“Oh goodie,” I say.
He gives me a wry, lopsided smile. A real one, just for me. My belly flips, then flops.
“Afterall, appearances are everything.” Kai turns to look at the makeup lining the counter.
“Yes, but it’s important not to focus on that so much you forget who you are and what you are about,” Dame Kiki says, giving him a weighted gaze.
Kaison’s shoulders stiffen almost imperceptibly as he blinks.
There is something serious and loaded with implications in her words, but I don’t understand.
The smile he gave me remains but disappears from his eyes. “I never do.”
I am definitely missing something.
I open my mouth to ask, but Dame Kiki turns to me. “And you, have recent events made you feel any morepowerful?” She arches that drawn on eyebrow, loading the word ‘powerful’ up like a gun.
Almost two years ago, Goldie, me, and our friend Red ate cookies created by a powerful mage—Red's grandmother. Both Red and Goldie had developed level five mage powers, which is as rare as finding an ogre shopping for china at a mall.
Since the cookies, there has been this shoe hanging over me, and I keep waiting for it to drop.
While I’m happy to watch reality mage shows where level three magic-wielders who care too much about social status scrape, connive, and sleep their way to better alliances, I don’t want to join in.
“Can’t say that they have,” I say flatly. The pressure of Kaison’s gaze pushes against the side of my face and I know he’s trying to figure out what we are talking about. My skin prickles under his scrutiny and I’m ready to get out of here.
I readjust my grip on the glass slippers. “I guess we'll make do with these, thanks Kiki.”
She waves a dismissive hand, already turning back to her mirror. “Anytime. And do keep me updated on this delicious little development. I do so love a good royal romance.”
Royal romance, my ass.
Chapter 16
Pussies Love a Prince
CINDER
The door creaks loudly when I open it to my apartment. It’s time to jam our feet into those glass shoes and get back to Midnight.AfterI grab a few things to take with me.
My heart skips a beat with excited anticipation. That surprises me.
There is certainly dread coursing through me. There is danger and past pain, but a bigger part of me truly missed the Midnight realm. The kingdom has been irrevocably woven into the fabric of my being. Even those traumatic years after my father died couldn’t change that.
But I also love the Common World.
I’m tired as all fae fucks from straddling two worlds, two time zones, and two lives. But it also feels so right, as if two halves of myself are coming together.
This time I’ll be packing even more iron supplements and snacks to offset my anemia which is acting up like a bitch. The constant stress of swirling ballrooms, the shockingbombshells about my father’s supposed murder, and enduring an unexpected public proposal have nearly put me on my ass multiple times now.
It’s no wonder my anemia has decided to rear its ugly head. The sheer exhaustion and emotional rollercoaster have drained me to the point where my hands tremble and my vision blurs at the worst possible moments. I hate the reminder I've had so much strength sucked out of me. Literally.
A clatter from our tiny kitchenette explodes in the apartment. It only takes a half step around the corner to see what’s going on. Snow is in sweatpants and a tank top with her hair in a messy bun, making her behavior look all the more wild. She wields the bristle side of a broom at the hissing fluffy cat inside our cabinet. Lucifer pushes a glass off the shelf. It shatters on the floor next to even more shards of glass.
“Damn you, demon kitty from hell,” Snow cries out.
“What are you doing?”
The question comes from behind me, where Kaison’s chest brushes my shoulder blades, sending a shiver through my body.
