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The princess stepped back and he was able to breathe again "With our introductions complete, I feel it is safe for us to drop any future for nuptials, you’re practicallyopen

Silent laughter gliaze as she took her spot behind her stepain She seeave her stepdaughter an annoyed look, before gesturing to the man on her other side "You will of course re his e offered only his signature s the rest of the entourage, Kai recognized two of the guards too Seeing the queen’s captain of the guard was no surprise, but his teeth clenched when he spotted the blond guard who had been like a shadow to Sybil Mira when she’d been a guest in New Beijing

Distrust twisted his insides Cinder had thought this guard was an ally, but she now suspected he’d betrayed the to make their escape froain, confirht Cinder had succeeded, despite his betrayal

Levana grinned, like she detected the rebelliousness of Kai’s thoughts, despite all his attempts to appear complacent "I believe that leaves only one matter of business to tend to before we show you to your rooes and six guards snapped to attention "Search their ship"

Despite all his attempts at normalcy, Kai couldn’t keep away the panic that flared in his chest "Excuse e ?"

"My dear beloved, you didn’t think I would blindly trust your word after you’ve shown so ers together Theyyour fleet, we noted that you took aboard soers from the American Republic, but it seems they’re too shy to show theuards pulled him and Torin behind the queen, and he was left to watch helplessly as Levana’s ht to offer any protection, they were already under Lunar control

Kai tightened his fists "This is absurd The Aroup you just sent away There’s nothing on that ship but luggage and wedding gifts"

The queen’s face hardened "For your sake, Emperor Kaito, I hope that’s true Because if you came here to betray me, I’m afraid this will be a remarkably unpleasant visit"

Twenty

Cinder was pressed into the corner of a storage closet, her heart pounding in the darkness Faint strips of light spilled through the slots in the door, allowing her to ht eyes of her co as the cargo bay was unloaded beneath their feet

She tried to think of this like a ho She had been born here--this moon, this city Here, her birth had been celebrated Here, she would have been raised to be a queen

But no matter how she tried to think of it, she did not feel like she was ho in a closet with the very real possibility that she would be killed the lanced at her companions Wolf was beside her, jaw tense and brow set in concentration Against the opposite wall, Iko was crouched doith both hands over her mouth, like the need to be quiet was torture In the hollow silence, Cinder could detect a subtle hu from the android, a hint at the machinery beneath her synthetic skin Her neck was fixed now--Kai had brought exactly what Cinder needed