Free Sparked (The Metal Bones Series Book 1) by Sheena Snow Page B

minutes.
    “We could show her my room.” Maybe it would help her grasp the reality of the situation.
    “He’s here,” Robotatouille said as a heavier set of footsteps echoed along the doorway.
    “Who-Who’s here?” Mom spun between Dad and me.
    “Their commander,” I said.
    Dad put a hand on Mom’s arm and helped her up from the couch.
    “The one who’s going to protect you?” Mom said at last, and before I could nod, there was a knock at the door.
    I grimaced. At least it was better than crashing through my window.
    Dad opened the door and the commander moved into the room with an ease and grace I didn’t think robots should have. The robot’s head was bent forward and he brushed flakes of snow out of his dark, ruffled black hair.
    Here he was, my robot protector. Oh joy.
    I walked forward and thrust my hand out, waiting for him to acknowledge me. And then he looked up and his eyes locked with mine. His beautiful, piercing, green eyes.

Chapter 12
    Once, when I was little, Sydney and I were playing with my dad’s golf clubs. She was holding the club wrong, gripping the end of the stick, and her feet were facing the opposite direction. I went to help her but not before she swung.
    All I remember was a flash of metal.
    For that tiny moment, I felt nothing. My body stopped responding. My nerves shut down. My brain saw only what was in front of me—random images and colors that seemed to have no correlation to each other. My heart stopped beating. And I stopped breathing.
    Now I felt that same sensation, had the same reaction racing through my body when I saw him. Colors, images, swam before my eyes, making no sense.
    Yet, like the golf-club incident, once that tiny moment of suspension in space passed, everything came rushing back, the pounding in my head, the locking of my knees, and shock of being caught unaware. Thoughts rushed into my head like the wave of pain descending after the blow.
    He was a robot? He couldn’t be. He had been a person. He was the guy . Green Eyes. The guy with the beautiful green eyes.
    He couldn’t be a robot.
    And he was the head robot.
    I snatched my hand away and stumbled backward.
    “Vienna?” Dad stepped in front of me.
    I couldn’t meet his eyes. I couldn’t explain.
    “Sir.” Dad cleared his throat. “I just want to say”—Dad took up his hand where I had left it—“I owe you thanks. For all you’ve done.”
    My fists tensed. Green Eyes was a robot? How could . . .? How could that be? He made me think . . . I thought . . .
    I ground my teeth together.
    “Vienna?” Dad said again, gesturing toward the robot.
    Oh crap.
    Everyone was watching me, even Green Eyes. And . . . my fists clenched. Was he smirking?
    “You’re a robot,” I hissed up at him, trying to make him understand.
    He gave a half-smile, as if I’d uncovered a secret he had been dying to tell me.
    My stupid toes tingled at his lopsided smile and I dug my traitorous feet into the carpet.
    “You mean you know him?” Dad frowned.
    “I . . .” My heart pounded.
    Did I?
    “Not really.” I tried again. “I . . .”
    Green Eyes grinned, flashing brilliant white teeth, and my heart thumped around in my chest. I would dig it into the carpet too. Later.
    “I warned her”—Green Eyes turned to Dad—“They were trying to close in and the last thing I wanted was her taking any unnecessary risks.”
    So you just stalked and abducted me with a vague, all-too-cryptic message that I was somehow supposed to understand?
    Right. Thanks.
    When he turned, his limbs flowed freely, his joints smooth and unlocking, so human. Completely human. No stuttering of the kneecaps. No awkward gait that Robotatouille once had. Nothing.
    How was I supposed to know he wasn’t a robot? He didn’t walk like one.
    Dad sighed. “We appreciate everything you’ve done for us, really, but we need answers.”
    “And I wish, more than ever, I could give them to you. I wish I knew what was going on.” He gave a dramatic