Igniting Cinder (The Lost Girls, #3)

by Holly Roberds

I want Cinder to call me Prince Slut Muffin and think of me like everyone else does. A self-indulgent troublemaker who doesn’t carry his pain like a brand. Better she think me a promiscuous ass than learn the truth. I’m a promiscuous ass who takes regular beatings from his father. The lie goes down easier than the truth and my throat is raw.

You want to know what happened? I was punished because of you, my gorgeous demoness.

“Time for laundry,” I say with a cheeky grin as I sweep past her, though I simply plan to throw the shirt out and have never done a bit of laundry in my entire life.

Prince Kaison Charming has bled for me. Has burned himself on my tongue piercing, and still kept in control to keep kissing me. While I was scared shitless when he pinned me to the counter, a large part of me believed he wouldn’t do it. He wouldn't bite me. He controlled himself when I cut myself. He protected me from that guy who assaulted me at the bar. And apparently, he’d been trying to protect me from those boys. That realization caused a pinch in my heart that has yet to release. I thought I was branded by his scathing look, marked by his hate and disgust, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Had the young, serious-face prince been trying to communicate a moment of solidarity? Whoa, Nelly. I’m spiraling over here.

“Won't she get dreadfully jealous of all your other. . .dalliances? Humans are so emotional about such things, or so I'm told.” The question snaps me out of my thoughts, and I glance up to see Charming clear his throat. Several pairs of eyes bounce between us, searching for some kind of reaction. Some weak point they can needle into and then later wag their tongues. Another rush of dizziness sways me slightly to the left. My gaze latches on the moving lips of the jerk speaking, but my vision swirls. Cotton might as well be stuffed in my head and ears, making it impossible to focus. Heaviness weighs my limbs down, but I stand my ground, refusing to fall. “Now that I am an engaged prince, Cinder will not need to worry about me straying,” he says, his hand finally coming to rest on the small of my back. I stiffen at the contact. Not because I dislike it, but because I hadn’t been prepared for it. As quickly as it's there, his touch is gone, leaving me strangely bereft. The couple in front of us shares a knowing look, doubt and amusement plain on their faces. “Come now, Your Highness. We all know your reputation. The playboy prince, always chasing the next thrill. This little experiment with a human bride is amusing, but let's not pretend it's anything more than another passing fancy, hm? You couldn’t commit to a woman any more than you could to anything else.” I bristle at their words, the dismissive way they talk about me like I'm not even here. But before I can open my mout...

“Prince Kaison sent me on a mission to unearth proof if your father had been murdered. We found original notes from the medical examiner, and he covered up Byung-He’s true cause of death.” My breath freezes in my chest. “What was it?” Jack winces as he tells me. “Exsanguination.”

Kai hovers over me, concern pinching at the corners of his eyes. “Well, well, my sleeping beauty awakens.” He tries to tease, but his usual smirk is absent. I scowl at him, trying to sit up. “I'm fine,” I insist, even as a wave of dizziness forces me back down. “I don't need your help. You can get out.” Kai arches an eyebrow. “Is that so? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're about to pass out again.” He leans closer, his voice dropping to a low purr. “If you don't let me help you, I might have to take drastic measures. Like cuddling you and calling you pet names until you give in.” I glare at him, but I can feel my resolve wavering. “You wouldn't dare.” “Try me, my black souled diamond. My ghostly damsel of distress.” There’s that cocky smile. I groan, realizing he's not going to let this go. “Fine. My iron pills are in that upper drawer. I need to take them for my anemia. And grab the box of Magic Morsels too. A snack can only help.”

“But you aren’t alone, Cinder,” he says. “I’ll help you find out what happened. You can trust me.” “Trust.” The wry laugh sucks the energy from me again and I sink further back into the bed. “You know trust is earned right? And I don’t think there is enough time in this lifetime for that to build between us.” The exhaustion and weakness make my tongue loose. “We can make a good team,” he insists. Kai takes my hand, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. I meet his gaze. For a moment, I almost believe him. I almost let myself hope that he means it. But then I snort, pulling my hand away. “I doubt it,” I say, my voice hard. “You're the playboy prince, remember? You don't do commitment or trust.” I bite into the second spice roll though the sugar is making my teeth tingle. Kai's jaw tightens, but he doesn't argue. He stands up, running a hand through his hair. “Get some rest,” he says, his voice clipped. “We'll talk more tomorrow.” He turns to go, but pauses at the door and looks at me over his shoulder. “You're wrong about me, Cinder,” he says softly. “I'm not who you think I am.” Something about the way he says it makes me think he doesn’t even know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing. And with that he's gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts, a red hue, and the growing realization that when it comes to Prince Kaison Charming, I might not know anything at all.

