“Go help them,” Cade said. “I need to suit up.”

Quintus furrowed his brows, not sure what Cade meant, but went anyway. Cade leaped into the ship, which was floating two feet from the ground.

The inside was as much a surprise as the outside. The walls were perfectly smooth and round, almost like that of the tunnel’s. And at the end of that smooth, rounded room was a protruding console beneath a dome of black glass. Again, it was entirely smooth but for the lights that danced along its surface.

But most interesting of all was the single chair affixed to the floor. And its occupant. A humanoid figure, draped limply across it.

Cade edged closer and found himself looking at a skeleton in a space suit. One with an enormous round skull and giant pits for eyes. A Gray.

Cade could only wonder what had killed them, if the suit was still intact. It seemed, on closer inspection, that the pilot had drowned. Their helmet must have been out of reach when the ship flooded, and Cade could see the scratches where they had attempted to rip off the seat belt and failed. It was jammed, and Cade had to fiddle with it before it came loose.

“Terrible way to go,” Cade whispered as he began to undress.

CHAPTER

65

He was almost fully dressed when the Romans arrived. They heaved the bomb onto the ship, its great, rusted frame so long that it almost reached the cockpit.

“Amber?” Cade called.

She wasn’t there. Only Marius, clambering into the ship and giving a low whistle.

“So this is what the Tritons had at their disposal,” he said. “A wonder we beat them.”

Cade ignored him. “Where’s Amber?” he demanded.

“She took one look at this ship and went running back to the keep,” he said.

Cade groaned and instinctively looked for the Codex, before cursing the habit. He had no idea how long it had been since he’d pressed the EMP. Ten minutes? Twenty?

“Get off the ship,” Cade said. “I need to take off soon, and there’s only one of these suits.”

He pulled on the final glove as he did so, flexing his fingers. One of them had to be tucked into his palm, for the Grays had one digit fewer than humans. But it was worth it if it kept him alive in space.

He didn’t know how much oxygen the suit held, but he was sure it would last the hour. Now, it was time to leave. He hurried to the back of the ship and leaped down to join the others.

“Quintus,” Cade said. “It’s been an honor, my friend. My brother. Look after yourself while I’m gone. And look after Amber.”

“Cade!” Amber’s voice called. “Cade!”

Cade turned, only to see Amber sprinting toward him. She was holding something bulky in her arms.

She reached him, panting, and shoved something into his arms. He almost didn’t recognize it. It looked like a green backpack. Why was she giving him a backpack?