Gran, Nora, Kara, Aunt Elaine, and Uncle Roy find us before we find them, Uncle Roy pulling Jamie after him by the hand. They’re dressed in matching sailor costumes, and before Uncle Roy reaches us, he says something quietly to Jamie and kisses him on the cheek. Worry lines his face, but he lets Uncle Roy go as the crowd swallows him up.

Dilara arrives at Rose’s side and slides their hands together. “We’ll take the left,” Dilara says.

Kara nods. “I’m on the right.”

They stand back-to-back, their gazes scanning opposite sides of the crowd, looking for people who their powers can’t reach.

Gran and Nora join me. They won’t stay too close, or else someone may suspect something’s happening, but they’ll keep an eye on me so I can signal them when I find Fin.

Aunt Elaine can barely stand still. Colin is antsy, too, shifting his weight from side to side, but Uncle Roy stands steady as a mountain.

“Right,” Aunt Elaine says. “While this is all happening, keep in mind he’s after you, too, Colin.”

“Be careful,” Nora warns us all, before Uncle Roy and Aunt Elaine disperse into the crowd to patrol. Colin stays with us to watch our backs.

We stand tensely side by side, two coiled springs, while the twins work. Rose presses a hand to her head. “There are so many more spots than I’d have imagined.”

Kara grimaces. “Exactly who did we invite this year?”

“These are all too small,” Rose mutters. “Too small…”

Max joins us as they search. I’m starting to regret ever eating anything as my stomach roils with anticipation, my fingers twitching at my sides.

“There.” Rose raises the hand clasped with Dilara’s to point toward the stairs at the right of the ballroom. “Close to the edge of the crowd. Someone over there is creating a very large dead spot.”

Colin shoots forward like a runner from his starting block and I move after him, catching him by the arm and dragging him to a halt. “You can’t just run in there! Fin wants you, not me, and I need to find him first. That’s the plan.”

“I know the plan!” Colin’s jaw tightens. “But if it’s him, I can end this myself. I don’t want to put you in the middle of this.”

“It might not even be him. We’re sticking to the plan. Together, remember?” I squeeze his shoulder and step past him, slipping my mask over my face. “Stay back and keep an eye on Nora and Gran while you’re patrolling. I’ll signal them when I find him.”