“Wait, what? Where are you going?” I cross my arms under my bare breasts and raise an eyebrow. “Whatever I want, remember?” I repeat the earlier agreement. “Didn’t you like it? Don't you want more?” Confusion mars his face. My body screams to get back on, to complete what I was chasing, but I tell it to shut the fuck up for a second. Somehow, I just knew he turned into someone he’d been with everyone else. “Don’t do that.” “Do what?” “Do that thing where you put on a show. Yes, you have an impressive cock with a lot of piercings—” that feels fucking unbelievable and might ruin my velvet dungeon for all time. “—but don’t think that makes you special.” His eyebrows raise. The second he did that. . . looked for his A+ report card, he left me alone. Kaison wasn’t there anymore. It was Prince Charming on his shit again, and I didn’t like it. Not that I hadn’t fucked people with a fair amount of emotional distance, but it felt wrong. Not with the marshmallows, and the vulnerability pulsating just under my skin. I don’t want to be alone. I don't want to be some girl he impresses with his massive, pierced shlong. . . though I am impressed and thoroughly interested in riding that sucker like my life depends on it. “If you pull that shit on me, I will leave you here,” I announce. “Tied up.” “What can I do?” His voice is rough, and I can’t read if it’s from his arousal, shame, or frustration. I kind of hope it’s all three. What can he do? If we are going to go through with this, I wa...

“What—what are those?” The question comes out in a harsh whisper as I take in the scars along her stomach, and full exposed arms. Now that I see the more prominent ones on her side, on her thighs, I see the ghost of those scars almost everywhere on her. Worst yet, many had already been visible to me and I simply hadn’t noticed. The tattoos, the jewelry, the fishnets, and the long gloves covered them from view. She was bare of makeup to cover up the angry red bite marks that covered her. Ignoring my question, she plucks the crop from where my dick was holding it. She snaps it on her hand. “Don’t talk unless I tell you to.” My arousal is quickly siphoning off into fiery anger. Someone has fed on her. A lot. All over. “Who fucking did this, Cinder?” I’m not joking anymore. I’ve never been this serious in all my life. Is this what happened at the border with those rogue Midnight fairies when she was younger? I’ll find them. I’ll thrall them. I'll make them suffer beyond their imagin⁠— A sting explodes on my upper thigh, too close to the family jewels. “Hey,” she snaps, purple eyes burning. “Do not talk unless I allow you to.”

“Tell me like a good girl, and I’ll give you what you want.” My voice is rough with need. Her eyes meet mine with a fiery purple defiance. “It’s never felt this good. Like I want more. Like it’s not a chore. Like I don’t want it to end.” The words come out like an accusation like she’s angry. She resents the confession being forced from her. But I’ll make it worth her while.

“Because you’re my bride. And even if this engagement is fake, I’m yours for the duration and you’re mine.” Five more points to me. “I don’t want anyone else. In fact, there is no one else now that there is you and this perfect little cunt.”

“That’s it, let them hear you. Let Tink hear how I pleasure you. You may not care, but I sure as fuck do. I need you to know I only want to do this for you, to you. Because you come more beautifully than anyone I’ve known.”

“And if you let me,” I choke out. “I’d feast between your legs. I’d lick up your desire like a starving man. Like it was my last meal and you're the only thing that can sustain me.”

“I’m yours, only yours, my gothic goddess,” I punctuate with a kiss. One half of her lips quirk up in a smile that doesn’t reach her eyes. “For now,” she confirms. Maybe it’s because I exerted the fuck out of myself just now, but I suspect it’s what she just said that has my heart sinking, spiraling down into my stomach cavity. For now.

