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She was used to the little orange light It ca

"National security," she said "Funny"

The prince listed his head, as if challenging her to contradict him A strand of black hair fell into his eyes Cinder looked away

"Tutor86the faintly lit panel inside the plastic cranium The android was nearly twenty years old Ancient for an android "She looks to be in pristine condition"

Raising her fist, she thunked the android hard on the side of its head, barely catching it before it toppled over onto the table The prince jumped

Cinder set the android back on its treads and jabbed the power button but nothing happened "You’d be surprised how often that works"

The prince let out a single, aard chuckle "Are you sure you’re Linh Cinder? The ot it!" Iko wheeled out of the crowd and up to the worktable, her blue sensor flashing Lifting one pronged hand, she slammed a brand-new steel-plated foot onto the desk, in the shadow of the prince’s android "It’s a huge i looks coet the dealer down to just 600 univs"

Panic jolted through Cinder Still balancing on her hu, she snatched the foot off the table and dropped it behind her "Good work, Iko Nguyen-shìfu will be delighted to have a replaceuyen-shìfu? I don’t coestured at the prince "Iko, please pay your respects to our custohness"

Iko craned her head, ai the round sensor up at the prince, who towered ht flared as her scanner recognized hi "You are even more handsome in person"

Cinder’s stohed

"That’s enough, Iko Get in the booth"

Iko obeyed, pushing aside the tablecloth and ducking under the table

"You don’t see a personality like that every day," said Prince Kai, leaning against the booth’s door fraht androids to the ram her yourself?"

"Believe it or not, she ca error, which is probably why ra error!" said Iko froht h, and ducked her head back behind his android

"So what do you think?" he asked

"I’ll need to run her diagnostics It will takea strand of hair behind one ear, Cinder sat down, grateful to give her leg a rest while she exa some rule of etiquette, but the prince didn’t see her hands

"Do you need payment up front?"

He held his left wrist toward her, eloved hand at him "No, thank you It will be my honor"

Prince Kai looked about to protest but then let his hand fall "I don’t suppose there’s any hope of having her done before the festival?"

Cinder shut the android’s panel "I don’t think that will be a proble with her--"

"I know, I know" He rocked back on his heels "Just wishful thinking"

"Hoill I contact you when she’s ready?"

"Send a coain next weekend? I could stop by then"

"Oh, yes!" said Iko from the back of the booth "We’re here every ain That would be lovely"

Cinder flinched "You don’t need to--"

"It’ll be my pleasure" He dipped his head in polite farewell, sies of the hood farther over his face Cinder returned the nod, knowing she should have stood and bowed, but not daring to test her balance a second time

She waited until his shadow had disappeared fro the square The prince’s presence aone unnoticed Cinder let her rippers over her chest "Prince Kai! Check "