"This is a bad plan," Klin said under his breath as he entered the ministry of truth once again. Not that he had any better ideas, of course, but that didn't make this plan a good one.

He went straight to the cell with Killoran. "Get him up. I need to move him."

The two guards gave each other a look.

"Now."

They flung open the doors and followed Klin into the cell.

"On your feet," Klin said.

Killoran stood, a small smile on his face. "Did you get all your answers yet?"

Klin wanted to kick Killoran's teeth in. Klin knew of his considerable power, but he wasn't afraid of him. "Funnily enough, no."

Killoran chuckled. "I suppose not."

Klin hated the smile on Killoran's face. The creepy look had been there since the first time he'd seen him. Klin's early life in Seelah's academy had shielded him from the worst of Killoran and the extortion rackets his foot soldiers enforced, but his disdain for the corrupt despot was as deeply felt as that of any citizen of the City of Light. His next words truly hurt. "We need your help."

Klin expected Killoran to gloat, or add some snide remark. He only nodded. "Lead the way, Constable."

He began walking toward the cell door. Klin stepped into his path. "Don't try anything."

Killoran paused. "Could you stop me?" he asked with amusement. "I sense no auric ability in you."

"Let's get one thing straight," Klin growled, his face close enough to Killoran's to smell his foul breath. "I don't like you. If it were up to me, you'd be dead already. And if the chance comes my way, I'll be happy to make that happen."

Killoran's smile grew larger. "If I wanted you dead, you would have been dead a long time ago. I think you know that."

Klin wanted so much to slap the smile off Killoran's face. His hand practically twitched at his side. But he also knew that Killoran was right, which made this all the more insane. There was precious little holding him in check now. There would be nothing above ground.

"Relax, Constable," Killoran said, clearly reading the storm clouds in Klin's face. He was never one to hide his emotions. "I have no intention of going anywhere."

Klin snorted. "Why should I trust you?"

Killoran shrugged. "Where is there to go? Nowhere, now that those ships are here."

Klin frowned. "Tai was right. You know what's going on."

"The girl?" Killoran scoffed. "She barely has a part to play. Less than even you. This is between me and Bellamy." He gestured to the sky. "And them."

Klin must have flinched at the mention of Noah, because Killoran cocked his head. "Tell me, where are the others?"

"Will is fine."

"And Bellamy?" Killoran said.

Klin knew he meant Noah. He saw no reason to lie. "They took the Healer."

"Well, well," Killoran said. "You really did give them everything on a platter, didn't you?"

Klin should say nothing, but the failure in the park was still raw. "We tried to stop them, but—"

"Spare me," Killoran said.

The two guards had fallen in behind them as they marched through the halls of the ministry. As they reached the exit that led out into the park, Klin waved them off. They reluctantly fell back. Klin didn't know what Killoran would try at the top of the steps, but two more men with no more auric power than Klin himself wouldn't help.

"Stop worrying so much," Killoran said, as if he were reading Klin's mind. "I told you already, I'm not going anywhere."

"So you say," Klin said.

"Besides," Killoran said nonchalantly. "it's a short trip to where we're going."

Klin stopped short. "How do you know where we're going?"

He shrugged. "Where else could it be?"