“Pumpkin spice martini, anyone?” “I’ll try one,” Snow volunteers, though her gaze is still fastened to the new tattoo that spans the length of her inner forearm—a hand mirror. The ink practically springs off her smooth skin in glowing silver lines. The mirror is beautiful, broken, and hazardous all at once. When Snow asked Tink what it meant, Tink shrugged and said the magic is in the ink and it does the speaking for itself. Snow needed some ink for herself, but I intend to push the Lost Girls’ branding on our next visit. The Poison Apple logo with the words ‘pick your poison’ underneath it. “That sounds dangerous,” Kai says, referring to my drink. “I thought you were brave,” I shoot back as I pull out the RumChata, vanilla vodka, and Irish cream. Snow, Red, and Goldie break out in a chorus of ‘oooo’s, letting him know I’ve definitely thrown the gauntlet down. “In that case,” Kai says. “I’ll take two.” I roll my eyes, but I can’t stop the smile spreading across my face. “Holy fae fucks,” Kai says under his breath, even as the others continue to discuss Snow’s new ink. “What?” I ask, even as I measure out a bit of syrup over the pumpkin puree. “I just—I’ve never seen you smile.” Kai’s tone is full of shock and awe. My brows pinch, but he’s right, I can’t keep my mouth from its upward curl. “I smile,” I protest in defense. “Small ones. Crumbs barely big enough for birds to eat, but this, this on your face is a real smile. I can see your teeth and everything.” “Shut up,” I la...

“You killed him,” I say matter of fact, the words tasting like ash on my tongue. “That man from the bar. You killed him for me.” Kaison swallows hard, his Adam's apple bobbing. “Cinder, I⁠—” “Why?” I demand. He rakes a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration, of helplessness. “I couldn't let him hurt you again. I couldn't⁠—” “So you decided murder was the answer?” I cut him off, my tone sharp as a blade. “Cinder, please.” His voice is deeper, darker. The side of him he hides is coming out and I wonder if it’s the real him. “You have to understand. He didn't understand the word no. A man like that can't just be allowed to walk around doing whatever he wants.” “Funny,” I say coldly, “Hearing that from a Charming.” I regret the words as soon as they leave my lips. I see the way they slice into him, the flash of hurt that he can't quite hide. Because the truth is, Kaison is nothing like his father. He's not the ruthless, power-hungry tyrant ruling Midnight with an iron fist. But in this moment, with the blood of my assailant on his hands, it's hard to separate the two. Kai bears down on me, backing me up to my bed. He’s so fast, I barely have a chance to skip backward before I’m trapped. “Don’t say that,” he snarls. “I’m not my father. Do you know why? I don’t view you as property. I don’t view you as less than me, but we are engaged. It may be a fake one, but it makes you mine for now, and I refuse to let anything happen to you. You want me to be sorry? I can’t be. No...

Whatever Prince Charming the world thinks it knows, they are all wrong. I was wrong too. He’s not a killer. He’s a protector. Protecting others because no one can protect him. Because he knows what pain and suffering is. I know the same truth, but instead of protecting others, I withdraw into myself. Disconnect from the world to keep from feeling any further. I’m seeing the real Kaison right now. I recognize the same look he gave me when we were young. It holds such intensity, such undirected need as if he is desperate for a freedom he can’t even fathom.

“You're so hot, almost scalding,” I murmur. “I want to burn to ash in you.”

For a moment, I allow myself to imagine a future where we're not bound by the constraints of our worlds. Where I'm not a vampire prince and she's not a human caught in the crosshairs of a looming rebellion. Reality comes crashing back all too soon. This thing between us isn’t real. It's a temporary respite from what I must do. Yet, I find myself clinging to it, to her, like a drowning man to a life raft. But I won’t let her drown with me. I’ll let her go. Though every day the thought gets harder and harder than the day before.

With a theatric sweep around, Kaison rushes to embrace me. “Is this not fortuitous, my beautiful bride? Your family is here.” I’m too frozen to keep him from pulling me close. His mouth falls even with my ear. “Don't let them smell your fear. They want you to break. I will get us out of this.” I swallow hard as his words penetrate. He’s right. I can’t give them the satisfaction. No matter how many bloody memories flash behind my eyes, no matter how hard my heart hammers, I am Princess Cinder Charming for tonight. And a Charming always gets the last laugh.

