Nearing the end, readers...


The shot just barely grazed his shoulder, ricocheting from the wall. Blood welled, dampening the black fabric of his shirt. Kai's lips parted, inhaling sharply with slight relief. Opposite of him, Wolf stilled. His green eyes cut her to the core. He knew. Cinder gave him the briefest of nods. He knew the shot had been impossible for her to miss. It had been such close range and Cinder had always been the best shot of all of them. Scarlet had introduced guns to her training regime and they remained the only weapon she had ever mastered. Cinder had surpassed Scarlet in aim, but still lacked in her friend's fire.

She turned back with trembling hands. Don't suspect. Please not now. "Another chance?" she asked Reece hopefully. She ducked her head to hide her expression. So close now, she thought. Play carefully. He rubbed her arms soothingly.

"You're probably just stressed, darling." He hugged her close, and Cinder bit her lip, cursing inwardly. Her arms wrapped around his waist, as she pointed the muzzle at his lower back, turning his weapon against him. Cinder stood on tiptoe to press a kiss to his cheek, simultaneously checking to see if everything was in place. He would never guess in a million years how great of a charlatan she really was. How could he? Reece believed he had complete control over her. And perhaps he did, in a way. Reece had played her like a puppet. He had pulled her strings without her knowledge. But it all ends now. He knew too much, but there was still one thing he could not guess. A secret only Jacin, Winter and Thorne knew. Her wiring prevented her from all bioelectric attacks.

People never suspect the ones who hurt them the most might be the very ones closest to them. Cinder was guilty of falling into the same trap, once upon a time. They know exactly which nerves to pluck, which string to play. But she was done singing like a good little birdie. You don't poke at a firebird and expect not to get burned. Reece had not even stripped the others of their weapons, he was so confident in his victory. But the first lesson she had learnt as queen was to never under any circumstance, underestimate the ones you hold in contempt. Especially the ones you hold in contempt. She gave Wolf a look. Get ready. Cinder took a deep breath. She could see the individual strands of glamour that connected her friends to the traitor. They glimmered in the air, the threads stretched taut. Perfect. She closed her eyes and pressed herself into Reece, hiding her face in his chest.

Cinder pulled the trigger on an exhalation.

The shouts began. Reece's body jerked and she immediately let go. He clutched the wound, his gold eyes narrowed into slits. From pain or betrayal, she was not sure. "How is this possible?" he hissed. Cinder severed the ropes of gleaming ropes of bioelectricity in one broad stroke. They recoiled, snapping back to Reece with frightening speed. He stumbled back a step, the glamour vanishing into one focal point. The wound was in an awkward place on his back and Reece attempted to staunch the bleeding with a balled jacket, cursing. Cinder swore as she realized that the bullet had not done fatal damage. Stars! Was she that incompetent? She ignored the shouts and clamor from behind her and lunged for Reece's breast pocket. The Rio. She had to get the Rio. All her plans depended on it.

Reece danced back, surprising agile for one who had just been shot. He stared at her incredulously, then, threw his head back and laughed. Cinder stilled, a shiver working down her spine. Stars, he really was as crazy as Levana had said. "I should have known," he said between chuckles, "that placate, sweet little girl was a lie. All you Lunar queens are the same. You are no different than Levana or Channary."

The blood rushed into her head. "Truly?" Cinder asked, her tone a smidge sharper than she had intended. "You just tortured me with my own nightmares and-" she cut off and shook her head. "You are a monster, Goldie. An absolute monster." Reece flinched at the nickname.

"Your nightmares?" Reece sneered. "You have none, ghost queen. I just gave you a piece of mine. That was what I had to live with day after day. What you experienced? Nothing compared to what I went through for you." He looked behind her and smiled. The warmth Cinder had always seen in his eyes were gone, replaced by a brittle cold rage. The cold muzzle of a pistol pressed against her back. She cursed inwardly with fervour. So distracted, she'd been with Reece she had forgotten about the Rio.

