Cinder shuddered against him, light-headed.

The pain was doused as quickly as it had started.

Cinder lay panting, hunched over Kais arm. His voice began to filter past her eardrumsher name, again and again. Muffled words. Are you all right? What happened? What did I do?

She was hot, her hand sweating in the glove, her face burning. Like before, when Dr. Erland had touched her. What was happening to her?

She licked her lips. Her tongue was cotton in her mouth. Im all right, she said, wondering if it were true. Its gone. Im fine. She squeezed her eyes shut and waited, afraid that the slightest movement would bring the pain back again.

Kais fingers pressed against her brow, her hair. Are you sure? Can you move?

She attempted a nod and forced herself to look at him.

Kai gasped and jerked away, his hand freezing inches from Cinders brow. Fear clamped her gut. Was her retina display showing?

What? she asked, ducking her face behind her hand, running nervous fingers over her skin, her hair. What is it?

N-nothing.

When she dared meet Kais gaze again, he was blinking rapidly, confusion filling his eyes.

Your Highness?

No, it was nothing. His lips turned upward, unconvincingly. I was seeing things.

What?

He shook his head. It was nothing. Here. He stood and coaxed her up beside him. Maybe we should see if the doctor can squeeze you into his busy schedule.

Chapter Twenty-Five

KAI RECEIVED TWO COMMS BETWEEN THE TIME THEY LEFT THE elevator and the time they reached Dr. Erlands officeCinder knew because she could hear the chime from his beltbut he didnt answer them. He insisted on helping her down the hallway, despite her protests that she could walk just fine, despite the curious stares of passersby. Curious stares did not seem to bother the prince half so much as they bothered her.

He didnt knock when they reached the office, and Dr. Erland, upon seeing who had burst in without announcement, did not seem surprised when he saw the prince.

It happened again, said Kai. Her fainting, whatever it is.

Dr. Erlands blue eyes switched to Cinder.

Its gone now, she said. Im fine.

Youre not fine, said Kai. What causes it? What can we do to make it stop?

Ill take a look at her, said Dr. Erland. We will see what can be done to keep it from happening again.

Kai seemed to think this was an acceptable answer, but only barely. If you need funds to do the researchor special equipment, or anything.

Lets not get ahead of ourselves, said the doctor. She probably just needs another adjustment.

Cinder clenched her teeth as her lie detector flashed at her. He was lying to the prince again. He was lying to her. But Kai didnt object, didnt question. He sucked in a deep breath and faced Cinder. The expression made her uncomfortablethe look that suggested she was a china doll, easily shattered.

And perhaps a hint of disappointment hung behind it all.

Really, Im fine.

She could tell he was unconvinced but had no way of arguing with her. His communicator dinged again. He finally glanced at it, then scowled and shut it off. I need to go.

Clearly.

The prime minister of Africa called a world leaders meeting. Very dull and political. My advisers about to have a breakdown.

She raised her eyebrows in a look that she hoped conveyed how much she was all right with him leaving her. After all, he was a prince. The most powerful men and women on Earth had summoned him. She understood.

And yet he was still here, with her.

Im fine, she said. Go away.

The worry in his eyes softened. He spun toward Dr. Erland and pulled something from his pocket, forcing it into the doctors hand. I also came to bring you this.

Dr. Erland slipped his spectacles on and held the glass vial up into the light. It was filled with clear liquid. And this is?

A gift from Queen Levana. She claims its an antidote to letumosis.

Cinders heart lurched. Her gaze focused on the vial.

An antidote?

Peony.

Dr. Erlands complexion had drained, his eyes widening behind the glasses. Is that so?

It could be a trick. I dont know. Supposedly, its one dosageenough for an adult male.

I see.

So, do you think you can duplicate it? If it is a cure?

Dr. Erland drew his lips into a thin line and lowered the vial. That depends on many things, Your Highness, he said after a long pause. But I will try my best.

Thank you. Let me know as soon as you find anything.

Of course.

Relief loosened Kais brow. He turned to Cinder. And youll let me know if anything

Yes.

changes your mind about going to the ball?

Cinder pressed her lips together.

Kais smile barely reached his eyes. With a curt bow to the doctor, he was gone. Cinder retrained her gaze on the vial, enclosed in the doctors fist. Desire coursed through her. But then she noticed the whitening of his knuckles and looked up, finding herself pinned under a stormy glare.

What do you think you are doing here? he said, planting his free hand on the desk. She started, surprised by his vehemence. Dont you realize that Queen Levana is here, now, in this palace? Did you not understand when I told you to stay away?

I had to bring the princes android back. Its part of my job.

Youre talking livelihood. Im talking life. You are not safe here!

For your information that android could be a matter of life. She clenched her teeth, refraining from saying more. With a heavy sigh, she peeled the stifling gloves from her hands and slipped them into her pocket. All right, Im sorry, but Im here now.

You have to go. Now. What if she asked to see the lab facilities?

Why would the queen care about your lab facilities? She claimed the seat opposite Dr. Erland. He stayed standing. Besides, its too late. The queen already saw me.

She expected the doctor to explode with this announcement, but instead his frown was quickly replaced with horror. His thick eyebrows drew up beneath his cap. Slowly, he sank down into his seat. She saw you? Are you sure?

Cinder nodded. I was in the courtyard when the protests were going on. Queen Levana appeared on one of the upper balconies and shedid something. To the crowd. Brainwashed or glamoured them or whatever its called. They all calmed down and stopped protesting. It was so eerie. Like they all just forgot why they were there, that they hated her. And then they just left.

