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"Entrance granted"

The office door breezed open Both h Kai had never seen either of theotten up in a hurry, although he suspected frootten reet the back into the desktop "You’re both getting an early start"

"Your Ilad to find you awake I’m sorry to inform you of a breach of security that requires your i ahead to terrorist attacks, out-of-control protestors … Queen Levana declaring war "What? What happened?"

"There’s been a jailbreak froht lanced at Torin "A jailbreak?"

"Two inertips into the desk "Don’t we have some sort of protocol in place for this?"

"Generally speaking, yes However, this is an extraordinary circumstance"

"How so?"

The lines deepened around Huy’s mouth "One of the escapees is Linh Cinder, Your Majesty The Lunar fugitive"

The world turned over Kai’s gaze dropped to the cyborg foot, but he snapped it back up "How?"

"We have a teae in order to deterla of the prison From there, she was able to breach the air duct systes One contained a cyborg hand, the other a small, blood-crusted chip "These were found in her cell"

Kai’s jaorked, but he was duued and unnerved by the dismembered limb "Is that her hand? Why would she do that?"

"We’re still working on the details We do knoever, that sheto secure all possible escape routes fro s that overlooked the palace’s west-facing gardens The whispering grasses still glittered withdew

"Your Majesty," said Torin, the first he’d spoken, "I would advise you to deploy itives"

Kai ed his brow "Military?"

Torin spoke slowly "It is in your best interest to do everything in your power to recover her"

Kai found it difficult to s He knew that Torin was right Any hesitation would be seen as a sign of weakness, and possibly even suggest that he’d assisted with the escape Queen Levana would not take kindly to it

"Who’s the other fugitive?" he asked, stalling for tirasp the iitive, who he’d all but sentenced to death

Escaped

"Carswell Thorne," said Huy, "an ex-cadet for the American Republic air force He deserted his post fourteen o ship At this tiain, seeing that the fugitive’s profile had been transferred to the screen His frown deepened Perhaps not dangerous, but young and inarguably good-looking His prison photo showed hi at the camera Kai hated him immediately

"Your Majesty, we need you to rant peritives?"

Kai stiffened "Yes, of course, if that’s what you think the situation requires"

Huy clicked his heels and marched back toward the door

Kai wanted to call him back immediately as a thousand questions filled his brain He wanted the world to slon and give hione before the hesitant "wait" fell fro hilance at Cinder’s abandoned foot before collapsing over his desk and pressing his forehead onto the cool netscreen