"My queen," Sasha gasped by her ear. "Please." She could feel his strain. He was pitiful compared to the pure power of the Rio. The gun trembled against her side.

"One thought, one command," Reece said, his voice a caress, "and you'll be dead."

Cinder tilted her head. "You underestimate the power of my glamour, Goldie," her voice sliding seamlessly into a throaty hum. He was not the only dominant wolf in the pack. Reece carefully hid his confusion. "Who do you think developed the Rio? It was originally for Winter, but obviously, that did not work. Rio was a final model, Goldie. So was the Leo I created later for my cousin. So where do you think the prototype is?" Reece narrowed his eyes, his face a mask of calculation. Cinder smirked and tapped the back of her neck. "Right here, darling. Imbedded in my spine." She lifted her chin. "I will fight, Reece. I will fight till the end. You will not kill me."

"And how are you so sure of that?" he asked calmly.

Cinder fists clenched. She could not be sure, of course, but it was worth the risk. "You want the crown, Reece. You are not of the lineage. Even if I died, Medora would hardly give up her place in the succession, not with two daughters and a young son who might one day, sit on that dais. And if, there was the slightest chance Winter was allowed to ascend, she would be even harder to control than I. I made her a shell, Reece." She paused to make sure it sunk in. His eyes darkened to a molten gold. It had. "But there was a reason you did this." Cinder gestured at the dress, the ring, her friends. "You need me. Even if it is just until the union is finalized. Don't try to deny it."

Reece regarded her silently. Cinder swallowed and sweat trailed its way down her back. "No," he said at last. "I don't think so." His gold eyes shifted slightly, the command ready on his lips, but Cinder was quicker. Her glamour clamped on Sasha like a vise. Sasha eyes were unfocused as she turned on him. Cinder forced his hand to unfurl. The gun clattered to the floor. Her jaw clenched with effort as Reece's glamour pounded against her wards, nearly wrenching Sasha's will away from her. You are mine, Cinder snarled darkly.

She cast her mind out to the others still trapped. Wolf, Sage, Kai. Reece's control sputtered, but did not dissipate. As soon as the threads of glamour were snapped, they surged back with a vengeance seeking, probing for chinks in the armour Cinder desperately tried to reinforce. Wolf lurched forward as soon as he was free, growling and shaking his head to get rid of the fog. Cinder hunched over, fingers digging into her temple. Her breaths came faster and faster with the force needed to keep Reece's influence out. Cress and Aiden opened fire on Reece to secure time for the victims to get their bearings. Reece retreated into the hall, shots smashing into the wall beside his head. Cinder trembled and clutched her chest with a hand. No, no, no. INCREASING LEVELS OF NERVOUSNESS AND APPREHENSION. COOLING PROCEDURES IMMOBILIZED. SYSTEMS OVERHEATING. BREATHING EXCERCISES RECOMEMMENDED. ONE...TWO...THREE... Oh stars, she was going to faint. Blackness crept into the edges of her vision. Cinder hugged her knees to her chest and fisted her hands until her knuckles whitened. She tasted blood, coppery and salty, and realized that she had bitten her tongue. Cinder was already weakening, but Reece, supported by the Rio would last ages in combat.

Aiden and Wolf advanced, Wolf using his superior speed to tackle Reece. Reece directed his glamour to control the guard and Wolf released him before lurching toward Aiden. Not expecting the switch in sides, the Ember guard stood frozen for a moment before attempting to dodge out of Wolf's way. Too late. Wolf flipped him to the ground and crouched over him, teeth flashing white and sharp. Cinder's heart flipped over and Aiden melded into Scarlet. Wolf paused, a stricken look passing over his face.

A bullet tore into Reece's left sleeve. Cress. He snarled in pain. Hands grabbed Cinder's arms and tore her back from the chaos. Sage. "You better have a satisfying explanation when we get out of here," he said through gritted teeth, "Or at least a believable excuse." His rough handling cracked her bubble of concentration and Aiden twisted his neck to the side to avoid Wolf's fangs slashing the air where his neck rested only nanoseconds before.

