“You saved us a lot of trouble,” she said. “We were going to come for you.”

Perry didn’t understand. Why did they want him? He pushed away his curiosity. “You’re going to help me find Cinder and Sable.”

“Why Sable?”

“The Still Blue, Kirra. I need a heading.”

“I know the coordinates. I could get you there.” She narrowed her eyes. “But why should I help you?”

“Do you value your life?”

She offered a wry smile. “You won’t hurt me, Perry. It’s not in you.”

“I have no problem with it,” Aria said.

Perry turned to see her jogging toward them, a pistol in her good hand. “Bring her, and hurry,” she said, meeting his eyes. “Soren has the door open.”

He ushered Kirra through the entrance to the central corridor. Roar lifted the fallen man over his shoulder. He rushed through the door just as it slid closed.

They’d made it. They were another step closer.

“Who’s she?” Soren asked.

“I’m Kirra.”

Aria raised the pistol. “Hi, Kirra.” She nodded to the man over Roar’s shoulder. “Tell us where to dump him.”

Kirra’s cheeks flushed, her temper heating. “In there. It’s a utility room. No one will find him until tomorrow.”

Quickly, Roar disposed of Sable’s man.

“Now Cinder,” Perry said to Kirra.

“This way.” She led them down the hall, this one made of black rubber panels, more a tube than a corridor.

“Time, Soren,” Perry said.

“One hour.”

They were at the halfway mark. An hour ago Soren had posed as Hess and sent the false message to the Dragonwing. In another hour that security breach would be discovered.

“Cinder’s in here,” Kirra said, stopping at a door. “There should be four other people inside. One Guardian by an observation room at the far end. Three doctors.”

Soren made a face, looking from Aria to Perry. “Am I the only one wondering why she’s helping us?”

“She’s telling the truth,” Perry said. He scented it—and that was all he needed to know. They needed to find Cinder and get out of there.

Roar moved to the door, ready to be on point. Despite their falling-out, every move Roar made was exactly what Perry wanted—exactly how they’d always fought and hunted. Reading each other’s minds, no need for words.

Perry pushed Kirra to Soren. Then he nodded at Roar, who slipped inside. Perry followed right after. They took swift control of the room. Roar overpowered the Guardian with a burst of speed, stripping the man of his weapon and pinning him to the ground.

A wall of glass divided the room into two chambers. In front of the windows was a line of desks and some medical equipment with monitoring screens. Three doctors in white coats stood there—all frozen in shock.