The town was strangely quietfires out, mobs dispersed, nothing to see here, move along. But Claire didnt really think it was over. Not at all.
She leaned against the window on the ride home, exhausted and unhappy. There was an ominous silence coming from the backseat, a feeling like thunderclouds rolling in and ready to break. Eve rambled on nervously about Shanes dad, and where he might have gone; nobody responded. I hope he leaves, Claire thought. I hope he gets away. Not because he shouldnt payhe shouldbut because if he did, all it meant for Shane was more grief. Losing the last member of his already destroyed family. Better if his dad justdisappeared.
Have you told Shane? Eve asked. Claire sat up, blinking and yawning, as Eve pulled the Caddy to a halt in front of their house.
About what?
Eve pointed at Michael. You know.
Claire turned to look at him. Shane was staring straight ahead, his face like stone. Let me guess, he said. You came up with some magical fairy who granted you your freedom, and now you can come and go whenever you want, he said. Tell me thats it, Michael. Because Ive been thinking about why youre sitting in this car the whole way, and I cant really come up with any other answer that wont make me vomit.
Shane, Michael said, and then shook his head. Yeah. My fairy godmother came and granted me a wish. Lets just get past this.
Get past it? Shane said. How exactly do I do that? Fuck off.
He got out of the car and stalked up the walkway. Eve grabbed a huge black umbrella and hurried around to Michaels side of the car; she opened it like a valet, and he stepped out, grabbed the umbrella, and ran after Shane. Even with the thin shade, his skin began to smoke lightly as it cooked.
Michael made it to the shade of the porch, he dropped the umbrella, and Shane turned and punched him.
Hard.
Michael rode the punch, caught the second one in his open palm, stepped in, and hugged him.
Get off me! Shane yelled, and shoved him back. Damn! Get off!
I wasnt going to bite you, idiot, Michael said wearily. Jesus. Im just glad youre alive.
Wish I could say the same, but since youre not Shane slammed open the door and vanished inside, leaving Michael leaning against the wall.
Claire and Eve came slowly up the walk.
Ill Claire swallowed hard. Ill talk to him. Im sorry. Hes just a littleits been a long day, you know? Hell be okay.
Michael nodded. Eve put an arm around him and helped him into the house.
Shane was nowhere to be seen when Claire entered the living room, but she heard his door slam upstairs. Damn, he was fast when he wanted to be. And bitter. Who said girls were moody? She eyed the couchit was the first comfortable spot to lie downwith weary longing. Maybe she should just let Shane get through it alone. Not like he wasnt used to dealing with trauma.
Then againjust because he could do it alone didnt mean he ought to have to.
There was something odd about the room, and for a long second, Claire couldnt put her finger on it. Then it dawned on her.
The room smelled like flowers. Roses, to be exact.
Claire frowned, turned, and saw a huge bunch of red roses lying on the side table. There was an envelope next to it with her name on it in old-fashioned copper-plate handwriting.
She tore it open and unfolded the papers inside.
Dear Claire, My informal Protection is no longer sufficient for you and your friends, and I think you know that now. More drastic steps must be taken, and soon, or your friends will pay the price. Oliver will not allow todays events to go unanswered. You have been brave, but extremely foolish in your enemies.
Consider my proposal carefully.
I shall not offer it again.
There wasnt a signature, but Claire didnt have any doubt who had written it. Amelie. The letter was water-marked with her seal.
The other papers in the stack looked legal. She read them, frowning, trying to understand what they meant, and some of the language leaped out at her.
I, Claire Elizabeth Danvers, swear my life, my blood, and my service to the Founder, now and for my lifetime, that the Founder may command me in all things.
It was the same thing Oliver had said, back at the hospital, when hed been trying to make her make her his slave.
Claire dropped the paper like it had caught on fire. No, she couldnt do that. She couldnt.
Or your friends will pay the price.
Claire swallowed, stuffed the contract back into the envelope, and shoved it in her pocket just as Eve came around the corner and said, Roses! Jeez, who died?
Nobody, Claire said hoarsely. Theyre for you. From Michael.
Michael looked surprised, but his back was to Eve, and if he had any sense at all, hed play along.
Claire went upstairs to take a shower.
Being clean made it better. Not a whole lot better, but some. She sat for a while, staring at the white envelope with her name on it, wishing she could talk to Shane about it, or Eve, or Michael, but not daring to do any of that because this was her choice. Not theirs. And she knew what theyd say, anyway.
Not enough no in the world, thats what theyd say.
It was after dark when Shane finally knocked on her door. She opened it and stood there looking at him. Just looking, because somehow she didnt think shed ever see enough of him. He looked tired, and rumpled, and sleep creased.
And he was so beautiful she felt her heart break into a million little sharp-edged pieces.
He shifted uncertainly. Can I come in? Or do you just want me to? He pointed back down the hall. She stepped back and let him inside, then shut the door behind him. I freaked about Michael.
Yeah, you think?
Why didnt you tell me?
Chapter Thirty-nine
Well, it didnt exactly seem like the right time, she said tiredly, and sat down on the bed, back to the head-board. Come on, Shane. We were running for our lives.
He granted that argument with a shrug. How did this happen?
You mean, who? Amelie. She was here, and Michael asked. Claire looked at him for a long second before she added the coup de grae. He asked because he wanted to be able to leave the house.
Shane looked stricken. He lowered himself down on the corner of the bed, staring at her with those wounded, vulnerable eyes. The ones that made her heart break all over again. No, he said. Not because of me. Tell me it wasnt
He said it wasnt. Not, you know, completely, anyway. He had to do this, Shane. He couldnt live like this, not forever.
Shane looked away. Christ. I mean, he knows how I feel about vampires. Now Im living with one. Now Im best friends with one. Thats not good.
Doesnt have to be bad, either, she said. Shanedont be angry, okay? He did what he thought he had to do.
Dont we all? He flopped back on the bed, hands under his head.
Staring up at the ceiling. Long day.
Yeah.