Cinder crept through the groom's quarters until she reached what was quite clearly his private chamber. She had actually made it through. She was a little astonished at how much her glamour had improved over the past month, although she still slipped up now and then. But between Dr. Erland and Wolf, she was getting all the instruction she needed. It wore her down a lot. But it had paid off; she had been able to hide them completely as Iko maneuvered the Rampion through security checkpoints, past swarms of people both protesting and celebrating, and above a myriad of government officials to deposit Cinder in one of the rooftop gardens on the southern end of New Beijing's palace. Iko had then lifted off and Cinder stayed outside, thinking the ship invisible, until it disappeared up into the upper reaches of Earth's atmosphere.

Despite the ease of the journey, Cinder was glad that only no one had insisted on coming with her to see Kai. It was tricky to maneuver, what with the halls full of hurrying people, and it would have been much more difficult to keep the others as well as herself under a solid glamour. Besides, it was easier for one carefully-nondescript person to go unnoticed than it was for several in all the hubbub of the first high-profile interplanetary wedding.

And then, of course, Cinder was glad for the privacy. She needed to see Kai, and before it was too late. It might not change anything as neither of them had a choice, but she owed him the truth. And—she wanted to see him. Missed him. Wished that she were just a mechanic and he were just the emperor and that that was only that barrier that stood between them again. The crew had not been happy about this idea. They had formed and were now part of a formal effort to unseat Levana, called the Lunar Resistance, and Cinder was at the head. It would be helpful to have a live figurehead for their purposes. And her friends did not like her throwing herself into the belly of the beast. But Kai could end up helping them down the road, and Cinder was set. They agreed in the end.

Cinder peered at the door in front of her. It had been simple to glamour the last guard into letter her into the emperor's wing and this door didn't seem to have any security. She had no idea what Kai's reaction would be upon finding her in his quarters, 2 hours before his wedding. Would he be angry? Well that was a stupid question. Yes. Could he forgive her? Would he believe her? Cinder took a deep breath, and gently pushed at the door. It swung open.

The room was empty.

Cinder let out her breath and stepped inside. Her cheeks might have tinged pink if they could, at being in Kai's bedroom. A yellow and gold overcoat lay on a wide bed. The coat Kai would be getting married in. To Queen Levana. Cinder looked away. This was good; the coat meant he would be coming back here. She looked around while she waited.

The room was luxuriant, yet simple. White carpeting ran around the room, making Cinder glad that she had cleaned up and wouldn't track dirt everywhere. The walls and bed were white, with accents of red and gold here and there. There were several large windows, light streaming through the thin shades. In the many photographs, Cinder recognized the previous emperor, Kai's father, and a woman who must have been Kai's mother. She carried herself regally, but her face was warm and open. Like Kai's. Several ancient scrolls hung from the walls along with a few portraits. Her eyes snagged then on one piece that truly did not belong in this picture: a rusty, greasy metal foot that sat on the corner of Kai's nightstand. She walked over to it in wonder. He had kept this? She reached a hand toward it.

"Cinder?"

She whirled.

Kai was frozen in the doorway, eyes wide, white undershirt unbuttoned at the wrists and the collar.

"Kai," was all she could think to say, as her rehearsed speeches fled and a longing to go to him filled her. She stood awkwardly as the silence stretched.

Kai moved. He was across the room in three strides, and then his hand was in her hair, his other arm wrapping around her to crush her against him. He pulled her mouth to his. His lips were achingly soft, but hungry, desperate. Cinder kissed him back as he strained against her, deepening the connection, moving his lips against hers. He murmured her name when there was space for air. She pressed one hand to his cheek.

Outside the room, Torin watched, shocked. He had been on his way to help Emperor Kaito prepare for the wedding, and had stepped into the doorway only to find the young ruler, set to marry in 2 hours, passionately kissing a girl in his bedchamber. The girl's heels were raised, her face was a mixture of yearning, relief and despair, and her hands—her hands were cybernetic. No, one hand was.

Linh Cinder.

