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Hunter leans forward onto his elbows, pressing his fingers to his forehead as he closes his eyes. ‘I should have found you. I should have got you out.’

‘There was no way, Hunter. No way you could have found me.’

‘I should have been able to do something. Anything.’

‘You can’t take this on. What’s happened has happened. We all just need to move past it and keep on living. Kian can literally sense my location and they even managed to hide me from him. There was simply no way you could have got to me.’

Hunter stays silent. I know he understands this, but it’s completely on-brand for him to feel guilty over something that he has no control over.

‘I’m thinking about leaving Red Thorne,’ I say, redirecting the conversation, hoping he isn’t beating himself up over things that were out of his control.

His eyes pop open and his dark gaze settles on mine. ‘Oh?’

‘Yeah. I don’t know where we’re going yet, but Tara wants to explore and I sure as hell don’t want to stay here either. You and Raya are hardly here, Cora and Kian are so busy with all the things they do. I just want to go and be free for a while.’

Hunter studies me for a second. He’s always been impeccable at seeing through people.

‘You’re different,’ he says.

‘Yeah. I feel it.’

‘It’s not a bad thing.’

‘No.’ I shake my head.

‘You and Tara okay?’ he asks.

I nod. ‘Yeah, we’re good. She’s had her whole world thrown upside down, but she’s handling it.’

‘You are too.’

‘My world hasn’t shattered like hers has.’

Hunter nods. ‘Yeah, fair enough. I think she’s good for you, Theo. I’m glad you’ve found your person. There’s nothing better.’

I smile, raising the glass in salute. ‘Cheers to that.’

For a while, we just sit. Hunter taps his fingers against the table in a rhythm I recognise from a song we used to listen to back when we were human. As much as I love this, sitting here, drinking with my best friend, I’m also looking forward to a different kind of future. Having someone to travel the world with. To be with me, by my side, no matter what.

Despite everything, I feel rich in a way that matters. Surrounded by the kind of people who’d bleed for me, and know I’d do the same.

It’s a dark, starless night in Red Thorne as I step outside.

Hunter falls into step beside me. His hands are dug deep into the pockets of his jacket as we take our time strolling the street. There aren’t many people out. Most are too scared to walk the streets at night, but the bars are always packed. It’s funny to me that humans think they’re safer inside than out. They don’t realise it’s easier for us to blend in with a crowd.

When we get back to Kian’s, the front door is already cracked open, and there’s the unmistakable murmur of voices inside.

I give Hunter a look. ‘Guess we missed the memo.’

He just nods, and we step through the threshold.

Inside, it’s warm and dimly lit. Everyone’s in the lounge area. Tara’s on the arm of a chair, legs tucked up, arms crossed over her chest. Raya sits beside her on the floor, quiet but alert, while Cora leans against the fireplace, poking something into it. That girl should not be anywhere near a fire, for everyone’s safety.

Kian stands near the window, as broody and unreadable as ever, a glass of red wine in his hand. I detect the scent of blood mixed in with it. His eyes flick to me as I enter, appraising me, but not in an unkind way.

‘Tense room,’ I say, strolling inside and pushing my sleeves to my elbows. ‘Who died?’

Tara side-eyes me, and no one laughs. Okay. So definitely not a joking mood.