“What is so special about this painting?” It comes out in a whisper. Her shoulders hitch and I can’t tell if it’s a hiccup or a swallowed sob. “It’s my mother.” I suspected. Knowing gives me a strange sense of relief that I’d guessed correctly. The eyes, the hair, they are Cinder’s. “She died in childbirth. It’s the only picture I’ve ever seen of her.” Cinder’s voice is thick with emotion. “And it’s painted by my father’s hand. When I’m with this painting it’s my family, all of us together.” “You look like her,” I point out, nudging her with my shoulder. A lop-sided smile springs to her lips. I swear my heart almost beats. I’m ready to let the silence fall around us again, but she goes on. “When I sit in front of this painting, it’s like I’m with them. I can feel my mother’s love. My father used to tell me how excited she was for me to come into this world. That she wanted a girl more than anything, and she would be so proud of me. When I look at this painting, I’m part of a family unit and I’m not alone anymore. I actually. . . belong.” “You belong with your friends,” I point out, trying to ignore the almost painful squeeze in my chest. You belong with me. “Yeah.” “Wow,” a laugh burst out of me. “That was completely unbelievable. Do you really not think you belong with them? Goldie, Snow, Rap, all of your friends at the Poison Apple adore you.” Cinder shrugs, avoiding my gaze. “It's very nice,” she says again in a completely unconvincing tone. I study her for a moment, re...

“Your parents would never be disappointed in you. If they were here, you would have been safe and loved.”

“Did you do it?” Cinder breathed after I told her what happened. “Did you keep beating the other kid?” I shook my head. “I wouldn’t do it.” I paid for that. It was the first day I learned what true pain was, but it wouldn’t be the last.

Where are the scars from? Who did it? But I don’t want to talk about that. I don’t want to go back there. I won’t.

“You taste like spice,” he groans. “And everything nice?” I finish for him. Impossibly dark eyes turn up to meet mine. “No. Like you're my forever vice.”

She owns my name. She owns my everything whether she knows it or not. So easily, I could crumple in the palm of her hand like a piece of paper.

“Is there some supernatural binding to the bite?” I ask. This sounds like mating. I already know full well that weres have mates and it affects them physically to the point where if they break ties, it can mean death. I’m not sure what scares me more. Trusting Kaison to bite me and drink from me, or being bound to him beyond our deal? Kai licks his lips slowly. “Not exactly. It means that. . .” I don’t know why he is hedging now. “What? Spit it out.” “It means that your blood will have power over me for the rest of my life.” “Power over you?” I ask. Kai rips the flower head off the stem and throws it into the brush. “No other blood will ever taste as sweet as yours. It’s like an addiction I’ll always crave. Sex and blood.” “And the same goes for me?” I guess dryly, even as panic crawls up my throat, threatening to choke me from the inside out. “I don’t know,” he shakes his head, expression tortured. “I don’t know of any human who has been marked or what the effects would be.”

She doesn’t have to mark me the same way. I’m already fucking hers, body and soul.

“Wh-what are you doing?” Her eyes turn round as the ‘O’ of her lips. She’s dazed from my about-face. The gown strap dips, revealing a pert, pierced nipple. I swallow hard, ignoring her state of undress and my raging needs. “I’ll tell you what I’m not doing,” I say with a cold stiffness that sets up in the core of my being. “I’m not going to let you think you are just some blood bag to me.” Cinder’s eyes narrow and I know before she even opens her mouth she’s about to hit below the belt. “You’re afraid of yourself. Your own power. So instead you throw away all your real power and pretend you are this shallow well. That you’ve never had a real thought and you are only good for a fuck and a good time. Prove me wrong. Show me you can do this.” I try to laugh it off, but my face is tight and a weight presses down on my chest. “I’m afraid of myself? Well, you’re afraid of everyone else. You don’t even trust your close personal friends. I can see that, so I bet they can too. How can they miss that you always hold a part of yourself back? No matter how much you love them, you are always waiting, expecting them to turn on you. You’re waiting for them to let you down, betray you, leave you.” “You don’t know anything about me,” she hisses. “No? I know you suffered inhuman torment and pain at the hands of monsters after your father died. That even before that you were so lonely you feared you’d cave in on yourself from the hollowness that loneliness carved out of your soul.” Was I tal...

