Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles, #2)

by Marissa Meyer

“I’m sorry to hear that, Scarlet,” Wolf said, turning back to her. His voice had lost the edge of regret and was all business and cruelty again. “Because I didn’t come to apologize. I came for something else.” She straightened. “I don’t care what you—” He was at her in a single stride, his hands buried in her hair, pressing her against the wall. His mouth stifled her surprised cry, and then an angry scream. She tried to shove him off her but she’d have had no more luck against the iron bars on the door.

Thorne roared and heaved a chair upward, breaking it over the man’s back. The man spun around and Cinder used the distraction to roll off the table. She collapsed to the floor, looking up just as the man buried his teeth in Thorne’s arm. A scream. “Thorne!”

“Listen to me, Scarlet.” Even her grandmother’s faint voice seemed to drop. “Princess Selene is alive.” Scarlet squeezed her eyes shut. “Stop talking, please. Save your strength.” “She went to live in the Eastern Commonwealth with a family by the name of Linh. A man named Linh Garan.”

She let him pull her back, used the momentum to swing around and aim her knee for his groin. He let out a cry of pain and staggered.

Love that shes beating the shit out of him

“She is mine,” Wolf repeated, his voice tinted with a low growl.

“Wolf.” Her tongue was parched. She tried to wet her dry lips and tasted blood. “What have they done to you?” “You.” The word was spat out at her, full of hatred. “What have you done to me?”

“You said you never wanted to scare me. Well, you’re scaring me.” A growl vibrated against her. Scarlet shivered, but forced her body not to shrink away. Instead, she gulped and brought her hands up to his face. Stroking her thumbs over his cheeks, she placed a kiss against Wolf’s temple.

“Linh Cinder,” she whispered. “Don’t worry,” said the man. “We’re the good guys.” “Scarlet,” said Cinder, grasping Wolf by the shoulder to leverage some of the weight away from her. “I know how it looked on the netscreens, but I swear we’re not here to hurt you. I just need to know where your grandmother is. Is she in danger?” Scarlet gulped. This was Princess Selene. This was the girl they’d been searching for, the girl her grandmother had been questioned over.

“No! I’m not leaving him!” She scrambled out of his hold and crawled toward Wolf’s unconscious body, tying her arms around his head. The strangers gawked at her like she was mad. “He’s not like the rest.”

“Right,” said Thorne. “In that case.” He snatched the officer’s stolen gun from his belt and spun, aiming for the thaumaturge. Then froze. “Oh no.” From the corner of her eye, Cinder saw Thorne’s arm curl back, change direction, until the barrel was aimed at her temple instead. “Cinder…” His voice nearly broke from panic.

His eyes darted past Cinder at the same moment she heard a gunshot. The thaumaturge stumbled back, clutching his chest. Slipping onto her hip, Cinder glanced back to see Scarlet marching down the ramp, carrying a shotgun. “Mademoiselle Benoit retrieved,” she said, planting her heel on the back of the dazed, blank-faced soldier and shoving him off the ramp. “And don’t worry, we’ll take Alpha Kesley off your hands.”

This was because of him. Levana had done this because of him. Him, and Cinder. “This is war,” said Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom. “She’s declared war on us.”

After an agonizing silence, Levana tittered. “My dear Emperor. How could I resist such a charming proposal?”

“So glad to be of service,” said the disembodied voice. “I’m Iko. Is anyone hurt?” “Everyone’s hurt,” said Cinder, groaning.

A low moan drew her attention to the stranger. He rolled onto his back, cringing. “Whererewe?” he muttered. “Oh, you’re awake already,” said Cinder, returning with salve and gauze. “I was hoping you’d stay knocked out awhile longer. The peace and quiet was a pleasant change.”

“You’re aboard a cargo ship orbiting Earth,” said Cinder. “Sorry about the whole tranquilizer thing. I thought you were going to eat her.” “I thought I was too.” His expression darkened as he took in Cinder’s metal hand. “I think my queen is looking for you.” Thorne quirked an eyebrow. “Was that supposed to make me feel better about having him on board?”

“I have accepted an alliance of marriage with Queen Levana of Luna.” A shocked scream ripped from Cinder and she launched herself to her feet. “No. No!” “In return,” Kai continued, “Queen Levana has agreed to withhold further attacks. The wedding has been scheduled for the next full moon, the twenty-fifth day of September, to be followed immediately by Queen Levana’s coronation as empress of the Eastern Commonwealth. The removal of all Lunar soldiers from Earthen soil will begin the following day.” “No!” Cinder screeched. Grabbing the boot off her foot, she heaved it at the screen. “Idiot! You idiot!”

“I don’t know. I didn’t know.” Scarlet was suddenly dizzy from the anger, the rush of blood, the exhaustion. The only response she could form was a baffled “Oh.” Thorne coughed. “I’m still confused.” With a sigh, Cinder wilted onto a crate, staring down at her mismatched hands. She scrunched her whole face up, like preparing for a blow, and muttered, “I’m Princess Selene.” Thorne snorted and they all turned to him. He blinked. “What, really?” “Really.” The joking smile froze on his lips. A heavy silence was followed by a vibration beneath their feet and Iko’s voice. “I don’t compute.” “That makes two of us,” said Thorne. “Since when?”

Thorne let out a low whistle. “I know, I know. She seems a little”—crossing his eyes, he swirled both fingers around his ears—“but it’s really part of her charm, once you get to know her.”

My fav

“I appreciated everything you gave me.” He picked up the can of olives and sniffed at them, wary of being tricked again. “Although I didn’t deserve any of it.”

He struggled for words, releasing a sharp breath. “I think I realized that I would rather die because I betrayed them, than live because I betrayed you.”

“And isn’t the alpha male the one who’s responsible for protecting everyone? Not only the pack, but his mate too?” Dropping the fork, she threw her hands into the air. “I’m not saying I think you and I are—after just—I know we just met and that’s … but it’s not out of the question, is it? That your instincts to protect me could be as strong as your instincts to kill?” She held her breath and dared to look up. Wolf was gaping at her openly and for a second he seemed almost mortified—but then he grinned, the look warm and bewildered. Scarlet caught a glimpse of his sharp canines, her stomach flipping at the sight of them. “You could be right,” he said. “That makes some sense. On Luna, we’re kept so far removed from the rest of the citizenry that there’s never any chance of falling in…”

“But you’re the only one, Scarlet. You’ll always be the only one.” Her pulse fluttered. “Wolf—” “I know. We met less than a week ago and in that time I’ve done nothing but lie and cheat and betray you. I know. But if you give me a chance … all I want is to protect you. To be near you. For as long as I’m able.” Biting her lip, she reached forward, pulling his fingers away from the can. She found that the label had been shredded beneath his mindless fidgeting. “Wolf, are you asking me to be … your alpha female?”

“Maybe next time we’re on Earth you can pick up some sensors? I feel like I’m eavesdropping having the audio on all the time. It’s becoming awkward.” “Awkward?” The running lights brightened, reminding Cinder of a blush. She wondered if it was intentional. “Scarlet and Wolf are saying gushy things in the galley,” Iko said. “Normally I like gushy things, but it’s different when it’s real people. I prefer the net dramas.”