Cinder's eyes squeezed shut. So close. "Not now, Sage," she wheezed. Cinder swayed, lightheaded. Her legs turned to rubber and buckled. Sage caught her before she collapsed to the floor. "Where's Ginger?" she whispered.

"Readying the spacefighter for detachment and powering up the engines," he said. "Conscript Scarlet taught her well."

Cinder almost smiled. Smart girl. Her breath hitched as Reece battled her for control of Wolf. The Wolves guard paused, cocking his head to the side. Hesitation and distraction, the only opening Aiden needed. He bucked Wolf off of him and flipped, landing in a crouch. Reece leaned against the wall, clutching his back and arm. He glared at her, forcing as much hostility and venom he could in one glance.

Sage tensed as Wolf lunged for Aiden again. "Go help, Lieutenant Finn, Sage," Cinder murmured. "You are no use here beside me." He hesitated, torn, his aquamarine eyes flickering between Cinder and his boyfriend. Cinder gave him another nudge and smiled shakily. "Go, Scion-Elect Sage. This is a command." Sage gave her a nod and bounded off.

Kai. She had almost forgotten. She blinked, and scoured the room for him. Cinder found him beside Cress, one arm tucked in close to his chest. He held the pistol in his other hand, shooting repeatedly. Kai's eyes were narrowed in rage. She was surprised Cress let him that close to the action. There was a soft click as the chamber of his gun emptied of bullets. He ducked behind the wall to reload, Cress, neatly stepping forward to cover for him. Bioelectricity roiled in the air, amplified by adrenaline and the Rio.

Her heart stuttered as Wolf bowled Aiden and Sage over creating a void where Cinder could finally see the commotion clearly. There was a flash of lambent white. She opened her mouth to yell a warning. Reece had a Tarsus.

As if he could read her thoughts, Reece looked up at her and aimed the air pistol at Wolf. The guard didn't notice preoccupied as he was with Sage and Aiden who danced around his advances. Reece was smiling. Cinder could feel the blood drain out of her face. Oh stars, Ginger and Scarlet. And Tobias. Cinder gave one last burst of glamour, cracking Reece's control on Wolf. His bioelectricity revealed his disorientation, his consciousness tugged by two opposing masters. Cinder's strength depleted, glamour fading. She desperately tried to preserve control. No! It can't end this way. Please! A pained whimper passed her lips and she closed her eyes.

Then a soft breeze ruffled her dress and a shot rang out. Cinder's eyes shot open. She was too late. Too weak. Too late. There was a high keening sort of cry from Aiden when Cinder looked across the room to where Wolf still stood. Aiden stared, stricken, at the body slumped in front of her. Cinder pressed a hand to her mouth, a lump caught in her throat. Trembling, she reached a hand to push Sage's face to her. His glassy blue eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. Dead, dead, dead. Time seemed to slow. A guttural roar ripped from Aiden's throat and he swung his gun. A shot echoed. Reece's burning gold eyes stared at her, smiling in that eerily smug way. The bullet ripped through his chest, but he kept smiling. Cinder hugged Sage to her chest, rocking back and forth. But he was gone. Sage was gone, and she only had herself to blame for it. Aiden joined her on the floor. She let him take Sage. Aiden was crying. She watched with a detached sense of curiosity. Cinder did nothing, felt nothing, felt as if she was truly a ghost. Floating, floating, drifting and... gone.


I know some of you might be wondering why Cinder couldn't just escape with Ginger during the first attempt. The reason is because though Cinder wasn't glamoured in the the least, she still had to act compliant to lower Reece's guards. Reece had to think that she was under his control. The Rio prevents Cinder from glamouring Reece and though he couldn't control her either, Reece is many times stronger than her. A 22 year old girl with some survival skills can't compete with a 25 year old guy with military training.

So yeah, I hope you liked this chapter!

-Silverleaf