Let me love you. Let me love you. Please, fuck, let me love you, Cinder. “I’ll never break you. Not even when you beg me too.”

It’s time she knows the truth. As much as I want her, she shouldn’t trust me. I’ve done nothing to reward her trust. Rap is right. She needs to know I’ve held back secrets, that I’ve used her. Then she’ll give up this insane idea to go through with the marking. “No, you don’t. I didn’t ask you to be my bride because I needed help fending off the husband hunters. While it certainly hasn’t fucking hurt to be known as yours to keep them all off my backs, the true reason is I am using you. Using you to inspire the rebels to go through with a coup against my father. I want the Mice to bring down the crown.” I don’t know if I’m trying to be honest or hurt her. I only care that this rattles her enough to give up the idea I need to bite her. No matter how much the larger part of me wants that—to claim her, to devour her, to make her mine for all of time. That gives her pause. “That’s insane, Kai. You are part of the crown.” She adjusts the strap, covering up again, thank fucking witchtits. “I know,” I say through gritted teeth. “But it has to be done. And the only way is to get the Mice to trust me by using you as a symbol, as a sign that I am to be trusted.” The stunned silence reverberates around me. “Jack,” she says. “You’ve been trying to convince Jack to get the Mice on board. He’s one of them.” I nod my head, feeling defeated. “Yes. They think I’m a trap set out by the King. But you have been helping convince them I’m not like my father.” There. I've given up my dirty secret...

She closes the space between us until her devastating scent wraps around me like a warm blanket. “Kai, I need you to bite me.” Her voice drops to a low, commanding tone. You’d never know right now that I’m the one with royal authority. Slender fingers skate up the back of my neck before her short nails scrape lightly against my scalp, pulling me to the crook of her neck. I inhale her deeply, my nose brushing along the soft pale skin of her neck again. Underneath me, she shudders. Oh fuck. I want it so bad. To sink my fangs into her, to let the blood that calls to me slide down my throat. I want to leave marks so that everyone knows she’s mine. Every time she looks at it or closes a dog collar over the raised scars my teeth left, she’d know I possess her body and soul. My hands curl around her impossibly tiny waist. So small, so fragile. So broken. But shattered into a hundred even more beautiful pieces I’d gladly cut myself on if I could hold them in my hand. I’m fully shaking now. The bloodlust, the need for her roars to the surface, demanding. Pierce her. Drink her. Mark her. Fuck her. So I do what I must. I drop the softest kiss where her neck meets her shoulder before I step away, forcing her to let me go. “No.” When I pull back, I see an expression that far exceeds the purple death. If she could incinerate me with her outrage, she would. In fact, I swear I almost smell something burning. “Why?” Her question is a blend of pure agony and hatred. I have to scare her off ...

“All alone this evening?” Anastasia asks. Drusilla is behind her. A head shorter than her sister, her dark plaited back hair is a perfect contrast to her blue dress. She stares at me with those colorless snake eyes with a hunger that makes my skin itch and gives me a need to get as far away as possible. “The prince isn’t feeling well,” I say for the twentieth time in half an hour. “I think I have an idea of what’s making him sick,” Anastasia smirks knowingly. “Yes, well he thought it’d be rude to tell you to lay off that skunky perfume, so he chose the classier route of staying safe behind closed doors from your stench and bad attitude.” The words flow easily off my tongue as I search the room for the Queen. Maybe she knows more about my father. She's a resource I haven’t used before. And without Kai protecting her from every interaction threatening her little world, maybe I can get something out of her. “You little bitch,” Anastasia hisses. Drusilla’s eyes dart back and forth between us with an anticipatory grin on her face. As if she’s excited by the prospect of blood being spilled in front of her. “Now now, is that any way to talk to your future Queen?” I ask, turning to look my older stepsister in the eye. Anastasia is moments away from lunging at me and either tearing out my hair or my throat. I almost want her to do it. Let everyone witness what an uncontrolled animal she is. Just like vamps detest the sight of red, they can’t stand uncouth displays that are consider...

