"He what?"

"That's what it says," Iko answered, tossing the envelope at Cinder, and the princess barely caught it before it fell.

Cinder's fingers, fumbling, unwrapped the napkin inside. She gazed at the words blankly, her eyes struggling to focus.

Hey, love,

Think it's time for a girls' night? My cabin, tonight. We need to talk about that hot steamy emperor of yours.

xo,

Thorne

She had to suppress the sudden laugh that rose to her throat. Pressing her lips together, Cinder tucked the napkin back into its envelope. "Is he serious?"

"Are you?" Iko's eyes seemed to brighten, if that was possible. "A girls' night, with Thorne? Who would turn down that?"

Sighing, Cinder slipped the envelope into her pocket and surveyed the galley. "I don't have time for this."

Iko rolled her eyes, crossing her arms impatiently. "Right. Because you have so much else to do while we're floating in space."

Cinder smiled at the android's jab at human humor. "When did you get so good at sarcasm?"

"Doesn't matter. You, Linh Cinder, are going to go to this girls' night, and talk about Prince Kai." Iko swooned, clasping her hands in front of her dreamily.

"Emperor Kai," Cinder corrected. "And who says I'm going?"

Iko seemed to rise in stature. "Me, for one." She ticked off her fingers. "You, because you need advice on your prince–"

"Emperor!"

"Emperor. Prince. Whatever. He's swoony either way." Iko went back to her fingers. "Emperor Kai, because next time you see him stars forbid you be awkward again–"

"Was that sarcasm? Because I'm pretty sure–"

"Stop interrupting me!" Iko's eyes flashed once, then went back to their happy glint. "Thorne, because being the connoisseur he is, he can't bear seeing you being so...Well."

Cinder couldn't take any more. "Okay. I'll go. Satisfied?"

Sitting back in her seat again, Iko smirked, self congratulating."Yeah."

Rolling her eyes, Cinder threw the note back at Iko. The android caught it deftly, and folded it into a metal compartment in her shin. No doubt it would be a memory she would treasure for years after.

Sighing, Cinder retreated into her own cabin to get ready.

"Are you serious?"

"I think it's refreshing."

"Thorne, you turned your cabin into a spa. A spa. For me."

He sniffed. "You could at least show some gratitude. It's not every day Carswell Thorne's willing to bend over backwards to help."

"Oh, come on." Cinder gazed at the tubs full of steaming hot water, different bottles of gel beside them, and numerous bottle of nail polish sitting in wait. The windows were cracked open to let in the view of the galaxy spread before them, and Thorne had laid out magazines on the windowsill.

"Thorne."

"Be grateful." He had plopped himself on the nearest chair, holding the cushion pillow close to his chest.

Cinder grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at his face. "You idiot! Why did you waste your time?" Despite saying this, she felt strangely touched. Carswell Thorne had been willing to do this useless, irrelevant thing for her.

"Hey–ow!"

Grinning, Thorne reached over and set the pillow back on her chair. Cinder fell back into it, slapping his hand away. "Seriously, Thorne. Don't do this again."

He didn't acknowledge her words. "I'm thinking of starting weekly spa sessions. Right here, on the Rampion. Stars forbid we walk on Luna with hangnails." He shuddered.

"You're such a diva."

"I have an interest in looking good. You, however–"

His joking reprimands were muffled as Cinder shoved his pillow in his face.