Something damp fell on Cinders neck. Scarlet was crying, shaking every bit as hard as she was. But her arms didnt loosen.

She wanted to look away, but she forced herself not to. Their bravery left her both speechless and horrified. She found herself wishing someone would betray her just so it would end. Just so the choice would no longer be hers.

Thorne took her hand and squeezed. Wolf formed a barrier to her other side, all three of them acting both as her jailers and her life raft. She knew they shared her horror, but none of them could understand the responsibility she felt clawing at her from the inside. These people trusted her to fight with them, to give them the better future shed promised.

Did it matter that they were willing to die for her cause? Did it matter that they would sacrifice their own lives so she might succeed?

She didnt know.

She didnt know.

All she saw were blinding sparks. All she heard were gunshots pulsing through her head.

Aimery pointed at another victim and Cinders knees weakened. It was the young boy who had been so smitten with Iko.

Cinder sucked in a breath, prepared to cry out, to stop it, to scream

No!

Aimery held up his hand. Who was that?

A girl a few rows behind the boy had begun to cry hysterically. No, please. Please, leave him alone. She was about Cinders age. A sister, she guessed.

New tension rolled through the crowd. A few nearby people cast the girl betrayed looks, but Cinder knew it wasnt fair. This girl didnt know Cinder. Why should she protect her over someone she loved?

Aimery raised an eyebrow. Are you prepared to give up the cyborgs location?

Maha Kesley, the girl stammered. The cyborg was being housed by Maha Kesley.

With a flick of Aimerys fingers, the guard who had targeted the boy lowered his gun. Where is this Maha Kesley?

Maha stood up before anyone was forced to betray her, a pillar in the kneeling crowd. Im here.

Wolf took in a shaky breath.

Come to the front, said Aimery.

Mahas slender shoulders were back as she walked among her friends and neighbors. A change had occurred in the short time Cinder had known her. On that first day she had seemed beaten, heavy shouldered, afraid. The woman who stood defiantly before the queens head thaumaturge was someone new.

It made Cinder even more terrified for her.

What is the number of your residence? Aimery asked.

Maha gave it with a steady voice.

Aimery gestured at the captain of the guard and a female thaumaturge. They stepped away, signaling for one additional guard to join them as they headed toward Mahas house.

Aimerys attention had returned to Maha. Have you been sheltering the cyborg Linh Cinder?

I do not know that name, said Maha. The one cyborg I know is named Princess Selene Blackburn and she is the true queen of Luna.

The crowd rustled. Chins lifted. Shoulders squared. If anyone had forgotten why they were risking their lives for a stranger, Mahas statement reminded them.

Aimery smirked. Cinders blood iced over.

As she watched, Maha raised both of her hands over her head so everyone could see. Then she grabbed her right thumb and yanked it back, hard.

Cinder heard the pop even from here, followed by Mahas cry. She didnt know if Aimery had forced her to break her thumb or merely dislocate it, and she didnt care. She made a decision.

In another moment, she had slipped into the minds of her friends and forced them to back away from her.

She spun around. Scarlet, Thorne, and Wolf gawked at her, dismayed.

Wolf recovered first. Cinder, dont

Its the peoples revolution now, not mine. Wolf, youre coming with me. Ill keep your mind under control but not your body, just like we did in Artemisia. Thorne, Scarlet, stay here and target Aimery and the other thaumaturges, but dont shoot unless you have a clear shot, otherwise youre just giving away your location.

Cinder, no, Scarlet hissed, but Cinder was already leaving her and Thorne behind, forcing Wolf to follow in her tracks.

He growled.

I have to, Wolf, she said as they rushed down the staircase to the second landing. Outside, muffled by thick factory walls, she heard another cry of pain from Maha. I cant do nothing.

Hell kill you.

Not if we kill him first. She raced down the last staircase and braced herself. She checked that she had control of Wolfs bioelectricity so no thaumaturge could claim him, then pushed through the factory doors. A third scream from Maha felt like a knife in Cinders chest. One look told her that Mahas first three fingers were bent at crippling angles. Tears were on her pain-clenched face.

Here I am, Cinder bellowed. You found me. Now let her go.

In one uniform movement, all the guards swiveled, turning their weapons on Cinder. She sucked in a breath, prepared to be riddled with bullets, but no one fired.

Across the sea of prostrated laborers, Aimery grinned. So the impostor has finally graced us with her presence.

She clenched her fists and started toward him. The guns followed. So did Wolf, his energy crackling. You know very well that my claims are true, she said. Its the only reason Levana is so determined to have me killed. She stretched out her thoughts to the people surrounding her, but none of their minds were available to her. She had expected as much.