Kai again strove to loosen his grip, lest he accidentally leap across the table and jab a chopstick into the witchs eye. His father had tried every compromise imaginable to forge an alliance with Luna, except the one thing he could not agree to. The one thing he was sure would signal the end of freedom for his people. A marriage to Queen Levana.

But nobody objected to Sybils comment. Not even himself. He couldnt get the image from todays meeting out of his head. The Lunar mutations, the army of beast-like creatures. Waiting.

It chilled him not only because of what hed seen, but of what he could imagine he hadnt seen. If he were right, then Levana had put her army out for showas a threat. But he knew she wouldnt give her hand away so easily.

So what else was she hiding?

And did he dare risk finding out?

Marriage. War. Marriage. War.

The servants simultaneously lifted the silver domes from the trays, releasing clouds of steam scented of garlic and sesame oil.

Kai mumbled a thank-you to the servant over his shoulder, but the words were interrupted by a gasp from the queen. She shoved her chair away from the table. The legs screeched across the floor.

Startled, Kai followed the queens gaze to her plate. Instead of thinly cut pork tenderloin and rice noodles, the plate harbored a small hand mirror set into a shimmering silver-white frame.

How dare you? Levana turned blazing eyes on the servant who had delivered the meala middle-aged woman with fine gray hair. The servant stumbled back, her eyes round as the mirror.

Levana stood so fast her chair tumbled to the floor behind her. A chorus of chair legs creaked on the floor as everyone stood.

Speak, you disgusting Earthen! How dare you insult me?

The servant tossed her head, mute.

Your Majesty Kai started.

Sybil!

My Queen.

This human has shown disrespect. It is not to be tolerated.

Your Majesty! said Torin. Please, calm yourself. We do not know that this woman is to blame. We mustnt jump to conclusions.

Then she must be made an example of, said Sybil, quite coolly, and the true perpetrator can thus suffer the guilt, which is often a far worse punishment.

That is not how our system works, said Torin. His face had flushed red. While you reside in the Commonwealth, you will abide by our laws.

I will not follow your laws so long as they permit disobedience to flourish, said Levana. Sybil!

Sybil rounded the queens fallen chair. The servant backed away, bowing, muttering apologies and begging for mercy and not knowing what she said.

Stop it! Leave her alone! said Kai, rushing toward the servant.

Sybil snatched a knife from the service table and held its handle out toward the woman. The woman took the knife, crying, pleading as she did so.

Kais jaw dropped. He was both disgusted and mesmerized as the servant turned the blade toward herself, clutching the handle with both hands.

Sybils beautiful face remained complacent.

The servants hands trembled and slowly lifted the knife until the glistening edge was poised at the corner of her eye. No, she whimpered. Please.

Kais entire body shook as he realized what Sybil meant to force the woman into. Heart racing, he squared his shoulders. I did it!

The room stilled, silenced, but for the womans bumbling sobs.

Everyone turned to Kai. The queen, Torin, the servant with the tiny inflamed scratch beside her eyelid, the knife still in her hand.

I did it, he repeated. He looked at Sybil, who watched him without expression, and then at Queen Levana.

The queen fisted both hands at her sides. Her dark gaze seethed. Her complexion shimmered. In a single, tilting moment, she was hideous, with her ragged breath and sneering coral lips.

Kai ran his dry tongue across the roof of his mouth. I ordered the kitchen to put the mirror on your tray. He pressed his arms firmly against his sides to keep them from shaking. It was meant as a friendly joke. I understand now that it was an ignorant decision, and a joke that would not cross cultural lines, and I can only apologize and ask for your forgiveness. He leveled his gaze at Levana. But if forgiveness is not in your power, then at least direct your anger toward me and not the servant, who would have had no idea that the mirror was there. The punishment should be all mine.

He had thought the tension bad during the appetizer course, but now he was choking on it.

Levanas breathing returned to normal as her eyes weighed her options. She did not believe himit was a lie, and everyone in the room knew it. But he had confessed.

She opened her fists, stretching her fingers out against the material of her dress. Release the servant.

The energy dispersed. Kai felt his ears pop as if the air pressure in the room had changed.

The knife clattered to the floor and the servant stumbled back, crashing into a wall. Her shaking hands flattened over her eyes, her face, her head.

Thank you for your honesty, Your Highness, Levana said, her tone flat and hollow. Your apology is accepted.

The crying woman was led away from the dining room. Torin reached across the table, picked up the silver dome, and covered the mirror. Bring our most honored guest her entre.

That wont be necessary, said Levana. I have quite lost my appetite.

Your Majesty said Torin.

I will retire to my quarters, said the queen. She was still battling Kai across the table, her eyes cold and calculating, and he unable to look away. I have learned something valuable about you tonight, young prince. I hope you have learned something about me, as well.

That you prefer to rule through fear rather than justice? So sorry, Your Majesty, Im afraid I already knew that about you.

No, indeed. I hope you noticed that I am capable of choosing my battles. Her lips curved, her beauty returning full force. If thats what it takes to win the war.

She departed from the room like a feather, as if nothing at all had happened, her entourage falling into step behind her. Only when the guards clopping feet had drifted down the halls did Kai slump into the nearest seat, head hanging over his knees. His stomach was heaving. Every nerve shook.

He heard a chair being set upright and Torin settle beside him with a heavy sigh. We should find out who was really at fault for the mirror. If it was someone on the staff, they should be suspended for so long as the queen is staying at the palace.

