And nowthis.

There was no way it was a coincidence. Someone had purposefully hacked the palace security system. Who was capable of that? And what did they want to do, simply stop the wedding? There were plenty of people in the world who didnt want this wedding to take place, after all.

Or were their motivations more dangerous, maybe even sinister?

He peered up at Torin. I know you dont like it when I talk about conspiracies, but come on.

Torin exhaled a long, painful sounding breath. Your Majesty, this time, we may be in agreement.

Someone knocked, startling them both. Normally a speaker in the wall would have announced the arrival of whoever was on the other side, but that must have been a part of the failed system.

Which made Kai questionshouldnt there have been a backup system? Or had that, too, been compromised?

Torin moved toward the door first. Announce yourself.

Tashmi Priya, requesting to speak with His Majesty.

Kai massaged his neck as Torin unbolted and opened the door. Priya stood stiffly before them, even more put together than usual in an emerald and silver sari.

Any news? asked Kai.

Priyas expression was dazed, bordering on fearful. Kai braced himself for the worst, although he didnt know what the worst could be.

But instead of speaking, Priya shut her eyes and collapsed, crumpling onto the carpet.

Kai gasped and dropped down beside her. On her other side, Torin lifted her wrist, checking for a pulse.

Whats wrong with her? Kai asked, before his eyes snagged on a small dart jutting from Priyas back. What

Shell be fine.

Kai froze.

Looked up. At black pants and a silk top and

Cinder. His heart lurched into his throat.

She wore the same uniform as the wedding staff. Her hair was a mess, as it always was. She wasnt wearing gloves. She looked flustered.

Another girl entered behind her and shut the door. She was a little taller, with light brown skin and blue hair, though Kai couldnt spare her more than a cursory glance.

Because Cinder was there.

Cinder.

Unable to lift his jaw, Kai pushed himself to his feet. Torin stood too and stepped around Priya, trying to inch his way in between them like a shield, but Kai hardly noticed.

Cinder held his gaze. It seemed as if maybe she was waiting for something. Bracing herself. Despite the fact that her metal hand had some sort of dangerous-looking appendage jutting from one of the fingers, she looked almost bashful.

The silence was unbearable, but Kai couldnt think of a single thing to say.

Finally, Cinder gulped. Im sorry I had to She gestured at the unconscious wedding coordinator, then waved her hand like shaking it off. But shell be fine, I swear. Maybe a little nauseous when she comes to, but otherwise And your android Nainsi, right? I had to disable her. And her backup processor. But any mechanic can return her to defaults in about six seconds, so She rubbed anxiously at her wrist. Oh, and we ran into your captain of the guard in the hallway, and a few other guards, and I may have scared him and hes, um, unconscious. Also. But, really, theyll all be just fine. I swear. Her lips twitched into a brief, nervous smile. Um hello, again. By the way.

Ugh, said the other girl, rolling her eyes. That was painful.

Cinder shot her a glare, but then the girl took a single step toward Kai and dipped into a graceful bow. Your Imperial Majesty. It is such a pleasure to see you again.

He said nothing.

Cinder said nothing.

Torin, half positioned between Kai and Cinder, said nothing.

Finally the girl lifted her head. Anytime now, Cinder.

Cinder jumped. Right. Sorry.

She took a tentative step forward and looked about to speak again, but Kai finally found his voice.

Are you insane?

Cinder paused.

Do youare youQueen Levana is in this palace. Shell kill you!

She blinked. Yes. I know.

Which is why we need to stop wasting time, the girl muttered under her breath.

Kai frowned at her. Who are you?

She brightened. Oh, Im Iko! You may not remember me, but we met at the market that day you brought in the android, only I was about this tallshe held her hand at hip heightand shaped kind of like an enormous pear, and significantly more pale. She batted her eyelashes.

Kai returned his attention to Cinder.

Shes right, said Cinder. We need to leave, now. And youre coming with us.

Im what?

He will do no such thing, said Torin. He started to move toward Cinder, but then his foot stalled midair and reversed. Suddenly he was stepping over Priya, walking backward until the backs of his knees hit a settee and he sank down onto the cushion.

Kai gaped at him, beginning to think this was all some bizarre anxiety dream.

Im sorry, said Cinder, holding up her cyborg hand. But I have one more tranquilizer and, if you try to interfere, Im afraid Ill have to use it on you.

Torin glared at her, putting as much seething hatred into the look as Kai had ever seen.

Kai, I need to remove your ID chip.

He faced her again and feltfor the first timea twinge of fear. Something clicked and he glanced down to see her ejecting a short knife from one of her fingers.

She was cyborg. This hed almost gotten used to.

But she was also Lunar, and while hed known that for just as long, hed never before seen her act Lunar. Not so blatantly. Not until now.

Cinder took a step toward him.

He took a step back.

She paused, hurt flickering in her eyes. Kai?

You shouldnt have come back here.

She licked her lips. I know how this must look, but Im asking you to trust me. I cant let you marry her.

He let out an abrupt laugh. The wedding. Hed almost forgotten about it, and he was the one in grooms clothes. Its not your decision to make.

Im making it anyway. She moved forward again, and with another step back, Kai found himself pressed against a small table. Cinders gaze dipped down and her eyes widened.

Kai followed the look.