“The scars on your body,” Kai whispers, almost to himself. “It wasn’t rogue vampires. It was your family.”

“Cinder, I⁠—” “You can thrall.” I state it as a fact. A terrible truth. You'd think I’d get used to facing them by now, but it still turns my stomach and prickles like needles at the nape of my neck. “Yes, I can, but I almost never use it. Cinder, you can trust me. I promise I would never do anything to hurt you.” He rambles, his words tripping over each other to assure me. “Kai, I know.” “You. . . what?” “I know you won’t hurt me.” The words come out almost defeated. Because despite everything, despite all logic and self-preservation, I do know. I feel it in my bones. “You know,” he says slowly, disbelief coloring his tone. He sounds like a parrot, and I’d normally rib him for it, but I’m not in the mood. “I know you won’t hurt me because you love me.” It hangs in the air between us, heavy with implication. I see pain flash across his face, quickly masked but unmistakable. My heart constricts, aching for him, for us, for this impossible situation we've found ourselves in. “And Kai?” “Yeah?” “I love you too.”

“Cinder.” My name escapes him in a pained, pleading moan. “I’ve never wanted anything, anyone more than you. I’ve always wanted you.”

“I used to follow you to the cliffs. I’d watch you paint for hours and I wished you knew me. I wished we could be friends because I was certain you were the only one who would truly understand me. I loved the way your eyes got serious whenever you were lost in drawing. I used to wish you’d draw me.”

“My dark goddess. . . fuck, so sweet. . . spice and sunlight. . .” “Probably because of all the pumpkin spice,” I say, still feeling lightheaded. “Then we better keep you flush in the stuff,” he says seriously.

“Hey, you’re safe now.” He tilts my chin up. “And I swear we’ll get you back to the Common World, to your friends, to the Poison Apple.” “I like it when you talk like that.” Half his mouth curves. “Like what.” “Not I’ll get you back, but we’ll get me back. Like we are a team and we do things together.” Kai’s half smile spreads into a full-on grin. “I’m not an idiot. I know I don’t stand a chance without you. Honestly, I need you to save me.” He covers his heart. “I’m so very often a damsel in distress yet no one comes to my rescue.” I smack a pillow in his face. How can things feel so light, so right, when I’m fucking trapped by an evil King in another realm?

“Well well, if it isn't the happily engaged couple,” she drawls, one perfectly arched brow lifting in amusement. “Not that I don't appreciate the surprise visit,” I say, “but how the hell did you get in here? The King has this place locked down tighter than a hipster’s skinny jeans.” Kiki waves a dismissive hand. “Please, child. I've been sneaking into castles since before you were a twinkle in your daddy's eye. Speaking of. . .” Her gaze turns shrewd. “I hear you've been cooking up quite the magical storm lately.” My brow furrows. “What are you talking about?” “Oh don't play coy with me, Cinder. You think I can't sense when a fellow sister is coming into her power?” Kiki stalks closer, her heels clicking ominously against the stone. “You've been tapping into something ancient, primal. Something in your. . .” she pauses for dramatic effect, “...blood.” I swallow hard, my mind racing. Is she talking about my strange reaction to Kai's bite? The searing heat that flooded my veins, the way it felt like being bathed in sunshine. “I can only imagine it has to do with prince studly over here.” She jerks her head toward Kai, who looks equally mystified. “Me? What did I do?” “Made her feel safe,” Kiki says simply. Her words are a gut punch.

“I’m here for your wedding. I got this, what would you call it, sixth sense you might need some friends now. And maybe a new pair of shoes.” With a snap of her fingers, Dame Kiki summons a pair of boots from thin air. They're glossy onyx black, studded with gleaming silver spikes and with platform heels that kill. Deadly and delicious. My heart skips a beat. “To replace those glass, shank traps I had you in,” she says with a wink. “These beauties will let you come and go from this pretty palace as you please. Because if you are going to get married, you’ll need to assemble your wedding party.” “My wedding party?” “Your maidens, your posse, your squad. Every Queen needs her court. And honey, it's time to rally yours.” “It’s going to be difficult for anyone to shove their foot into that tiny devil boot to transport,” Kai points out. The Fairy Godmother turns to him with a skeptical look. “What do you mean shove their foot in the shoes? Only Cinder needs to wear them. If she wants to bring a boo, they only need to hold hands with her and they’ll travel with her just fine. Hell, she could make a daisy chain and they’d all make it with her.” Her expression smooths with surprise as Kaison’s face blanches. “Have you been sticking your big man foot in one of her shoes to travel back and forth? Sweet baby ogres, did you cut off your toes to get that honking thing in there?” She gestures to his feet. Kaison mumbles something about nearly becoming an amputee and it would have been ni...

