"What? We?" Claire leaned forward. "No, Thomas. I will not allow you to become more involved in this than you already are. What about Isabelle? You need to protect her from the threat I've brought with me."

Adam snorted.

Thomas met her gaze in the mirror. "Protect Isabelle? Clearly, you've never met my wife. Isabelle knows how much we owe you, Claire. She'd skin me alive for not doing all I could to keep you safe."

Adam laid his hand flat against her back. The heat of his palm radiated through her shirt and into her skin. "It's not safe for you to go it alone."

She turned wild eyes toward him. "It's not safe for Isabelle! Or for anyone because of me."

"Because of Rue, not you, Claire." Thomas's hand tightened a degree on the steering wheel. "I've warned the Coven already. Those who are vulnerable to a possible attack have already left the building. Jack, Mira, and the baby, for example. I told Isabelle to go, too."

"Think she listened?" Adam's mouth curved in a smile.

Thomas glanced in the mirror. "You know Isabelle. Anyway, the Atrika are hunting Claire. They're not going to the Coven, so everyone there is safe. They're coming straight at us."

She flopped back against the seat. "Stop the car immediately. I'm getting out. I didn't save you on Eudae to send you back to Isabelle only to have you killed by an Atrika here."

"Claire," said Thomas in a steel-backed voice. "I'm not arguing with you about this."

She jerked her chin at Theo and Adam. "I suppose both of you have loved ones, too?"

Theo just stared straight ahead and said nothing. Adam looked down at his shoes. Neither of them answered.

"No?" She jerked her hand out. "Well, then, fine. These two are expendable. They can help me get free of the Atrika. You, Thomas, as head of the Coven most certainly are not expendable and shouldn't be anywhere near me right now."

Adam frowned. "Expendable? I'm not sure I—"

Claire leaned forward, gesturing. "I will not be responsible for putting your people's head mage in harm's way. I will not argue about that with you, Thomas."

"I actually agree with her," said Theo.

The car went silent. Seems that this one didn't speak often, but when he did, people listened.

Theo continued. "I believe what she's suggesting is a wise course of action. Adam and I can take her out of Chicago, away from the demons hunting her. You can go back and protect the Coven. They need your leadership now more than ever, Thomas."

"Exactly." Claire sat back with a huff of breath. She cared too much about Thomas to see him in danger's path now, and she wouldn't be the one to put him there.

Thomas's fingers tightened to whiteness on the steering wheel.