Kai lifted his head far enough to peer over the tables edge, seeing the towering silver dome in front of the queens abandoned chair. Inhaling a breath, he reached forward and uncovered the mirror, then grasped its slender handle. It was smooth as glass but sparkled like diamonds when he twisted it in the dim lighting. He had only seen material like that once before. On a spaceship.

Holding the mirrors face toward Torin, he shook his head, disgusted. Mystery solved, he said, turning the mirror around so that his adviser could see the strange Lunar rune carved into the back of the frame.

Torins eyes widened. She was testing you.

Kai let the mirror tip back onto the table. He rubbed his brow with outstretched fingers, still shaking.

Your Highness. A messenger clicked his heels from the doorway. I have an urgent message from the Secretary of Public Health and Safety.

Kai tilted his head, squinting at the messenger through his bangs. Couldnt she send a comm? he said, checking his belt with his free hand before remembering that Levana had requested no portscreens at their dinner. He grunted and sat up. Whats the message?

The messenger stepped into the dining room, his eyes bright. Theres been a disturbance at the District 29 quarantine. An unidentified person attacked two med-droids, disabling one of them, and then escaped.

Kai frowned, straightening. A patient?

Were unsure. The only android that would have recorded a good visual was the one that was disabled. Another android caught glimpses of the act from afar, but only of the perpetrators back. Weve been unable to get an accurate ID. The perpetrator didnt seem ill, though.

Everyone at the quarantines is ill.

The messenger hesitated.

Kai gripped the arms of the chair. We have to find him. If he has the disease

It appeared to be a female, Your Highness. And theres more. The footage we have shows her speaking to another patient, moments after she attacked the first med-droid. A young boy by the name of Chang Sunto. He was admitted to the quarantine yesterday with stage two letumosis.

And?

The servant cleared his throat. The boy seems to be recovering.

From what? The attack?

No, Your Highness. Recovering from the disease.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

CINDER SLAMMED SHUT THE APARTMENT DOOR AND marched into the living room. Adri was sitting stiff beside the hearth, glowering at Cinder as if shed been waiting for her.

Cinder clenched her fists. How dare you send for me like some common criminal? Didnt you think that maybe I was in the middle of something?

How dare I treat you like a common cyborg, you mean? Adri folded her hands in her lap. You are a common cyborg, and one who is under my legal jurisdiction. It is my duty to ensure you dont become a menace to society, and it seemed quite clear that you were abusing the privileges Ive allowed you in the past.

What privileges?

I have always allowed you freedom, Cinder, to do as you like, to go where you like. But its come to my attention you do not respect the boundaries and responsibilities that come with that freedom.

Cinder frowned and drew back. Shed had her own angry speech repeating in her head the entire hover ride home. She had not been expecting Adri to bite back with a speech of her own. Is this because I didnt respond to a few comms?

Adri tucked her shoulders back. What were you doing at the palace today, Cinder?

Cinders heart skipped. The palace?

Adri raised a calm eyebrow.

Youve been tracking my ID.

Youve made it necessary to take precautions.

I havent done anything.

You havent answered my question.

Cinders internal warnings went off. Spiking adrenaline. She sucked down a breath. I went to join the protests, all right? Is that a crime?

I was under the impression that you were in the basement, working, as you were supposed to be doing. To sneak out of the house without permission, without even informing me, to attend some gratuitous parade, and all the while Peony is Her voice hitched. Adri lowered her eyes, collected herself, but her voice was thicker when she spoke again. Your records also show you took a hover ride today, to the outskirts of the city, the old warehouse district. It seems clear to me that you were attempting to run away.

Run away? No. There isthats where She hesitated. Theres an old parts store down there. I was going for parts.

Is that so? And pray tell, where did you get the money for the hover?

Biting her lip, Cinder sank her gaze to the floor.

This is unacceptable, said Adri. I will not tolerate such behavior from you.

Cinder heard shuffling in the hallway. Glancing around the door, she saw Pearl sneaking from her bedroom, drawn to her mothers raised voice. She turned back to Adri.

After everything that Ive done for you, continued Adri, everything weve sacrificed, you have the gall to steal from me.

Cinder frowned. I didnt steal from you.

No? Adris knuckles whitened. A few univs for a hover ride I could have overlooked, Cinder, but tell me, where did you obtain the 600 univs in order to pay for your Her eyes fell to Cinders boots, lips curling in a sneer. your new limb? Isnt it true that that money was reserved for rent and food and household expenses?

Cinders stomach clenched.

I screened Ikos memory. 600 univs in just one week, not to mention toying with the pearls that Garan gave me for our anniversary. It makes me sick to think what else youve been hiding from me.

Cinder squeezed her trembling fists against her thighs, glad, for once, that shed never told Iko about being Lunar. It wasnt

I dont want to hear it. Adri bunched her lips. If you hadnt been out dallying all day you would know thather voice rose, bolstered, as if anger alone could keep tears at baythat I now have a funeral to pay for. 600 univs would have bought my daughter a respectable plaque, and I intend to get that money back. Well be selling off some personal belongings in order to afford it, and you will be required to make up your fair share.

Cinder gripped the doorjamb. She wanted to tell Adri that no fancy plaque would bring Peony back, but she didnt have the strength. Shutting her eyes, she planted her brow against the cool wood frame.

Dont just stand there, pretending to understand what I can be going through. You are not part of this family. You arent even human anymore.