Kael’s mouth hitches up at the side. “There were a few options. I went with the most enjoyable one.”

I’m grateful to the darkness for hiding the heat blooming in my cheeks. Not that long ago, we were standing on the yacht and I was considering—and dismissing—my romantic feelings for Kael. I still feel that way, still feel too confused by my tumultuous emotions regarding Ward to consider any kind of possibility with the boy in front of me. But that kiss …

He surprised me. And now I don’t know what to say, how to act. If we need to talk about it.

A sharp bark of laughter leaves Kael, and I find him looking at me with sparkling eyes.

“You should see your face right now,” he says, his teeth flashing in a wide grin.

“What?”

Kael slings an arm around my shoulders and leads me from the park entrance toward the yacht that is miraculously still waiting for us, the lights dimmed but the engine idling quietly in preparation for our swift departure.

“I’m not about to propose to you, princess,” Kael says, his body shaking with mirth against mine. “It was just a kiss. Hardly even that. I mean, I know you’re head over heels for me, but try to contain yourself, would you? It’s embarrassing.”

Relief eases the churning in my stomach. Kael seems happy to let the kiss slide into the realm of “no big deal,” so I’m determined to follow his lead. His attitude makes it easier for me to push aside my shock and ask about things that are— debatably—more important. “What happened back there, Kael? Where were you? Where’s the breakout?”

Kael’s humor fades. With a sigh, he runs his free hand through his tousled hair and answers, “Lengard has him. They had a car waiting out front and took off with him.” He looks at me apologetically. “Sorry I left you back there, princess. You were out cold so I figured you wouldn’t wake up before I got back. I didn’t think some guy would come along and move you.”

I repress a shudder, not wanting to consider why the security guard decided to carry me away, hoping that he just wanted to get me clear of the sparking transformer—which I assume is what shocked me into unconsciousness in the first place.

“Remind me to talk to Pandora about that electrical fault,” Kael adds, his thoughts in line with mine. “I think her playing around with the cameras must have overloaded the system.”

Right now, I don’t even care what happened. I’m so disheartened that this entire night was for nothing—that Lengard ended up with the breakout, after all. That he’s now in Vanik’s clutches, another Speaker for his army. If only Director Falon knew what the scientist was really doing there … If only he would trust him less and see the truth. But it’s too late now— Vanik is too far gone on his quest for ultimate power.