'Bullshit' was so far from how Claudia might have described it that she wrinkled her nose then raised an eyebrow inquisitively, lips parted like she might argue that it all seemed quite real to her, and quite in line with the experience of waking up in this strange place at all. These dull creatures never seemed to be aware of anything going on around them.

Hesitating briefly with another flicker of disbelief, Claudia gingerly put her hand in his, clearly not expecting a shake and watching the pair of them curiously like she thought whatever York was offering was going to be much more complicated. His skin was wrong, too, and the pulse under it. Claudia's lashes fluttered as she tried to feel a pore or a hair and found a texture closer to a doll's, then her brow knit with irritation as for a second she thought she would have to come up with some convincing answer to a stupid question. "There's something wrong with you," she said bluntly instead.