“Our odds will be better if we’re in smaller numbers,” says Pandora, peering into the darkness. “We’ll be less intimidating that way. More likely to coax them out into the open.”

I’m glad the decision isn’t up to me. While I agree about the intimidation factor, I’m unsure how wise it is to split up. In the short distance we’ve traveled from the yacht into the park, I’ve noticed that Arryn, Kael, Pandora, and Keeda are almost perfectly in sync with each other, with Arryn and Kael in the middle taking the lead, and the other two flanking them. Cami and I, after a fierce hand gesture from Arryn upon leaving the dock, have been bringing up the rear. Aside from when I got us through the entrance—after which Pandora skipped off to place her infused metallic glove against a surveillance camera, whispering a word to loop tonight’s feed and keep us off-screen—they’ve maintained their positions, watching each other’s backs. The idea of them breaking formation now … it doesn’t fill me with confidence.

Arryn and Kael are eyeing each other, the two leaders communicating silently.

Cami seems just as wary as I am, and she whispers, “Can’t you do something to … I don’t know … point us in the right direction?”

The four ahead of us turn around with raised brows, clearly wondering the same.

My mind goes blank.

Cami nudges me, and I realize that I have to at least give it a try.

I attempt to summon an image of the breakout, but the unidentifiable Speaker is slippery in my mind and hard to keep ahold of. Gritting my teeth, I keep my intent as focused as I can manage and say, “Locate the breakout.”

Light flares from me, and I look down, expecting to see glowing footsteps revealing the path we need to take, just as I had envisioned. But the cement beneath us remains dark.

I’m disheartened, and slightly baffled, since I thought I’d had a firm grip on my imagination.

“It’s okay, princess,” Kael says, seeing my disappointment. “Speaking is like shooting an arrow—for the most part, you need to see your target. It’s why you can’t just imagine Vanik keeling over from here; there are too many variables between you and him, distance being just one of them.” He sends me an encouraging smile. “Don’t sweat it. We’ll do this the old-fashioned way.” Turning to look at Arryn, he finishes, “I agree with Keed and Dora—we should break into pairs.”

Arryn doesn’t look pleased. She opens her mouth to reply, but before she can get a word out, light floods over us, blinding in its intensity. It’s as if someone has flicked on a switch, the park coming to life all around us. Flashing strobe lights whirl in a dizzying array of color, while organ music fills our ears, rising above the mechanical rumble of the rides starting up.

I shield my eyes with my hand as I blink, blink, blink against the sudden brightness. I’m half crouched, tense and ready to leap into action, my pulse pounding in my ears.