I sucked in a breath and slowly started to move, inch by inch, foot by foot, surfing each fresh wave of pain until it died down to a more manageable level. It took me a while to push myself up into a sitting position, then longer still to reach out, grab hold of the spear in Clementine’s chest, and use it to help me climb to my feet.

I clutched the spear so I wouldn’t fall back down while I assessed my injuries. Broken ribs, broken collarbone, a body full of aches and pains. The Saturday night special for the Spider. But my ribs hadn’t punctured my lungs, my breath came easily enough, and my heart beat with a strong, steady rhythm. I’d be all right until Jo-Jo could work her healing magic on me.

The same couldn’t be said for the giants, though. Dixon was still facedown in the river, and I could see the silver flash of curious fish drawn to the scent of his blood in the water. Opal lay on the walkway next to him, eyes open and mouth slack in surprise, a swarm of mosquitoes hovering over her like a dark thundercloud. And finally, there was Clementine, flat on her back, the spear stuck through her chest like it was the center of a bull’s-eye.

For the final time that night, I leaned down over a dead giant. I searched through Clementine’s pockets for the one thing I wanted: Mab’s will. I tucked the ebony tube into one of the holsters under my skirt so it would be out of sight from any prying eyes.

I took a moment to lift Clementine’s hand and examine the fancy watch on her wrist that I’d noticed earlier. Mother-of-pearl face, diamonds all around, silverstone band. It was a nice bit of bling. Once I had memorized what it looked like, I let go of her hand. Then I grabbed my knives from where they had landed on the walkway and put them back into their appropriate slots.

When I was finished, I turned and grinned at what was left of the Barker crew. “The family that steals together dies together. Couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of folks.”

The only sound was the ripple of the river as I shuffled out of the boathouse to go find my friends.

Chapter 28

28

Not only did my entire body ache, but I was also bone-weary from using up all of my magic in my fight against Clementine, so it took me the better part of five minutes to hobble my way back up the hill to the museum.

I’d almost reached the side entrance when a gust of magic swept through the air.