I was kind of voting for both.
A few men advanced toward Christian but hesitated. Someone yelled, “Who has an impalement stake?”
Oh, this was going to get ugly real fast.
Christian’s voice rose above all others. “The first man who puts a stake in me will get fed to the sharks.”
“Seize him!” Glass commanded. “Dead or alive.”
I powered up the left-hand stairs, holding the hem of my dress. People scattered out of the way, more entertained by the spectacle than shocked. I pulled out my push dagger—gripping the T-shaped handle.
I palmed my dagger, holding the three-inch blade close to my side.
Glass eyed it and retreated back a few steps. “You’ve been charmed,” he said. “You don’t know what you’re doing. Attacking me is an act of treason against the higher authority, whether you’re under his influence or not.”
I glanced downstairs and observed Christian shoving men out of the way as he headed up the opposite staircase, his kilt lifting with each step.
Once I reached the top, I squared my shoulders. “We’ve got you. Even if you have us killed on the spot, we have a record of all your online transactions. You were at every crime scene, which is why our Chitah never picked up another scent. You’re clever, but not that clever. Your biggest mistake was using me for information and inviting me to your house. Did you think I wouldn’t snoop through your rooms?”
His lip curled. “Liar.”
“You didn’t get rid of the shoes, did you? Does it make you feel like a better man, you worthless piece of shit?”
I lunged, and he swiped his arm to block my attack. Our moves were too fast, and I couldn’t tell if I’d cut him. He struck me with a hard fist. I stumbled backward and dropped my blade, hearing it tumble down the stairs.
People stood aside, watching as if this were all a production.
Energy crackled between my fingertips, but it wasn’t enough to subdue him. All the flashing had drained my power.
When Christian made it to the top of the stairs, Glass pivoted around and suddenly scooped up a child.
It was Patrick’s little boy, and he wailed out a scream that had everyone stirring with fright.
“Put him down!” Patrick thundered from below. “You put down that child or—”
“Or what?” Glass roared. “You’re looking at a man with nothing to lose. Back off.” Glass held the child with one arm and gripped the top of his head, making it clear it would be frighteningly easy for him to snap the boy’s neck.
“No one’s stopping you from leaving,” I said. “Put the boy down and go.”
The look of desperation in his eyes unnerved me. Men backed into a corner will do anything, and I knew we’d catch up with him eventually. It wasn’t worth a life, especially a child’s life. That was when something behind him caught my attention. It was Niko, pushing his way through the crowd.
Glass turned and recognized him. Now we had him trapped from all directions.
My heart pounded against my chest, my palms sweaty. I reined in my emotions to keep the excess energy from turning on me. The child made loud, gut-wrenching sobs—his tears rolling down the black mask tied around his head. He reached out, tiny fingers splayed in search of someone to save him.
Christian held up his hands. “Go. Don’t hurt the boy.”
Glass cautiously stepped toward Christian and hesitated before glancing over his shoulder at Niko. His lips peeled back in a sneer. “You want the kid? Then go get him!”
Everything happened in slow motion.
Glass flung his arms forward. The boy’s mouth was agape as he flew into the air, right over the banister. I saw wisps of his dark hair, his cape fluttering in the back, his arms wide, but when a scream pealed out of him, it became all too shockingly real.
Christian and I rocketed toward the railing at the same time, but the child was already past our fingertips. A collective gasp sounded in the room, and I might have screamed. Christian leaned over the handrail, reaching farther than I could, and a sliver of hope nestled in my heart when he caught the boy’s foot.
Until the shoe came off in his hand.
I flashed down the stairs, but too many people were blocking my way. When my bare feet touched the marble floor, a hush fell over the crowd.
