I leaped across the room, past the bodies of the two guards, shot dead before they knew what was happening. Four men in white coats cringed away from me, but I ignored them. My body ached, protesting the movements, but I barely felt the pain. My whole attention was riveted to the scene in the middle of the room.

Ember lay strapped to a gurney in the center of the floor, wires and electrodes connecting her to a large computer in the corner. Her eyes were closed and her skin was nearly white as I rushed to her side. Heat blazed through my veins, turning the air in my lungs hot as I yanked the wires from her face and neck and began unbuckling the straps tying her to the bed.

“Stop!” One of the scientists came forward, hand outstretched, glaring at me. “Don’t touch that!” he ordered as I contemplated putting a bullet through his shiny skull. “You have no idea what you’re doing—”

With a growl, Riley shoved his gun into the man’s forehead, his eyes dangerous. “Keep talking,” he snarled as all color drained from the human’s face. “Give me a reason to blow your brain through the back of your skull.”

The scientist froze. From the corner of my eye, I saw Mist direct her two clones to guard the doors before motioning the remaining scientists against the wall. The men obeyed, holding up their hands. They didn’t look like they would try to stop us, which was good, as my entire focus was getting Ember out of here.

The last of the straps were removed, and I gathered her in my arms, lifting her shoulders off the mattress. “Ember,” I murmured, and pressed a palm to her cheek. It was cold, ashen, and my heart gave a violent lurch. I felt for a pulse, nearly collapsing with relief as I felt the faint flutter of life beneath my fingers. Whatever had happened to her, whatever horrible things they had put her through, at least she was alive. “Hey,” I tried again, shaking her gently, desperate for her to open her eyes. “Ember, wake up. Can you hear me?”

There was no answer. The girl remained limp and unresponsive in my arms, and my desperation grew. “Ember...”

Against the wall, the lead scientist shook his head. “She can’t hear you,” he said, making Riley turn on him with a growl. “I doubt she can hear anything now, and don’t snarl at me, dragon. I’m not the one responsible for this.” He glared at Riley and myself, his thin face taut with anger. “You fools don’t know what you have done,” he snapped. “This was a delicate procedure, and you’ve gone and blundered into it without knowing what was at stake. You can’t just yank the plug without risking permanent damage to the subject’s mind.”