Dixon’s orange skin reddened with anger, and he drew back the weapon for another blow. Finn just grinned at the giant, his green eyes as cold and hard as ice in his blood-covered face.

“Enough!” Clementine said, her voice booming like thunder through the rotunda. “We need to get moving. Now, Dixon. Don’t make me tell you again.”

The clear threat in her voice was enough to cut through Dixon’s anger. He gave Finn another venomous glare, then turned and stomped back through the crowd. Opal tightened her grip on Eva’s arm, dragged the girl over to where Clementine was standing, and then shoved her forward. Eva stumbled, lost her balance, and almost plowed into Clementine before she was able to right herself.

The giant gestured with her gun toward the hallway. “Move, girl. Before I decide to shoot you where you stand.”

Eva swallowed and glanced back at Finn. He nodded, telling her to go ahead—as if she had a choice. She bit her lip and stepped out into the hallway. Clementine followed her, along with Opal and Dixon, and the four of them vanished from sight.

* * *

I watched a minute longer, but the crowd settled down once again, and it didn’t look like anyone was going to try anything stupid, like charging at the giants. Good. Everyone needed to stay put. We were the only heroes here tonight.

I gestured at the others, and we slithered back out of sight on the balcony and crouched together at the top of the stairs. I didn’t bother to ask Owen if he was still coming with me. Now that Clementine had taken Eva, there was no way I could have persuaded him to stay behind. I would have done the same thing if Bria had been the one in danger, and I wasn’t about to deny Owen the chance to save his sister.

I looked at Xavier and Bria. “Can you two handle things here?”

They both nodded and checked their weapons.

“Okay,” I said. “Give me and Owen ten minutes to get into position, then start shooting.”

“What are you going to do about the giants now that they have Eva?” Bria asked.

I shrugged. “There’s nothing I can do but walk right into Clementine’s trap and try to distract them long enough for Owen to sneak up and steal Eva away from them.”

Bria’s face tightened with worry, but after a moment, she nodded. So did Xavier and Owen. We all knew this was how it had to be now.

Owen got to his feet and headed down the stairs. I started to follow him but turned and grabbed Bria’s hand instead.

“And if I don’t come back,” I whispered, “there are a couple of things in the back of the rotunda that belong to us. Some things I noticed among Mab’s treasures. Make sure you get them.”