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"Exactly"

"Jacin, Winter" Cinder was tapping her foot, her eyes ith growing iht--"

As if the sky itself were listening, the doainst the black backdrop

"People of Luna," said a feive your full attention now to this mandatory broadcast, live from Artein"

A wicked grin pulled at Winter’s lips She stepped away from Jacin, faced the people, and raised her ar the broadcast and pulling the crowd’s attention away froive your full attention now to the true heir to the Lunar throne, Princess Selene, live from your very own sector" Her eyes flashed as she swooped an arin"

BOOK Five

The mirror answered: "You,queen is far ht

Kai barreled down the hallway, glad no one was around to see hihts were too full to worry about appearances Cinder was alive Thorne was captured Cinder was going to invade Arte Cress alone He should have done more He shouldn’t have cared how late he was to this coronation, a cerein with He should have takenLevana wait He should have faked another kidnapping

He cursed inside, wishing he would have thought of that sooner

But, no--his goingCress and the others needed were alar he could do to quell Levana’s suspicions was to go forward as if nothing had changed

The best thing he could do was crown her empress of his country

It made him sick to think it, but he would stick to the plan He would play his part

He spun around a corner, nearly toppling a statue of so it while his heart launched into his throat When both he and the statue had calh the double doors that led into a series of private waiting chareat hall Torin was seated on a cushioned bench beside a woasped with such fervor Kai thought shea cloth to her brow "Where have you been?"

"I told you he was on his way," said Torin

The wo into a device attached to her wrist "The emperor has arrived Ceremony to commence in thirty seconds" She shoved the port onto her belt and focused on Kai, scanning hiust "Earthens," shehis hair away from his face "You never take any pride in your appearance"

He gulped back a quick retort involving gold hair and accepted a glass of water from a servant

Torin stood from the bench and slipped his hands into his pockets He looked alarly casual without a jacket, and Kai wondered if he, too, had already been criticized by this woht, Your Majesty?"

The words were said with calm indifference, but Kai could see tense curiosity beneath Torin’s expression

Although he didn’t knohether it was true, he nodded "Everything’s fine"