Extraits

Les paupières plissées, Torin se rapprocha d'un pas.

- Il n'est pas vraiment question d'alliance, n'est-ce pas ?

-Si, je compte sincèrement nouer une alliance avec la Lune, lui assura Kai en contemplant le pied cybernétique. J'ai juste l'intention de mettre une autre reine sur le trône auparavant.

"I'll be safe and happy when I'm no longer afraid of my own mind."

Her body became liquid, and she thought, if they could bottle him, he would make the best pain medication.

Sandwiching Winter's face in both hands, Jacin forced her gare up to his. "Hey," he said, somehow stern and gentle at the same time. "You're my princess, right? You were always going to be my princess, no matter what you were born, no matter who your dad married."

Her eyes misted. Reaching up, she folded her fingers over Jacin's forearms. "And you are always my guard."

"How's the hand?"

"Almost fully fonctionnal."

"Of course it's almost fully fonctional," said Iko. "Cress and I are genuises." She flashed Cress a thumbs-up.

"I helped," said Thorne.

"He held the lamp," Iko clarified.

"Jacin did nothing," said Thorne, pointing.

"Jacin checked your pulse and breathing and made sure you weren't dead," said Iko.

Thorne snorted. "I could have done that."

"Are you still an android?" Cinder said around a bite of toast. "Sometimes I forget."

"Me too." Iko ducked her head. "When we saw the fed of you jumping off that ledge, I was so scared I thought my wiring was going to catch fire. And I thought, 'I will do anything to make sure she's alright'." She kicked at a pile of stray screws on the carpet. "I guess some programming never goes way, no matter how evolved a personality chip gets."

Licking some jam from her fingertips, Cinder grinned. "That's not programming, you wing nut. That's friendship."

Iko's eyes brightened. "Maybe you're right."

"I am guilty of the crimes you listed", she said. "Kidnapping and conspiracy and all the rest of it. But these are nothing compared to the crime you committed thirteen years ago. If there is anyone in this room who is guilty of royal treason, it is the woman sitting on that throne." She fixed her eyes on Levana. "My throne."

Queen Levana was horrically beautiful with coral-red lips and skin as pristine as white marble. It was all her glamour, of course. Everyone knew that, but it didn't make any difference. Looking at her could steal the breath of any mortal man.

However - and Jacin kept this thought very, very quiet in his head - the princess could steal both their breath and their heart.

"I fear tomorrow will be even more difficult for you, Sir Clay. Do try to think of me when you can."

"Try, Princess?" He smirked up at her. "I can't seem to think of much else."

- Essayez de penser à moi quand vous le pourrez.

- Essayer, princesse ? releva Jacin avec un petit sourire. Je ne pense pratiquement à rien d'autre.