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Cinder had sacrificed her own safety to plead with him not to accept the alliance Not to e ceremony was done and she had ascended to the throne of the Eastern Commonwealth, Levana intended to kill hiht He knew that Levana wouldn’t hesitate to dispose of him as soon as he’d served his purpose

But he had to stop these murders He had to stop this war

Cinder was not the only one capable of sacrificing herself for so, he faced the screen

"Establish vidlink to Queen Levana of Luna"

The shtened with the ie of the Lunar queen, draped in her lacy white veil He iard and decrepit beneath its sheath, and it didn’t help

Kai sensed she’d been waiting for his co, and already knew precisely what his intentions were He sensed she was s behind the veil

"My dear Emperor Kaito, what a pleasant surprise ItAbout two hours and twenty-four ht, is that correct?"

He sed his disgust as best he could and opened his hands wide to her "Your Majesty, I beg you Please stop this attack Please call off your soldiers"

The veil shifted as she listed her head to the side "You beg o on"

Heat flooded his face "Innocent people are dying--wo to you You’ve won, and you know it So please, end it now"

"You say I’ve won, but what is irl who started all this? She is the one you should be appealing to If she turns herself over to me then I will call off my men That is ain with ht"

"Wait!"

She folded her hands "Yes?"

His pulse thruirl--we thought we had her, but she’s gotten away again, as I suspect you already know But I can’t let you continue to murder innocent Earthens while we try and find another way to track her"

"I’m afraid that’s notelse you want, so I can offer We both knohat that is"

"I’m sure I don’t knohat you speak of"

Kai didn’t realize he was gripping his hands, practically pleading with her, until his knuckles started to ache "If your offer of a e alliance still stands, I accept Your prize for calling off your men will be the Commonwealth" His voice broke on the final word and he cla that every second that passed onizing silence, Levana tittered "My dear E proposal?"

Forty-Four

As the ship entered neutral orbit, Scarlet released the air fro, all the aches and wounds catching up to her at once, she turned herself around to face the ship’s bay

Linh Cinder was sitting on the floor with her legs splayed out before her Wolf, unconscious, was spread-eagle on his back A streak of blood followed hied The other man was flopped onto his stomach

"You’re a pilot," said Cinder

Linh Cinder

Princess Selene

"My grandht me She was a pilot in--" The words evaporated, her heart aching "But your ship does pretty well on its own"

"So glad to be of service," said the disembodied voice "I’roaning

Scarlet hobbled over to Wolf’s body and sank down beside hiht?"

"I hope so," said Cinder, "but I’ve never stuck around long enough to see the aftereffects of these darts"

Scarlet unzipped her shredded hoodie and tied it over the open wound on Wolf’s ares?"

She could see Cinder’s dread at being forced into action again, but soon Cinder pushed herself up and disappeared through a door on the far side of the cargo bay

A low er He rolled onto his back, cringing