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She was not a girl of ice and glass at all, but a girl of sunshine and stardust,
Beautiful. It was a word Winter had heard tossed around all her life. A beautiful child, a beautiful girl, a beautiful young lady, so beautiful, too beautiful … and the stares that attended the word never ceased to make her want to don a veil like her stepmother’s and hide from the whispers.
“You’re the only person in the galaxy who would ever call me lovable.” “I’m the only person in the galaxy crazy enough to believe it. Now tell me what you’ve done that is worth hating you for.”
“For a planet that’s seen a century of world peace, you manufacture a lot of guns.”
Just friends, she reminded herself. They were only friends, and would only be friends from here on out. It was a friendship that was to be cherished, as she cherished all the friendships she’d made aboard this ship. She wouldn’t ruin it by wishing things could be more. She would be grateful for what affection she did have.
It occurred to him that he may have led them into a topic he had no intentions of exploring further. Fantasies, sure. Wishes, all the time. But reality? No—this was taboo. This would end in nothing good.
We think that if we choose to do only good, then we are only good. We can make people happy. We can offer tranquility or contentment or love, and that must be good. We do not see the falsehood becoming its own brand of cruelty.”
“We may be animals, but we will never again live in your cage.”
“You’re a monster,” Adri whispered. Cinder smirked, without humor. “Fine. I’m a monster.”
“Did you see any rice in there? Maybe we could fill Cinder’s head with it.” Everyone stared at him. “You know, to … absorb the moisture, or something. Isn’t that a thing?” “We’re not pouring rice in my head.”
“What’s wrong? Are you hallucinating right now?” Winter forced a smile. “Not unless you are a figment of my imagination, but how could I ever be sure one way or the other? So I will go on believing you are real.”
Of course, we don’t know if the people believe you’re really dead, but I’m not sure it matters at this point. If you’re alive, then you’re one hell of a revolutionary. If you’re dead, then you’re one hell of a martyr.”
When you were going on and on about how I’m so sweet and how you didn’t want to hurt me and … You were trying to warn me, but I was too much of a … a naïve, hopeless romantic to even listen to you.”
She was an idiot. He had never once given her any indication that a real relationship could be in their future. He’d given her every chance to get used to this fact. But despite all his attempts to dissuade her from falling in love with him, her heart was still shattered.
“It appears that some of my subordinates have chosen this night to incite what they see as a rebellion. But do not be alarmed—I am sure it’s little more than a silly demonstration.”
How familiar this sounds...
The memory opened up a wound that was still too fresh, one she didn’t have time to let heal.
She knew she was supposed to feel regal and powerful, but instead she felt like a feeble girl playing dress-up.
“So while I’m not going to tell you that I am the smartest or, by any means, the most experienced person in this room, I would suggest that no one use my youth to believe that I am also ignorant.”
She had always wanted her country to be a place where the people could speak their mind and be treated fairly, where people were given choices over the life they wanted to live.
“There was also a time when I could come visit you without feeling like I was supposed to toss bread crumbs to earn your favor.” “Bread crumbs? Do I look like a goose?” He tilted his head to the side. “You don’t look like an arctic wolf, either, but that’s what the plaque tells me I’m looking at.” Winter leaned back on her hands. “I will not play fetch,” she said, “but I might howl if you ask nicely.”
