No, its all right, she said. No more secrets.

He took a step toward her. Your eyes are they really?

Synthetic, she murmured, when he couldnt say the word himself.

And thats why you cant cry?

She nodded, unable to look up at him, even as he came to stand not two steps in front of her. I dont need the tear ducts for lubrication, and they were getting in the way of um. She tapped a finger against her temple. I have a retina scanner and display in my eye. Its like a really small netscreen, so theres a lot of wiring. Oh, stars, I cant believe Im telling you this. She buried her face in her hands.

Its kind of brilliant, said Kai.

She nearly choked on her own laugh.

Kai reached for her wrists. Can I see?

She groaned, knowing that if she had the ability to blush, her face would be as red as his wedding sash.

Mortified and resigned, she let him pull her hands away and struggled to hold his gaze. He stared into her eyes like he could see through to her control panel, but then, after a moment, he shook his head.

Youd never even know.

Trying not to fidget, Cinder raised her eyes to the ceiling, hating herself a little bit for what she was about to do. But what did it matter now? He would never again be fooled into thinking she was human.

Watch the bottom of my left iris, she whispered. She turned on the retina display, pulling up a newsfeed shed been watching before they got to New Beijingnews from the African Union. An anchor was talking, but Cinder didnt bother to turn on the audio.

Kai dipped his head. It took a moment, but then his lips parted. Theres is that?

Newsfeed.

Its so small. Just a dot, really.

It looks a lot bigger to me. A tingle traipsed down her spine at how he was studying her, almost in childish awe, and how he was so close, and how he was still holding her wrists.

He seemed to realize it at the same time. His expression changed suddenly, and she knew he wasnt looking at the retina display anymore, or even her synthetic eyes. He was looking at her.

Her heart pattered.

Kai licked his lips. Im sorry I had you arrested. But Im glad youre all right.

Really? You dont hate me for shooting you?

His lips twitched and he glanced down. Taking her cyborg hand into both of his, he lifted it between them, eyeing the metal fingers. I dont remember that medical diagram saying anything about a gun. My security team probably would have found that to be useful information.

I like to maintain an air of mystery.

Ive noticed.

She watched his thumb trace the length of her fingers, finding it hard to breathe, impossible to move. The hand is new, she whispered.

It appears to be excellent craftsmanship. His voice, too, had dropped.

Its plated with one-hundred percent titanium. She didnt know why she said it. Hardly knew what shed said at all.

Bending his head, Kai pressed his lips to her knuckles. The plating had no nerve endings, and yet the touch sent a tingle of electricity along her arm.

Cinder?

Mm?

He lifted his gaze. Just to be clear, youre not using your mind powers on me right now, are you?

She blinked. Of course not.

Just checking.

Then he slid his arms around her waist and kissed her.

Cinder gasped, pressing her palms against his chest. Kai pulled her closer.

Seconds later, her brain began registering all the new chemicals flooding her system. INCREASED LEVELS OF DOPAMINE AND ENDORPHINS, REDUCED AMOUNTS OF CORTISOL, ERRATIC PULSE, RISING BLOOD PRESSURE

Leaning into him, Cinder sent the messages away. Her hands tentatively made their way to his shoulders, before stringing around his neck.

Then, somewhere in the rush of sensations, Cinders attention snagged on the retina display, alone against the darkness of her eyelids. At first, it was only a dim, annoyed awareness. But then

FARAFRAH.

LUNARS.

MASSACRE.

Her eyes snapped open. She pulled herself away.

Kai started. Wha

Im sorry.

She started to tremble, still focused on the newsfeed.

A moment passed in which she was watching the feed with horror, and then Kai cleared his throat. His voice had gone heavy. No. No, Im sorry. I shouldnt have

No! She grabbed his shirt before he could pull away from her. Its notIts Levana.

His expression turned cold.

Shes shes retaliated. She attacked Cursing, she tore her hands away from Kai, covering her face while she digested the news. A swarm of Lunar soldiers attacked the oasis town not two hours ago, before disappearing into the desert as fast as theyd come. They murdered both the civilians and the Commonwealth soldiers who had been sent to question them.

Pictures flashed across the scene.

Blood. So much blood.

Cinderwhere? Where did she strike?

Africa. The town She gulped. The people that helped us.

Something snapped in her head. Screaming, Cinder reached for the strip of tools, seized a wrench, and threw it at the far wall. It clattered harmlessly to the floor. She grabbed a screwdriver next, but Kai just as quickly lifted it from her hand.

Has she put forth any demands? he said, absurdly calm.