Her foot was on the table. The child-size foot that had fallen off on the garden steps, its plating dented and the joints packed with dirt. Hed taken it out of his office when the security team had done the sweep for Levanas spy equipment.

His ears grew hot, and he felt as if hed just been caught hoarding something strange and overtly intimate. Something that didnt belong to him.

You, uh He gestured halfheartedly. You dropped that.

Cinder peeled her attention away from the foot and met his gaze, speechless. He couldnt begin to guess what she was thinking. He didnt even know what it meant that hed kept it.

The other girl, Iko, cupped her chin with both hands. This is so much better than a net drama.

Cinder briefly lowered her gaze to compose herself, then held her hand toward him. Please, Kai. We dont have much time. I need your wrist. Her voice was gentle and kind, and somehow that gave him greater pause than anything. Lunarsalways so convincingly gentle, so deviously kind.

Shaking his head, he pressed his vulnerable wrist against his side. Cinder, look. I dont know what youre doing here. I want to believe you have good intentions, but I dont know anything about you. You lied to me about everything.

I never lied to you. Cinder stole another look at the foot. I maybe didnt tell you the whole truth, but can you blame me?

He frowned. Of course I can blame you. You had plenty of opportunities to tell me the truth.

The words seemed to surprise her, until she fisted her hands on her hips. Right. And what if Id said, oh, sure, Your Highness, Id love to go to the ball with you, but first you should probably know that Im cyborg. And then what?

Kai looked away.

You never would have talked to me again, she answered for him. You would have been mortified.

So you were just going to keep it hidden forever?

Forever? Cinder waved her arm toward the window. You are the emperor of an entire country. There was never going to be a forever.

He was surprised how much the words stung. She was right. There wasnt room for such absurdity between theman emperor. A cyborg. Her words shouldnt have hurt at all.

What about being Lunar? he said. When was that going to come up?

Cinder huffed, and he could tell she was growing exasperated. We dont have time for this.

How many times did you manipulate me? How much of it was just brainwashing?

Her jaw fell open, as if she were appalled he could even suggest it. Then a fire stoked behind her eyes. Why? Are you worried that you may have had actual feelings for a lowly cyborg?

Im just trying to figure out what was real, and who this person is. He gestured from her head to her toes. One day youre fixing portscreens at the market, the next youre breaking out of a high-security prison. And nowyouve disabled my palace security, youre waving a knife at me, and youre threatening to tranquilize my chief adviser if you dont get what you want. What am I supposed to think? I dont even know whose side youre on!

Cinder clenched her fists, but as his angry words settled, her eyes caught on something over his shoulder. The enormous picture window overlooking the Eastern Commonwealth. Her expression became distant. Calculating.

She took another step toward him. Kai flinched.

Im on my side, she said. And if you want whats best for the Commonwealth, and this entire planet, youd better be on my side too. She held out her hand, palm up. Now give me your wrist.

He curled his fingers. My responsibility is here. I have a country to protect. Im not running away from that, and Im certainly not running away with you. He tried to lift his chin, though it was difficult when Cinders glare was making him feel about as important as a grain of salt.

Really? she drawled. Youd rather take your chances with her?

At least I know when shes manipulating me.

News flash: I have never manipulated you. And I hope I never have to. But you arent the only one with responsibilities and an entire country of people who are relying on you. So Im sorry, Your Majesty, but you are coming with me, and youre just going to have to figure out whether or not you can trust me when were not so pressed for time.

Then she raised her hand and shot him.

Fifty-Two

Within seconds of the dart hitting Kais chest, his eyelids fluttered closed and he collapsed into Cinder. The adviser yelped and stood, but Iko intercepted him, pressing the man back as Cinder eased Kais unconscious body onto the floor.

For a moment, she was paralyzed, her mind reeling from the things shed just saidat what shed just done.

Cinder? Are you all right? said Iko.

Fine, she muttered, trembling as she propped Kai against the table and pulled out the dart. Hes going to hate me when he wakes up, but Im fine. She couldnt help glancing up again, at the big picture window hung with heavy silk drapes. At her own reflection looking back at her. At the girl with one metal hand and messy hair, wearing the uniform of a servant.

She let out a slow, head-clearing breath, and pulled Kais hand toward her.

What are you going to do to him?

Cinder paused long enough to look over at the adviser. His face was red with fury.

Were taking him somewhere safe, she said. Somewhere Levana cant get to him.

And you think there wont be repercussions for that? Not only for you, but for everyone on this planet. Dont you realize that we are in the middle of a war?

Were not in the middle of a war, were at the very beginning. She fixed her gaze on him. And Im going to put an end to it.

She can put an end to it, said Iko. We have a plan. And His Majesty will be safe with us.

Strangely embarrassed by Ikos confidence, Cinder refocused on Kais wrist. Shed cut out so many ID chips in the past weeks she was almost used to it, though the first incision still reminded her of Peonys limp hand and blue fingertips. Every time.

A thick drop of blood welled up on his skin and Cinder instinctively tilted his arm so that it would roll down his fingers without soiling his white shirt.

He believes that youve found the lost Princess Selene.

She paused and, after a beat, glanced up at Iko, then at the adviser. He what?

Is it true? Have you found her?

Gulping, she refocused on Kais wrist. Waited until her hands stopped trembling before she removed the small chip from his flesh.

Yes, she said, her voice wary as she fished some clean bandages from her calf compartment and wrapped them around the wound. Shes with us.