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"Exactly Cinder thinks you ood ambassador Her first ambassador"

She cocked her head to the side "What would I have to do?"

"I’m not sure Go to Earth Have dinner with fancy people Show the wolfish

"I told her I would ask," Jacin added, "but you’re not obligated to say yes You need to take care of yourself first"

"Would you be with me?"

"Of course" He crossed one ankle over the other "But you could say no, and I’ll be with you then too I’ everyone else" He leaned back onto his elbows "Who knows Maybe soain But until then, I’uard, to do with as you will"

"So it will be like playing the Princess and the Guard," she said--a game they’d played when they were kids She’d act out a much bossier version of herself, while Jacin would model himself after their fathers, all stoic and serious and scraive him, they would pretend there werefor the princess and he would protect her fros"

She pressed her cheek against his shoulder "If Cinder wishes it, I would be honored to char you’d say that" Lying all the way back, he rubbed a hand over his forehead

Ryu howled, crying his soul up to theHe was not usually so restless Maybe it was Jacin’s presence Maybe Ryu was trying to speak to her

Maybe this was her own insanity, signifying nothing

Winter started to speak, but hesitated She looked down at Jacin, but he had his hand covering his eyes She wondered if he’d been sleeping much lately

"Dr Nandez says she may have a prototype of Cinder’s device ready within the next week"

Jacin’s hand lifted "Already?"

"She doesn’t know yet if it ork She needs a test subject first"

"Princess--"

"I’ve already volunteered You can try to talk nore you"

Jaw tensing, Jacin sat up again "The test subject? We don’t knohat the side effects will be We don’t know if it will even work Let someone else try it first"

"I want to do it I am one of the most severe cases of Lunar sickness to date" She lost her fingers in the wolf’s fur "But it’s occurred to ain" She smiled sadly "And what if … what if people don’t like me anymore?"

Jacin shook his head "They don’t like you because you’re crazy They like you because…"

She waited

"Because you were good to them when no one else was Because you care This device won’t change who you are"