Ward rises into the air before us, his body perfectly horizontal, just as I envisioned.

Cami makes an approving sound and moves toward his feet, while I stay up near his shoulders, ready to grab him if this doesn’t work. But when she gives him a nudge, he slides forward through the air as if he’s resting on an invisible stretcher.

“Much better,” Cami says, wrapping her hands around his boots and continuing to propel him onward.

I’m quite proud of myself, but I only throw her a quick hint of a smile, carefully monitoring Ward’s shoulders and directing him toward the door and then out into the labyrinth of zigzagging hallways.

Neither of us mention what’s ahead; neither of us question how we’ll get him out of Lengard unnoticed, let alone through the streets of Sydney and back to the zoo without someone seeing his body floating in the air. For now, as Arryn said earlier, it’s one problem at a time.

When we reach the elevator, Cami and I carefully maneuver Ward inside and then I repeat the Speaking command that got us here in the first place.

“Accept Rick Falon’s ID.”

I’m waiting for the access panel to respond, but nothing happens. It’s only then that I realize no light came when I Spoke.

Frowning, I try again.

“Accept Rick Falon’s ID.”

Light flares this time, and the access panel does the same, before the elevator begins its swift descent. I must be getting tired, I tell myself, even if I still feel fine. Or perhaps I just wasn’t concentrating hard enough on my intent. It’s a glaring reminder that I need to focus, that I need to keep my head clear and my thoughts in line if we’re to make it safely back to the catacombs.

After an ear-popping, light-headed journey downward, we finally reach the dark corridor that leads to Falon’s office. Once more, we move the levitating Ward between us and guide his unconscious body along the hallway.

There’s still no sign of Falon when we step into his office, and I realize that we couldn’t have picked a better day to infiltrate Lengard even if we’d planned for weeks beforehand. I understand Kael’s hesitation, his concern, but so far, everything is going like clockwork.

Mostly, I amend, looking down at Ward and ignoring the phantom pain of the syringe puncturing my flesh. Cami healed the wound, so the prickle I now feel is only in my head.

Leaving Falon’s office and stepping into the main corridors of Lengard is perhaps the most dangerous part of our return journey. But just like on our way in, we cross paths with no one as we travel soundlessly over the black-and-white tiles toward our rendezvous point.