WINTER SPOILER - KINDA IDRKCinder looked away. Though so much had changed between them since that night, it still felt like an ice pick in her heart when she remembered the way he'd looked at her, and his horrified words: You're even more painful to look at than she is.

...Kamin looked taken aback. In fact, the whole table seemed more than a little surprised. Leaning forward, Cinder spoke very clearly."I have a computer in my brain," she said. "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.

I don’t see that her being cyborg is relevant.

Did you know that she was cyborg?” asked a woman in an unhidden tone of disgust.Kai stared at her, appearing confused, then let his gaze dance over the crowd. He shuffled his feetcloser to the podium, a wrinkle forming on the bridge of his nose.Cinder bit the inside of her cheek and braced herself for adamant disgust. Who would ever invite acyborg to the ball?But instead, Kai said simply, “I don’t see that her being cyborg is relevant. Next question?”Cinder’s metal fingers jolted.

Really?" she drawled. "You'd rather take your chances with her?""At least I know when she's manipulating me.""News flash: I have never manipulated you. And I hope I never have to. But you aren't the only one with responsibilities and an entire country of people who are relying on you. So I'm sorry, your majesty, but you are coming with me, and you're just going to have to figure out whether or not you can trust me when we're not so pressed for time."Then she raised her hand and shot him.

She raised her eyebrows in a look that she hoped conveyed how much she was all right with him leaving her. After all, he was a prince. The most powerful men and women on Earth had summoned him. She understood.And yet he was still here, with her."I'm fine," she said. "Go away.

It meant he was sure to see Linh Cinder again.Maybe he could learn more about her then.Maybe he’d make her smile. A real smile.Maybe …Maybe he needed another hobby.

It occurred to me that if I could find the cyborg that fits this foot, it must be a sign we were meant to be together.

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."Cinder couldn't help laughing, even exhaustedly, even just to cover up the screaming inside, as he bound her up in his arms again. Her headache began to fade, replaced with the strength of his heartbeat and the way she felt almost delicate when she was pressed up against him like this. Almost fragile.Almost safe. Almost like a princess.