Cress

Chapter 52

Within seconds of the dart hitting Kai's chest, his eyelids fluttered 

 closed and he collapsed into Cinder. 

 The adviser helped and stood, but Iko intercepted him.

pressing the man back as Cinder eased Kai's unconscious body 

 onto the floor.

For a moment, she was paralyzed, her mind reeling from the

 things she'd just said—at what she'd just done.

"Cinder? Are you all right?" said Iko.

"Fine," she muttered, trembling as she propped Kai against the

 table and pulled out the dart. 

"He's going to hate me when he wakes up, but I'm fine." 

 She couldn't help glancing up again, at the big picture window

 hung with heavy silk drapes.

 At her own reflection looking back at her. 

 At the girl with one metal hand and messy hair, wearing

 the uniform of a servant.

She let out a slow, head-clearing breath, and pulled 

Kai's hand toward her.

"What are you going to do to him?"

Cinder paused long enough to look over at the adviser.

 His face was red with fury.

"We're taking him somewhere safe," she said. 

"Somewhere Levana can't get to him."

"And you think there won't be repercussions for that?

 Not only for you, but for everyone on this planet. 

Don't you realize that we are in the middle of a war?"

"We're not in the middle of a war, we're at the very beginning." 

 She fixed her gaze on him. "And I'm going to put an end to it."

"She can put an end to it," said Iko.

 "We have a plan. 

 And His Majesty will be safe with us."

Strangely embarrassed by Iko's confidence, Cinder refocused

on Kai's wrist.

She'd cut out so many ID chips in the past weeks she was

 almost used to it, though the first incision still her of Peony's

 limp hand and blue fingertips. 

Everytime.

A thick drop of blood welled up on his skin and Cinder instinctively

 tilted his arm so that it would roll down his fingers without soiling

 his white shirt.

"He believes that you've found the lost Princess Selene."

She paused and, after a beat, glanced up at Iko, then at the adviser. 

 "He ... what?"