Yes. Dr. Erland set the vial on the desk. It suddenly becomes clear how she is able to keep her own people from rebelling against her, isnt it?

Cinder leaned forward, tapping her metal fingers against the desk. Heres the thing, though. You said before that shells arent affected by the Lunar glamour, right? Thats why she ordered themusto be killed?

Thats right.

But it did affect me. I trusted her, as much as anyone else. At least, until my programming kicked in and took control. She watched as Dr. Erland took off his hat, adjusted the brim, and pulled it back over his fluffy gray hair. That shouldnt have happened, right? Because Im a shell.

No, he said, without conviction. That shouldnt have happened.

He lifted himself from his chair and faced the floor-to-ceiling windows.

A compulsion to reach out and snatch the vial off the desk surged to the tips of her fingers, but Cinder withheld it. The antidoteif it was an antidotewas meant for everyone.

Gulping, she leaned back. Doctor? You dont seem too surprised.

He raised a hand and tapped his mouth with two fingers before slowly turning toward her.

I may have misread your diagnostics. Lie.

She squeezed her hands in her lap. Or you just didnt tell me the truth.

His eyebrows knit, but he didnt deny it.

Cinder curled her fingers. So Im not Lunar?

No, no. You are most definitely Lunar. Truth.

She sulked in the chair, disappointed.

Ive been doing some research on your family, Miss Linh. He must have seen her eyes brighten because he quickly held up both hands. I mean your adoptive family. Are you aware that your deceased guardian, Linh Garan, designed android systems?

Um. Cinder thought about the plaques and awards sitting on the mantel in Adris living room. That sounds kind of familiar.

Well. The year before your surgery, he unveiled an invention at the New Beijing science fair. A prototype. He called it a bioelectrical security system.

Cinder stared. A what?

Standing, Dr. Erland tinkered with the netscreen until a familiar holograph flickered before them. He zoomed in on the representation of Cinders neck, showing the small dark spot on her upper spine. This.

Cinder reached for the back of her neck, massaging.

It is a device that ties in with a persons nervous system. It has two purposeson an Earthen, it prevents outside manipulation of their personal bioelectricity. Essentially, it makes it so that they are immune to Lunar control. Oppositely, when installed on a Lunar, it keeps them from being able to manipulate the bioelectricity of others. It is as if you were to put a lock on the Lunar gift.

Cinder shook her head, still rubbing. A lock? On magic? Is that even possible?

Dr. Erland lifted a finger to her. It is not magic. Claiming it to be magic only empowers them.

Fine. Bioelectrical whatever. Is it possible?

Evidently so. The Lunar gift is the ability to use your brain to output and control electromagnetic energy. To block this ability would require alteration of the nervous system as it enters the brain stem, and to do that while still allowing full movement and sensation would beits quite impressive. Ingenious, really.

Jaw dropping, Cinder followed the doctor with her gaze as he slipped back into his chair. He would have been rich.

If he had survived, perhaps he would have been. The doctor turned off the screen. When he unveiled the invention at the fair, the prototype was as yet untested, and his contemporaries were skepticaland rightfully so. He first needed to test it.

And for that, he needed a Lunar.

Ideally, he needed both a Lunar and an Earthen subjectin order to test the two purposes separately. If he found an Earthen subject, I have no idea, but clearly he did find you, and he did install his invention as a means of keeping you from using your gift. This explains why you have not had the use of your gift since your operation.

She bounced her foot, restless. You didnt misread my diagnostics. You knew this from the start. From the moment you walked into that lab room, you knew I was Lunar and I had this crazy lock andyou knew.

Dr. Erland wrung his hands. For the first time, Cinder noticed a gold band on his finger.

What did you do to me? she said, planting her feet and standing. When you touched me and it hurt so bad and I passed out andand then again today. Whats causing it? Whats happening to me?

Calm down, Miss Linh.

Why? So you can lie to me some more, just like you lie to the prince?

If I have lied, it has only been to protect you.

Protect me from what?

Dr. Erland steepled his fingers. I understand youre confused

No, you dont understand anything! A week ago, I knew exactly who I was, what I was, and maybe that was a worthless cyborg, but at least I knew that. And nownow Im Lunar, Im a Lunar who supposedly might have magic but cant use it, and now theres this insane queen who for some reason wants to kill me.

SPIKING LEVELS OF ADRENALINE, warned her control panel. RECOMMENDED COURSE OF ACTION: SLOW, MEASURED BREATHS. COUNTING 1, 2, 3

Please, calm down, Miss Linh. It is, in fact, a good thing that you were selected to receive this lock.

Im sure youre right. I just love being treated like a guinea pig, dont you know?

Like it or not, the lock has been beneficial to you.

How?

If you would stop yelling, I would tell you.

She bit her lip and felt her breath stabilizing almost against her will. Fine, but tell me the truth this time. Crossing her arms, she sat back down.

Sometimes you are quite unnerving, Miss Linh. Dr. Erland sighed, scratching at his temple. You see, manipulating bioelectricity comes so natural to Lunars that its virtually impossible to refrain from using it, especially at such a young age. Left to your own devices, you would have drawn too much attention to yourself. It would have been like tattooing Lunar across your forehead. And even if you could have learned to control it, the gift is such a fundamental part of our internal makeup that tempering it can create devastating psychological side effectshallucinations, depressioneven madness. He pressed his fingertips together. Waited. So you see, putting a lock on your gift protected you, in many ways, from yourself.