”
Claire tapped the gold bracelet on her wrist. “Yeah, that’ll work.”
He pulled her out of the stairwell and shut the hidden door. Michael and Eve were already going downstairs, hand in hand. “It’s getting late,” he said. “You going or staying?”
“Does it have to be one or the other? Maybe I stay for an hour, then go?”
“Works for me,” he said, and took her hand. “I’ve got a surprise for you.”
The surprise was that he’d cleaned his room. Not just randomly picked up a few things, but really cleanedit—everything put away, bed made, everything. Unless . . . “What did you trade with Eve?”
He looked wounded and way too innocent. “What do you mean?”
“Oh, come on.You totally traded with Eve to clean your room for you.”
He sighed. “She needed some cash for something, so yeah. But it’s good, right? You’re impressed I thought of it?”
Claire suppressed a laugh. “Yes, I’m impressed that a boy thought about spending money on a clean room.”
“Worth it, as long as you’re impressed.” He flopped on the bed, leaving space for her, and she curled up next to him in the circle of his arm. Her head rested on his chest, and she listened to the strong, steady beat of his heart.
I wonder if Eve misses that, Claire suddenly wondered. I wonder if she forgets, and then . . .
“Hey,” Shane said, and tickled her. She squirmed. “No thinking. This is the no-thinking zone.”
“I can’t help it.”
“Guess I’ll have to distract you, then.”
She was going to say, Yes, please,but he was already kissing her, and his big hands slid around her waist, and all she could think was yesas her blood surged faster, hotter, and stronger.
It was more like two hours before she could even stand to think about going home. The temptation to stay here, curled in Shane’s arms forever, was almost overwhelming, but she knew she had to keep her promises.
Shane knew it, too, and as he gently combed the hair back from her face with his fingers, he sighed and kissed her forehead. “You’ve got to go,” he said. “Otherwise, it’s parents with pitchforks and torches.”
“Sorry.”
“Hey, me, too. I’ll get the keys.” He slid out of bed, and she watched the light gleam off his skin as he picked up his T-shirt and pulled it on. It was all she could do not to reach out and pull it off again.
“And you really need to get dressed, because if you keep looking at me like that, we’re not going anywhere.”
Claire retrieved her pants and shirt and put them on, and caught sight of herself in the mirror—for once, in Shane’s room, not obscured by random piles of stuff. She looked . . . different. Adult. Flushed and happy and alive, and not really geeky at all.
He makes me better, she thought, but she didn’t say it, because she was afraid he’d think that was weird.
Shane borrowed Eve’s car to run her back to her parents’ house—her home?—and by midnight she was at her bedroom window watching the big, black sedan pull away from the curb and accelerate away into the night.
Mom knocked on the door. Claire could tell her parents apart by their knocks. “Come in!”
When her mom didn’t say anything, Claire turned to look at her. She looked tired, and worried, and Claire wondered if she was getting enough sleep. Probably not.
“I just wanted to tell you that I left you a plate in the fridge if you’re hungry,” Mom said. “Did you have a good day?”
Claire had no idea how to answer that in a way that wouldn’t sound completely insane, and finally settled for, “It was okay.” She hoped the scarf she’d wrapped around her throat covered up the bruises, which were turning rich sunset colors.
Mom knew that was a nonanswer, but she just nodded. “As long as you’re being safe.” Which was less about the vampires than about Shane. Claire rolled her eyes.
“Mom.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know.”
“Then stop looking like I’m being an idiot. I’m worried about you getting hurt. I don’t doubt Shane means well, but you’re just so—” Mom looked for another word, but settled for the obvious one. “So young.”
“Not as young as I was when this conversation started.”
“Claire.”
“Sorry.” She yawned. “Tired.”
Mom hugged her, kissed her cheek, and said, “Then get some rest. I’ll let you sleep in.”
The next day Claire missed her first class, because Mom was true to her word and the alarm clock failed in its duty, or at least Claire turned it off before she really woke up. She finally got up around ten o’clock, feeling happy and humming with energy. It might have been the sleep, but Claire knew it wasn’t.
She was running on pure Shane sunlight.
Walking to the campus was a delight—the sun was out, warming up the streets and waking a soft breeze that smelled like new grass. The trees were all full of new green leaves, and in the gardens flowers were blooming.