Igniting Cinder (The Lost Girls, #3)

by Holly Roberds

Not just lust or attraction, but it’s as if my entire being is coming to life, recognizing something in her my brain isn’t smart enough to comprehend yet.

Fated mates?!

Embedded on her shoulder is the Poison Apple logo of a half-skull, half-apple mashup with crossbones and the words ‘Pick Your Poison’ around it.

But at this human girl's boots, I’m nothing. I’m no one. And she is everything. All that matters.

He falls first.

Oh yeah, I’ve decided to call my neither region “Iron Maiden” because it’s metal as fuck, and I'm sure it will remind me that I’m foreboding and untouchable.

A part of me drifts away as I navigate the ballroom, watching from a chilling distance.

Are her powers manifesting?

Teeth, blood, pain, submission. Cold iron cuffed around my ankle. Lying on the ground, looking into the fathomless depths of a fireplace long burnt out.

Fuckity frog wads.

Th curse words crack me up lol

Pulling the cold material around my too-hot body—must be the stress—I remember the stretches of my childhood filled with fear and loneliness.

Her powers are manafesting; maybe she is a dragon shifter

“I'd drag my fingers over your bare arms. Trace the petals of the cherry blossom tattoos along the smooth skin and follow the skulls no matter where they lead.” His words become languid, each syllable drugging me.

Charming Is a smooth talker

“Don’t be like that, my little black cloud of cuddles. We are betrothed. We must share all our secrets.”

Black cloud of cuddles lol

One day, I'll coax a real smile out of her. For now, I'm content to sit back and watch my dark empress rule her domain.

For fae fuck’s sake, he’s actually cute. I’m sure with that look he’s gotten away with every little thing in his life.

We find the Fairy Godmother in her dressing room. The muscular, Black drag queen sits as if she is on a throne, surrounded by a whirlwind of sequins, feathers, and wigs.

I love the fairygod mother

“I’m not going to bite you.” It takes my rioting senses a minute to register what he says. “I’m not going to bite you, Cinder,” he repeats.

The truth is, having Prince Charming tied up and naked with his little fang bumpers is so indescribably perfect, any resistance inside me dissolves.

“Do you smell something burning?” the duke asks the prince. Kaison shrugs, looking around briefly as if looking for the source of the smoky scent.

Her power has something to do with fire

Holy fuck bunnies on a pogo stick, I am going to come.

I’m damned happy to be in the Common World. If only to defy my father’s orders to stay in the castle. Fuck him.

“Prosecco and espresso?” I ask, raising an eyebrow at the two dainty drinks in front of her.

And I can’t help but feel like she might be more than human, though I can’t put my finger on why or what.

Rap is hiding in plain sight. What is she?!?

Rap stands, slamming her hands on the desk with a loud thwang. “Don’t fuck with me, Charming. You may be a pretty playboy prince, but no one messes with my girls. I’ll cut off your little prick before you hurt Cinder.”

Love that she always knows

It’s a feral protective animal who would chew off its own arm if it meant protecting her.

beater,

Person wth a heartbeat

For a split second, I swear I see a flicker of orange flame dancing in the depths of her violet eyes. A trick of the light? Or something more?

Some sort of fire wielder?

“You're wrong about me, Cinder,” he says softly. “I'm not who you think I am.”

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.

He comes back with a couple packing peanuts in his hands. After some finagling, he thrusts them up into his mouth, covering his fangs.

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

What she says stops me cold. Underneath her words, there is resentment, or maybe disgust. It turns my stomach. I release her so fast, she stumbles.

I’m laying everything I feel at her feet, and it feels like dying. Like jumping over the Midnight Cliffs, plummeting toward the waves of ice water crashing over jagged rocks that will gore me in moments.

Let me love you. Let me love you. Please, fuck, let me love you, Cinder.

Reearrrr! A pissed off feline yowl fills the hallway. “Gah, get it off!” Drusilla jerks away from me.

Yasssss lucifer the cat

Ana and Dru sport numerous visible and deep scratch marks on their faces from a certain devil cat.

Hell yeah cat

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.

Bahaha i am deceased. This whole time he only needed to hold her hand!!!!

“It's time to show Midnight what happens when you mess with the Lost Girls.”

Fuck yeah

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

Yassss Cinder

Dear witchtitting fae lords. The King wanted to slave out children and my father said no.