“At least you had the decency to mark her,” my father hisses at me.
The necklace perfectly frames my bite marks which tells everyone here that this girl is mine.
I take her hand as she reaches me, marveling at the heat of her skin. She seems ready to catch fire. Despite her broadcasting that fantastic fuck you to everyone that I so love, I can tell her nerves are rattling underneath. I give her a squeeze to let her know I’m here.
The wedding begins with an officiant chosen by my father.
“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.
Cinder mouths at me,Ignatius? Really?
I give her hand an extra squeeze and make a face at her.
“Prince Kaison, do you take Cinder to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, to bite and to cherish, from this night forward, till death do you part?”
“I do,” I reply. “But I also take an oath to lead Midnight into a new era of equality and justice.”
“What are you doing?” my father demands in a low voice, rising from his throne behind the officiant.
If things hadn’t been shaken up before, things are busting wide open now.
My gaze locks with my father's, unflinching, resolute. “The old ways must die,” I continue. “The time for change is upon us.”
I raise our joined hands, my voice ringing out through the cavernous hall. “Today marks a new chapter for Midnight,” I declare, my tone sharp, commanding. “A new era of unity, of equality, of progress.”
The King’s face contorts with fury. “You disappointing little bastard,” he roars, spittle flying from his thin lips. “You presume too much. I will never yield my crown to a mewling pup and his mortal whore.”
Cinder's hand tightens in mine.
“You have no choice, father.” My words are icy, laced with a calm certainty that belies the fear running rampant through me. “The people have spoken. Your reign of terror and oppression ends today.”
The doors at the back of the hall fly open once more. Figures pour into the room, a tide of righteous fury clad in the patchwork motley of the rebel faction known as the Mice. They surge forward, eyes blazing, weapons glinting.
Screams erupt from the crowd as panic descends.
Chapter 50
They Don’t Call Him Charming For Nothing
CINDER
Kai jerks me out of the way, forcing me to flee. Not that I want to face down a very angry King Valdor Charming, but he’s not the only one to worry about.
Half the court surges to fight off the Mice, a mix of humans and vampires, while another portion targets us.
Thankfully, we brought reinforcements.
Brexley easily breaks the faces of several fairies, putting them down, hard. Ted bowls through the ones standing in our way like a human wrecking ball. Not that my girls are any less active.
Red has picked up one of the guest chairs and wails on a guy. Snow miraculously procures several daggers that are all poised between each knuckle. Judging by the reaction of one of the recipients of her daggers, the way they scream and carry on, I easily guess they are made of silver.
There is a lot I still don’t know about my roommate, I realize.
A woman screams as she flies by me. I turn to the right to find Rap dusting off her hands.
“Way to go, boss!” Goldie says with a fist pump. She’s more a lover, not a fighter but refused to be left behind just because she’s better at moral support.
The Fairy Godmother whips out a magic wand and starts turning vampires into toads. Each one leaps and croaks in a fearful frenzy as they shrink and turn green.
