He drew back, giving her a lopsided grin. “It would be if we were alone.” His gaze strayed toward the cockpit, a familiar, steady focus returning to his eyes. “We’re almost there.”

Through the windshield, she saw ocean and Aether—a sky twisting with Aether—but she found herself smiling. She couldn’t wait to see Caleb again. She couldn’t wait to see Molly and Willow, and even Brooke.

Perry straightened, taking her hand. “The pilot says he has the coordinates to the Still Blue. They were transmitted to the entire fleet.”

“So we have that piece,” Aria said.

He nodded. “We do. That’s not stopping us any longer.” Carefully, he wove his fingers through hers. “Aria, we need to be united about something. If Jupiter and Brooke made it safely, we’ve got the Belswan Hover they brought back, and now this Dragonwing. Between the two, I’m guessing they’d fit a hundred people, maximum.”

“It’s not enough. That would barely fit a quarter of us. You’re not thinking of only sending a hundred people to the Still Blue, are you?”

He shook his head. “No. I wasn’t. I’m not ready to give in yet.”

Aria realized she’d already known his answer. They felt the same way about this. Hundreds of years ago during the Unity, there’d been a selection to choose those who’d take shelter in the Pods and those who wouldn’t. It had divided her ancestors and his, but she couldn’t let that happen again. How could she value one person’s life more than another? How could she choose Caleb over Talon? Jupiter over Willow?

She couldn’t, and neither could Perry. They had brought Dwellers and Outsiders together, and that was how it would stay.

“We have to be prepared, Aria. Not everyone will see it the way we do.”

“We’ll make them see it. We’ll find another solution.”

“I have some thoughts on that.” He glanced at the cockpit again. Roar stood next to the pilot, directing him over the last stretch toward the cave. “We’ll talk later.”

She knew they would, but she wanted to tell him something now, while Roar was occupied. “I have a favor to ask.”

“Anything.”

“Talk to him.”

He understood right away. “We’re fine.” He shifted his weight, his green eyes darting back to Roar. “He’s my brother. . . . We don’t need to apologize.”

“I didn’t mean that you should apologize, Perry.” Roar’s anger had faded in the Komodo, but he stood no chance of accepting what had happened to Liv unless Perry did. Unless they got through it together.

Perry stared into her eyes like he saw all her thoughts in them. Then he brought her hand up and pressed a kiss to her knuckles.

“I promise,” he said.

They arrived at the bluff at midday.