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Killing her would kill a part of me. If I was honest, I wasn't sure I could do it, even to defend Dex and the Alpha. That hesitation—it was dangerous.
We reached the upper level without seeing Viva, or anyone else. No one alive, that was. Half a dozen bodies lay inside the doorway. At least as many lay outside, including two or three I thought were loyal to the Keeper.
I shot Kerina a questioning look, but she shrugged, clearly as confused as I was.
"Don't let it get to you," I whispered.
"You too," she told me.
Touché.
It was difficult not to take it personally. I worked side by side with these men and women, trusted them with Dex's safety. Had they turned for money, or were they planted here by Seth? I may never know the answer to that question.
"We need to get out to the street," Knox whispered. "The others are waiting nearby."
I wanted to ask for specifics, but I'd find out soon enough. The less we talked, the better.
I ran a hand over my head. "We cut down on exit points after the tigers attacked." Of course that would come back to bite me on the ass. I never considered needing to escape from the Residence myself. "There's a small gate on the far side. We could try to break out of that."
"How did they get in here?" Devlin asked, waving a hand at Knox and the others.
"We flew," Yard said. "But I can't carry you all at once."
I figured that's how they got here, but I wished one of the other Dragonesque came with them.
"Can you take the Keeper and the Alpha and get them to safety?" I asked.
"I can't just—" Dex started.
"Yes, you can," I said firmly. "You can't take back the Residence if you're dead."
Dex paused, then huffed a frustrated sigh. "Okay, you're right. But if you die while I flee, I'm going to be very pissed off."
"Me too," I said with a smile.
"As will I," Kerina said. "Who else will I tease?"
"You'll find someone," I told her. I took the cotton bag Yard pulled out of a pocket and held it open while he shoved his clothes inside. When he was fully naked, I tied the top of the bag and handed it to Dex.
"Kerina, go with them. Keep them out of trouble."
I thought she might argue too, but for once, she didn't. She even took the bag from Dex and threw it over her shoulder.
"Let's go," she said, the moment Yard finished shifting. "Quick, before we're seen."
A large dragon wouldn't go unnoticed for long, especially with dawn fast approaching.
Devlin all but pushed in front of Dex to be the first to climb up onto Yard's back.
Dex gave him a look, but said nothing. What could he say? The Alpha needed to escape alive, even more than the Keeper. At least, that's what they would argue.
I would keep my opinion to myself.
Dex was next up, followed closely by Kerina, who didn't look happy to be sitting on a dragon at all.
"Hang on tight," I whispered as Yard took off skyward.
In a moment, he cleared the fence and was out of sight.
