I’d taken stairs down, but there was only a single staircase on each level, and it was directly across the mine from me. A full mile away. Even with my Aunare speed, I couldn’t get there as quick as Lorne wanted. It was impossible, unless…

I sprinted toward the wall. I used one foot on the wall to give me a bit more lift as I jumped up, and gripped onto the top edge. Pulling myself up, I started running again at the next wall, except I didn’t make it to the top.

“Shit!” I closed my eyes as I slid down until my feet touched the ground. I leaned my head against the dirt wall. My body was too weak to make it. “I can’t. I’m so tired. I’m not strong enough.”

“Yes, you are. I’m close enough to see you now. I know it feels far, but you can do this.” Lorne’s voice urged me on. “I can come down once I get there, but that will take longer. When I open my hatch, the cloaking will turn off, and I’m worried that they’ll get their coms rebooted. I’d rather not be caught. Not today. Not with this ship. It wouldn’t go well.”

It was the plea in his voice that got me moving again. I didn’t know what they’d do if SpaceTech had the Aunare crown prince in their hands, but I wouldn’t let that happen.

I steadied myself as I stepped away from the wall and then ran back, just barely jumping high enough to grab the top of the wall. I groaned as I heaved my body up onto the next level.

I hit the level after that. And the next.

Lorne started talking in Aunare to Declan. I didn’t speak a lick of it, so I just ignored their chitchat and kept going. By the time I hit the fifth level, my abs were screaming. If I’d had a relaxing day, then this would’ve been a cakewalk. But my bones ached, and my muscles were shaking, threatening to give out.

“Tracker?” I gasped the word. The one Declan had given me wasn’t the standard human device, but it still had tracking capabilities. I figured a warning would help Lorne.

“I’m going to overload the chip as soon as you’re on board. It’ll knock you out, but I’ll put you in a healing pod when we’re safely away from SpaceTech. When you wake, you’ll feel better than you have in years. And this is a promise that will actually come true.”