Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles, #1)

by Marissa Meyer

“Listen,” she said. “I’m sorry. I really am. But I can’t go to the ball with you. You just have to trust me on that.” He gazed down at the gloved hand splayed across his chest. Cinder pulled away, crossing her arms over her chest. “Why? Why don’t you want to go with me?” She huffed. “It’s not that I don’t want to go with you, it’s that I’m not going at all.” “So you do want to go with me.” Cinder locked her shoulders. “It doesn’t matter. Because I can’t.” “But I need you.” “Need me?” “Yes. Don’t you see? If I’m spending all my time with you, then Queen Levana can’t rope me in to any conversations or…” He shuddered. “Dancing.” Cinder reeled back, her gaze losing focus. Queen Levana. Of course this was about Queen Levana. What had Peony told her, ages ago? Rumors of a marriage alliance? “Not that I have anything against dancing. I can dance. If you want to dance.” She squinted at him. “What?” “Or not, if you don’t want to. Or if you don’t know how. Which is nothing to be ashamed of.” She started to rub her forehead, a headache developing, but stopped when she realized her gloves were filthy. “I really, really can’t go,” she said.