Page 11 of Cinder's Adventure: Get Me To the Wedding!

Thousands of people laughed, many in relief. She wondered just how long her awkward silence had persisted.

Even Kai looked a little relieved as his worry melted away to a smile. “Thank the stars,” he said. “Because I’ve become pretty attached to you, too.” But his grin still held a hint of uncertainty. “Cinder… is everything all right? Do you need a moment?”

“No.” She gave a rough shake of her head. “I don’t need a moment. I just… I was just daydreaming, I think.” She inhaled a deep breath, and when she let it out, the allowed the last clinging remnants of the strange visions to slip away. Leaving her entirely present. With Kai. With all the people she loved the most. With the people who would soon call her empress. She glanced at Winter. “I’m sorry. We can continue now.” As she looked back at her soon-to-be husband, her heart swelled with the contented feeling that everything was precisely right in the universe. “I’m ready.”

Kai’s hands tightened around hers, and Winter began. “It is with great honor that I will be the first to congratulate you two on your union. To the world, you may be Emperor Kaito and Princess Selene, but to me, you will always be two of my dearest friends, and I know of no one who deserves this happiness more. It is with greatest joy that I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss—”

Kai didn’t wait for her to finish. He slid his arms around Cinder’s waist and pulled her close, and all she heard after that were the fireworks being set off over New Beijing and across the entire Earthen Union. The celebration that reached all the way to the moon.

The end.

Chapter 10

Spinning away from the window, Cinder marched to the door and threw it open.

“What is it? My best friend just—”

Her words caught when she saw who was on the other side of the door.

Or…whatwas on the other side of the door.

What looked like a man stood before her in old-fashioned livery. But his body appeared faintly translucent and there was, of all things, a chisel lodged into one eye socket, dripping blood down the front his tunic.

“You’re a… a ghost?!” she stammered, trying to recall if she’d ever heard rumors of New Beijing Palace being haunted.

The man bowed deeply. “Forgive the intrusion,” he said in an accent that she found difficult to place. German, perhaps? “I have been sent to summon you to the Erlking’s castle. I’m afraid he isquitedispleased, which could lead to dire consequences. For you… and your royal wedding.” He gestured toward the hall. “If you’ll follow me.”

“Uh… um.” Cinder glanced back toward the window and realized, with a start, that it was now shut. Had she only imagined Iko sitting on that ledge a moment before?

She rubbed her temple. Maybe the stress of the wedding was starting to get to her. Maybe she should lie down.

“Your Majesty, I urge you to make haste. The Erlking is not known for patience.”

“Call me Cinder,” she said. “I’m not a queen anymore. Or an empress… yet.”

The man smiled. “We shall see.” He started down the hallway, clearly expecting her to follow.

Cinder glanced back at her gown. She didn’t want to be rude, especially to a ghost. Being haunted by a restless spirit wasn’t exactly how she wanted to begin her marriage. Maybe she could go talk to this Erlking fellow and figure out what he wanted. She still had plenty of time before the wedding began.

“All right, I’m coming,” she grumbled, chasing after the ghost. He led her through servants’ back hallways, many of which she’d never seen before, and down countless stairways, until finally they stepped outside onto the palace’s driveway, lined with cherry blossoms in full bloom.

A carriage stood waiting for her and she paused to stare at it. It looked, of all things, like a giant pumpkin, complete with curling vines cast in silver and two gray steeds.

The ghost opened the door and held out a hand to help Cinder inside.

“Where exactly is this castle?” she asked.

“Deep in the Aschen Wood, of course.”

“The Aschen Wood. Naturally.”

She had never heard of such a place, but there was only one forest nearby that she knew of, so that must be it.

Which was when it occurred to Cinder that she probably shouldn’t be taking rides from strangers, even undead ones.

She wondered whether it would it be rude to ask if she could drive herself…

If Cinder accepts his help into the carriage, go to Chapter 11.

---