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raising her voice. “ And then he’ll recognize me at the ball, and I’ll dance with him and—Pearl will be livid !” She laughed, as if angering her older sister were life’s greatest accomplishment.
    “If the android’s even done before the ball.” Cinder selected a wrench from the tool belt slung around her hips. She didn’t want to inform Peony that Prince Kai probably wouldn’t be the one signing for deliveries at the palace.
    Peony whisked her hand through the air. “Well, or whenever.”
    “I want to go to the ball,” said Iko, gazing up at the horizon. “It’s prejudice not to let androids attend.”
    “Petition the government then. I’m sure Peony will be happy to take your cause direct to the prince himself.” Cinder clamped onto Iko’s spherical head and forced her to aim the light back into the hood. “Now hold still. I’ve just about got this end detached.”
    Cinder stuck the wrench to Iko, then pried the magbelt from its bracket, letting it clatter to the ground below. “One side down, one to go.” She led the way around the hover, clearing a path through the garbage so Iko’s treads wouldn’t get stuck.
    Peony followed and climbed on top of the hover’s trunk, folding her legs beneath her. “You know, some people are saying he’s going to be looking for a bride at the ball.”
    “A bride!” said Iko. “How romantic.”
    Cinder lowered herself onto her side behind the hover’s back bumper and took a small flashlight from her tool belt. “Hand me that wrench again?”
    “Didn’t you hear me? A bride, Cinder. As in, a princess.”
    “As in, not going to happen. He’s only, what? Nineteen?” Tucking the flashlight between her teeth, Cinder took the wrench from Iko. The bolts in the back had less rust on them, better protected from the overhanging trunk, and took only a few quick turns to loosen.
    “Eighteen and a half,” said Peony. “And it’s true. All the gossip links are saying so.”
    Cinder grunted.
    “I would marry Prince Kai in a heartbeat.”
    “Me too,” said Iko.
    Cinder spit out the flashlight and shuffled to the fourth corner. “You and every other girl in the Commonwealth.”
    “Like you wouldn’t,” said Peony.
    Cinder didn’t answer as she loosened the final bolt gripping the magbelt. It released and fell to the ground with a clang. “There we go.” She slid out from beneath the car and tucked the wrench and flashlight into her calf compartment before standing. “See any other hovers worth scavenging while we’re here?” Pulling the magbelt out from beneath the hover, she folded it at its hinges, forming a less cumbersome metal rod.
    “I did see something over there.” Iko swished the light around the stacks. “Not sure what model.”
    “Great. Lead the way.” Cinder nudged the android with the belt. Iko took off, muttering about being stuck in junkyards while Adri was all clean and cozy at home.
    “Besides,” said Peony, hopping off the trunk, “the rumor that he’s looking for a bride at the ball is a lot better than what the other rumors are saying.”
    “Let me guess. Prince Kai is actually a martian? Or no, no—he had an illegitimate child with an escort, didn’t he?”
    “Escort-droids can have children ?”
    “No.”
    Peony huffed, blowing a curl off her brow. “Well, this is even worse. They say there’s been talk of him marrying…” She dropped her voice to a harsh whisper. “Queen Levana.”
    “Queen—” Cinder froze and clamped a gloved hand over her mouth, glancing around as if someone could be lurking in the piles of garbage, listening. She pulled her hand away but kept her voice down. “Honestly, Peony. Those tabloids are going to rot your brain.”
    “I don’t want to believe it either, but they’re all saying it. That’s why the queen’s witchy ambassador has been staying at the palace, so she can secure an alliance. It’s all very political.”
    “I don’t think so. Prince Kai would never marry