I am Cinder Park. Goth Queen. Mistress of my own fate. And I'm ready to raise some hell.

Cinder is a vision in red.

“In the eternal darkness of Midnight, we are gathered here today to witness the union of Cinder Soo-Yen Park and his highness, Prince Kaison Qing Constantine Minghao Wei Ambrose Jiayi Ignatius Charming.

I always feared I’d die at the fangs of a vampire. But now Kai and the others will be safe from King Charming’s thrall.

“Please don’t leave me,” I beg. “I can’t live without you.” But I will. I’ll be here. For centuries. Without Cinder. I can’t fucking stand the thought.

I am a selfish, impulsive son of a bitch, so it’s time I act like it. Even if that means doing the forbidden. I bite into my wrist and push it to her lips. “Drink.” She’s too weak, she’s fading. In a last, desperate attempt, I gather every ounce of my power and focus it on Cinder. Pupils dilating, all the horrible details come into painfully clear focus. My thrall, fueled by the depth of my love for her, surges forward, enveloping her. She resisted my father’s ability, but I have something more powerful than he could ever understand. Her trust and consent. That night I marked her, she let me in and I let her inside of me. I just pray to the fae lords it’s not too late. “Cinder, drink.” What little life is left in her responds and she attaches her lips to my wrist. Her suction is weak, barely there, but she’s drinking. She can take my life. All of it. If she drinks me dry in exchange for five minutes more of life, I’d gladly give my future away for her. Five minutes so she could drink one last pumpkin spice latte, hug her friends, so I could show her that I love her more than anything in this realm or the next. That I’m not scared to be who I am anymore. I’m not my father. Because I love. I love her more than myself. And that’s something he could never understand.

“What did you do to her?” The question comes from Snow who now stands next to me. It takes a moment to get my throat to work. “I made her like me.” I use the word she’ll understand. “A vampire.” Snow’s hand squeezes my shoulder. I’m not sure if it’s in solace or anger. “She might not want this.” Snow’s words are barely audible. I pick Cinder up in my arms and trudge along the blood-drenched floor, stepping directly on my father's mottled remains. “She can kick my ass when she wakes up.”

“He turned you into one of us,” another voice answers from the door. I turn to find Kaison’s mother, Queen Mei-Ling Charming, standing there in full Midnight regalia, her blue and black skirts filling the entryway to my tiny bedroom. She looks so out of place, I almost think I’m hallucinating or dead after all. “Oh,” is all I can say. I’m a vampire. A Midnight fairy. A bloodsucker. “So, that’s why I'm so thirsty,” I say in a low voice over a dry throat. Kai leans over and grabs a massive takeout cup covered with a lid. He hands it over. “Drink this, you’ll feel better.” At least it has a lid so I don’t have to face the bright red blood I’m about to consume. Sipping on the drink, my eyes widen. A mixed medley of pumpkin spice and something sweet and savory hits my gut in a satisfying ker-pow. “Well that’s the best thing I’ve ever had in my mouth,” I say taken aback after I’ve swallowed half of it in one go. “Well, that’s hurtful,” Kaison says with a pout. “Kaison,” his mother snaps. His shoulders hunch a little. “Sorry, Mom.” Then to me he says, “It’s half pumpkin spice latte, half Goldie, with extra cinnamon.” I stop drinking at that. “Did you say Goldie?” “Yeah,” he gives me a wry smile. “She and Red fought for a while about whose blood you would drink first but Goldie won that fight pretty quickly. All your friends donated blood because they wanted you to feel supported and loved through your transition to this new, erm, lifestyle.” I’m fully fucking floored. “Wow.” I sh...