The lunar cyborg that had caused all this trouble to begin with. He recognized her now, though she was much cleaner than she had been at the coronation ball. Torin's temper flashed and he was about to step into the room with a yell when he paused. He had to protect his country from the wrath that Levana would wreak on them for this girl's sake, but first he took in the face of the emperor. He was a boy of no more than 18, who had lost both parents, been thrust into the position of leader, and would marry a woman who might very well kill him, all in one year. Torin stepped back behind the door. He couldn't leave. He had to watch this girl, to protect this emperor who had a weakness for her. But he would let Kaito have this one last taste of normalcy, of youth-hood, before he was completely trapped in the world of politics.

Kai pulled back, cupping Cinder's face between his hands. His lips were red from their kissing and his eyes were fierce as they looked into hers. He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers once more, gently.

"Cinder." He whispered it.

Cinder smiled up at him timidly, feeling lightheaded. Her sensors were flashing warnings at her to calm down. She was confused. That was not the reaction she had been expecting. He wasn't yelling. He wasn't calling for his guards, or even questioning her.

"You're not mad."

"Mad? At you, my angel?" Kai took her hands. Cinder narrowed her eyes slightly, puzzled.

Kai brought her hand up lovingly. Cinder watched him as he cradled the limb. He kissed the delicate skin on the knuckles of her left hand—her cyborg hand, now covered in a beautiful glamour. The orange light flicked on in her vision.

Cinder swore. The glamour slipped away. Kai blinked, his pupils dilating and then refocusing before he stumbled back from her.

"You—"

"Kai."

"You used me."

"No, Kai, please."

"Again! And I fell for it, again."

"Kai, it was a mistake. Listen—"

"Your majesty." Torin stepped around the door, kicking himself for allowing that charade to go on. "I'll take her to the guards." Cinder glanced between him and Kai. The situation was spiraling.

"You're exactly the same as Levana. Manipulative and selfish," Kai said as though he could not quite believe it. Torin pulled Cinder away from Kai, crossing her arms behind her back and holding them.

"Kai," Cinder pleaded, her voice rising in desperation. "Please. Emperor Kaito, I came here to tell you something! I risked more than you could guess to come here today. All I ask is a chance—" She ripped one arm free from Torin angrily, "—a chance to explain! Stars, have sense! This is important! Please, Kai!" Torin continued dragging her towards the doors and the nearest guard, but Kai paused.

"Torin." His voice was tense, the threat in it for Cinder alone, and she choked back the burn that should have been accompanied by tears. Torin paused, regaining control of the loose arm and forcing Cinder to her knees.

"You will address Emperor Kaito as 'Your Majesty'."

"Torin," Kai said, his voice a little softer, "Give her a chance to explain." Cinder looked up at him from the floor, ashamed and brought low. Stupid, stupid! How could she have lost control of her glamour so easily? She had been longing to go to him, and suddenly he had come to her. How could she not have sensed that she was controlling him?

"Ka—Your Majesty," Cinder began, "Let me apologize first. I am still getting used to my lunar gift. I didn't glamour you on purpose. I am so sorry."

"How can I believe that you have not been glamouring me for the whole time I have known you? How many times have you used that on me? Made a fool of me?" Kai's voice was low and his cheeks burned. "And now you claim that you weren't trying to manipulate me? Then why didn't you stop me before?"

"I—I thought," Cinder looked down, humiliated, "I had thought that might be your real reaction, Your Majesty."

Kai's eyebrows lifted. His face showed confusion, desperation, a hint of wanting to believe her.

"How am I supposed to trust you?" He asked her. His eyes begged her to give him a way.

Cinder looked at him miserably.

"This may be a start." She looked at Torin and gently pulled on one of her arms, but he held fast. Cinder sighed and kicked off her boot.

"Look in the compartment in the back of my calf." Kai blanched a little but bent down and rolled up her pant leg, his ears reddening. He opened the compartment and pulled out the device that had been installed at the top of Cinder's spine for so many years.

"That device blocks bioelectric manipulation. When installed at the top of your spine, it will protect a human from manipulation by lunars. In a lunar, it will both protect them from others' manipulation and prevent them from using their own gift. That particular one was in me until about a month ago, when it started malfunctioning. Giving you this is one of the reasons I came here today. I have a feeling you might need of it soon."

Kai simply looked at her. Emotions flitted across his face, too fast for her to catch, before he settled on bewildered.

"Who are you?" He asked. Cinder gulped and straightened as best she could from where Torin still pinned her.

"I am Princess Selene."