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His glance flickered toward her, something in his eyes softening. It was a look Cinder had seen a hundred times since he and Scarlet had joined the crew of the Rampion, and yet seeing it still made her feel like she was intruding on something intimate.
Cinder stood and offered Thorne a hand. Even he was smiling, though it was coupled with a grimace as he rubbed his hip. “You can help me pick out a tiara when we’re done saving the world.”
“But you’re a prisoner,” said Thorne. “I prefer damsel in distress,” she murmured.
Kai forced himself to stand, though the action was surprisingly difficult. The stress of the past weeks had caused him to lose a few pounds, and yet he felt heavier than ever, as if the weight of every person in the Commonwealth were pressing down on him.
“I serve my princess. No one else.”
They were falling faster as Earth’s gravity claimed them.
“Let’s begin again, with some proper introductions. Did I hear your name was Crescent?” “Just Cress, please.” He extended a hand toward her. When she gave him hers, he tugged her closer, bent his head, and pressed a kiss against her knuckles. Cress stiffened and swooned, her knees threatening to buckle beneath her. “Captain Carswell Thorne, at your service.”
“I am an explorer,” she whispered, “setting courageously off into the wild unknown.” It was not a daydream she’d ever had before, but she felt the familiar comfort of her imagination wrapping around her. She was an archaeologist, a scientist, a treasure hunter. She was a master of land and sea. “My life is an adventure,” she said, growing confident as she opened her eyes again. “I will not be shackled to this satellite anymore.”
She was a girl. A living girl, smart and sweet and awkward and unusual, and she was worth far more than they could ever realize.
But he had done it anyway.
She felt like a bird who’d had her wings clipped and been thrown into a cage—another filthy, rotting cage. She’d been in a cage all her life. Somehow, she’d never expected to find one just as awful on Earth.
Wolf had paced back and forth in the galley, cradling a can of tomatoes.
“She’s my alpha,”
Five minutes of being presentable had been plenty enough.
Now he was the Carswell Thorne who had given her strength in the desert. Who had come for her when she was kidnapped. Who had kissed her when hope was lost and death was imminent.
“No. I’m pretty sure it was Cinder. Why?”
Thorne shuffled his feet. “You know, if it was a bad kiss, you can just say so.” She stiffened. “That’s not at all what I … Wait. Did you think it was a bad kiss?”
“Believe me, Cress. The pleasure was all mine.”
Kai spun away, his hands clawed into his hair. Whatever product had been used to style it for the wedding was making it messier than usual, and stars, he looked good. Cinder
Cinder shut her eyes and tried to bury her mounting panic. Opening them again, she spread her hands, placating. Hesitated. She looked at the ceiling. Took in a breath. Met his gaze again. “It’s me, Kai. I’m Princess Selene.”
Cinder rocked back on her heels, pondering. Cyborg. Lunar. Princess. No more secrets. No more lies. Well, just one. She thought she might be a tiny bit in love with him.
“I like to maintain an air of mystery.” “I’ve noticed.”
Bending his head, Kai pressed his lips to her knuckles. The plating had no nerve endings, and yet the touch sent a tingle of electricity along her arm.
Then he slid his arms around her waist and kissed her. Cinder gasped, pressing her palms against his chest. Kai pulled her closer.
“You want to know another secret? The biggest secret?” She sat, splaying her legs like a broken doll in front of her. “I’m scared, Kai. I’m so scared.” She thought it might feel better, to say the words out loud, but instead they only made her feel pathetic and weak. She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I’m scared of her, and her army, and what she can do. And everyone expects me to be strong and brave, but I don’t know what I’m doing. I have no idea how to overthrow her. And even if I succeed, I have no idea how to be a queen. There are so many people relying on me, people who don’t even
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“I know exactly how you feel,” Kai said. She squeezed her eyes shut. “Not exactly.” “I think pretty close.”
She bit her lip. Here they were. “Now, let’s never talk about you being related to her again. Because I’m technically still engaged to her, and that’s really weird.”
Almost fragile. Almost safe. Almost like a princess.
“You said yourself that the people of Luna need a revolutionary.” She lifted her chin, holding his gaze. “So I’m going to Luna, and I’m going to start a revolution.”
