Being pressed so close against him, Sloane could feel the subtle shift in the tension of his muscles. It took a minute to recognize it, but she looked up at him abruptly when he said they should go to the ministry. "What? No." Why did they need to go to the ministry. She wanted to go home and to get out of this ridiculous dress and to get rid of this heinous headache. Anything but the ministry.

"Please don't," she could tell he was angry, but Sloane didn't think there was anything the ministry could do. She hadn't been herself; hadn't looked like herself or known anything about what happened before the lightning. She didn't think there was anything insidious going on with the Sinclairs, if that's what he was thinking. "I don't want to cause a big scene. Lester please." She was starting to panic, tone pleading,  as she curled her fingers into his jacket.