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She just couldn’t understand why

Clearing her throat, Cinder backed toward the exit "I should go then, let you get back to work," she said, tapping the wrench against her pal properly? Say…tomorrow?"

"Perfect," said the doctor "I also have your ID number in case I ever need to find you" His smile darkened, just barely, as if to say that Cinder’s "volunteer" status would only last so long as she did return voluntarily She was valuable now He had no intention of letting her walk out forever

"I’ll see you out," said the prince, flashing his wrist by the scanner The door breezed open

Cinder held up her gloved hands, the wrench locked in her grip "No, no, that’s fine I can find my way"

"Are you sure? It’s no trouble"

"Yes Positive I’s To discuss But thank you Your Highness" She attelad that at least this tiht Well, it was nice to see you again A pleasant surprise"

She laughed ironically, surprised to find his expression serious His eyes warm upon her, and a little curious

"Y-you too" She backed out the door Srease spots on her face "I’ll comm you, then When your android is ready"

"Thank you Linh-rave;i"

"You can call me Cin--" The door shut between theed against the corridor wall, thuainst her forehead "I’ll comm you You can call me Cinder," she irl"

He was the fantasy of every girl in the country He was so far out of her real about hi about hiain, except maybe as a client--and her prince

And yet, the ainst her skin refused to fade

Chapter Fifteen

CINDER HAD TO DOWNLOAD A MAP OF THE PALACE’S RESEARCH wing to find her way to the exit Her nerves were on edge, with the prince, with Peony, with everything She felt like an i the slick white halls with her head bent, avoiding eye contact with the scientists and white-plated androids Even if she really was a volunteer now A valuable one

She passed a waiting room--complete with two netscreens and three cushioned chairs--and froze, her gaze catching on the

The view

The city

Fros crammed into too little space, the streets untended, power lines and clotheslines strung across every alley, intruding vines scurrying up every concrete wall

But from here, atop the cliff and three stories up, the city was beautiful The sun was high, and its light sang off of glass skyscrapers and gold-tinted roofs Cinder could see the constanthovers as they darted between the buildings From here, the city hummed with life--but without all the technochatter

Cinder sought out the cluster of slender blue glass and chros that stood sentry over thefor the Phoenix Tower apartments, but they were tucked behind too much city and too o back Back to the apartment Back to her prison