They sat against the far wall, out in the open, of course. I stifled a groan and peeked out of cover, seeing a long gray tail slink around a cubicle, disturbingly close.

“We’ll have to make a run for it,” I whispered, pulling back. “St. George, once we reach the elevators, I’ll have to Shift back, so I’ll need that change of clothes quick. I won’t be able to climb elevator shafts in dragon form, and I’d rather not do it naked.”

The soldier nodded and unshouldered the backpack. “I’d rather you not do it naked, either,” he muttered.

I ignored that. “Ready?” I asked, but at that moment, something lean and scaly leaped atop the cubicle wall. It spotted us and gave a hiss of discovery, baring its fangs, and I winced. “Go!”

We ran for the elevators, hearing the rest of the clone dragons give chase from wherever they were in the room. I didn’t dare look back to see how many were coming, or how close they were. St. George reached the elevators first and slammed his shoulder into the doors, prying them open. I had just enough time to see the metal box through the widening crack before something slammed into me from the side and knocked me off my feet.

Snarling, I rolled to my back, lashing out with my hind claws as my attacker pounced, making no noise as its jaws went for my throat. My back legs caught it in the armored stomach, stopping the lethal fangs from snapping in my face.

I shoved it off and lunged to my feet as another clone hit me from behind. This time, I felt claws score my back and sides as curved talons ripped through my scales and sank into the flesh beneath.

With a roar, I spun, trying to dislodge the thing that clung to me like a leech, seeing the rest of the pack closing in. Gunshots rang out behind me, and one of the clones staggered and went down. But that didn’t stop the rest of them, and I snarled in both fury and frustration, trying to loosen the dragon’s death grip on my back.

Ember hit us hard, striking the clone full-on with her horns, knocking him away. Spreading her wings, she stepped in front of me and let out a roar that shook the walls, and amazingly, the clones hesitated.

“Riley!” St. George snapped as the dragons blinked and surged forward again. Ember and I scrambled for the elevators as the soldier pried the doors open and disappeared through the crack.