She clenched her empty fists. I dont know. I just know theyre all dead. Because of me. Because they helped me. She fell into a crouch, covering her head. Her entire body was burning up with fury.

At Levana.

But mostly at herself. At her own decisions.

Because shed known this would happen. Shed made the choice anyway.

Cinder.

This is my fault.

A hand settled on her back. You didnt kill them.

I might as well have.

Did they know the risk they were taking when they helped you? The danger theyd be in?

She turned her head away from him.

Maybe they did it because they believed in you. Because they thought the risk was worth it.

Is this supposed to be helping?

Cinder

You want to know another secret? The biggest secret? She sat, splaying her legs like a broken doll in front of her. Im scared, Kai. Im so scared. She thought it might feel better, to say the words out loud, but instead they only made her feel pathetic and weak. She wrapped her arms around her waist. Im scared of her, and her army, and what she can do. And everyone expects me to be strong and brave, but I dont know what Im doing. I have no idea how to overthrow her. And even if I succeed, I have no idea how to be a queen. There are so many people relying on me, people who dont even know theyre relying on me, and now theyre dying, all because of some ridiculous fantasy that I can help them, that I can save them, but what if I cant?

A headache began to throb against her temples, a reminder that she would be crying right now. If she were normal.

Arms wrapped around her.

Cinder pressed her face against his silk shirt. There was some sort of cologne or maybe soap thereso faint she hadnt picked up on it before.

I know exactly how you feel, Kai said.

She squeezed her eyes shut. Not exactly.

I think pretty close.

She shook her head. No, you dont understand. More than anything, Im afraid that the more I fight her and the stronger I become, the more Im turning into her.

Sitting back on his heels, Kai pulled away just enough to look into her face without releasing her. Youre not turning into Levana.

Are you sure about that? Because I manipulated your adviser today, and countless guards. I manipulated Wolf. I I killed a police officer, in France, and I would have killed more people if Id had to, people in your own military, and I dont even know if I would feel bad about it, because there are always ways to justify it. Its for the good of everyone, isnt it? Sacrifices have to be made. And then there are the mirrors, such a stupid, stupid thing, but theyIm beginning to get it. Why she hates them so much. And then She shuddered. Today, I tortured her thaumaturge. I didnt just manipulate her. I tortured her. And I almost enjoyed it.

Cinder, look at me. He cupped her face. I know youre scared, and you have every right to be. But you are not turning into Queen Levana.

You cant know that.

But I do.

Shes my aunt, you know.

He smoothed back her hair. Yeah, well, my great-grandfather signed the Cyborg Protection Act. And yet, here we are.

She bit her lip. Here they were.

Now, lets never talk about you being related to her again. Because Im technically still engaged to her, and thats really weird.

Cinder couldnt help laughing, even exhaustedly, even just to cover up the screaming inside, as he bound her up in his arms again. Her headache began to fade, replaced with the strength of his heartbeat and the way she felt almost delicate when she was pressed up against him like this.

Almost fragile.

Almost safe.

Almost like a princess.

You wont tell anyone, will you? she murmured.

I wont.

And if it turns out I make a terrible princess?

He shrugged against her. The people of Luna dont need a princess. They need a revolutionary.

Cinder furrowed her brow. A revolutionary, she repeated. She liked that a lot better than princess.

The door zipped open.

Cinder and Kai jumped apart, Kai scrambling to his feet.

Cress, breathless and flushed, paused in the doorway.

Im sorry, she said. But the newsfeedsLevana

I know, said Cinder, forcing herself to stand. I know about Farafrah.

Cress shook her head, wild-eyed. It isnt just Farafrah. Their ships are swarming Earth, every continent. Thousands of soldiers are invading the cities. Her other soldiers. She shuddered so hard she had to grasp the door frame. Theyre like animals, like predators.

What is Earth doing? asked Kai, and Cinder recognized his leader voice. Are we defending ourselves?

Theyre trying. All six countries have declared a state of war. Evacuations are being ordered, military is assembling

All six?

Cress pushed her hair off her brow. Konn Torin has temporarily assumed the role of leader of the Commonwealth until your return.

A heavy silence pressed against Cinders chest. Then Kai turned to face her, and she could feel the gravity of his emotions without looking at him.

I think its about time you told me about this plan, he said.

Cinder curled her hands into tight fists. The possibility of their success had seemed so faint that shed hardly considered what would come next. Shed hoped they would have some time, at least a day or two, but she saw now that there would be no such respite.

War had begun.

You said yourself that the people of Luna need a revolutionary. She lifted her chin, holding his gaze. So Im going to Luna, and Im going to start a revolution.