Page 60 of Cinder's Trial

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Page 60 of Cinder's Trial

Royal Blue spoke, and yet I barely heard a word as I stared into Levi’s eyes. A man I’d fallen head over heels for.

He held my gaze, steady and handsome, even slightly smiling because of me. I hoped to keep him smiling for the rest of our lives.

“And you may now kiss your bride.” The ceremony finished.

As my lips pressed to Levi’s—now my lawfully wedded husband—the mood in the room shifted, and once more, the tension became palpable. The brief moment of peace when I’d rejected Killian in favor of Levi dissipated, making the prince once more the main focus.

“Uh-oh,” Killian muttered as hundreds of wannabe brides eyed him with unnatural hunger.

Even worse, they surged for the dais, the few that grappled with the Knights leaving openings for others to try and rush the stage. It led my new husband tucking me behind his back and drawing his gun.

“You can’t shoot them,” I pleaded.

“I will if they try to hurt you,” he promised. I couldn’t fault him for wanting to protect me.

The Knights and agents retreated to form a ring between us and the curse-maddened women. Levi left my side and joined them, a wall between us and the violence trying to erupt as women held their shoes aloft, screaming, “Pick me!”

All might have been lost if not for the sudden and shrill scream of the woman in emerald green taffeta peeking between Gerome’s legs. “No! What are you doing? You can’t pick her.”

Wait, pick who? What happened?

The chaos subsided, and a sudden silence fell as all eyes suddenly went to Prince Killian, who knelt in front of Belle as he picked up the book she’d dropped. He handed it to her with a murmured, “I think this is yours.”

“Thank you, dear prince.” Belle offered a beaming smile and only because I knew her did I recognize the fakeness of it.

“It is I who must thank you.” Killian rose and clasped Belle’s hands. “It would appear I was mistaken in my affection, confused because of how often you were in close proximity, but you, and only you, dear and fair Belle, are my one true love.”

“Oh, Killian.” Belle batted her lashes so fast they almost took off.

Levi retreated to my side to murmur, “What’s happening?”

I whispered back, “She’s saving the prince.”

Killian whipped out a ring box and popped it open. He held it out so that the diamond within glinted. “Please tell me you’ll marry me and make me the happiest prince alive.”

I saw Belle struggle to not roll her eyes as she held out her hand and crooned, “It would be my pleasure, oh sweet prince.”

A moan of disappointment arose as the ring went on her finger. Dozens began to turn and leave, only to pause as someone shouted, “If she’s really your Cinderella, then marry her, now!”

Belle’s eyes widened, and Killian stiffened before he tried once more to delay. “We can’t have two marriages in one day.”

Not according to the crowd.

“Marry him. Marry him.” The chant grew in volume as the women who’d been jilted insisted on him going through with the farce.

Levi uttered a soft warning to the Knights and agents. “Everyone get ready to evacuate the prince on my count.”

Once more, Belle rose to the occasion. She lifted her head and shouted, “Very well. You want to see me marry the prince, then so be it. If the lady who married Cinder and her Knight would do us the honor?”

For the second time that night, Royal Blue conducted a ceremony this time featuring a shell-shocked prince and a stony-faced bureau agent. I commended Belle for taking the drastic step, even as I mentally made notes on what I’d have to do to get it annulled.

When it ended with “You may kiss the bride,” their lips touched, and was it me, or did I see a spark?

Whatever the case, a visible tremor went through the room as the curse suddenly lifted from all those women. Some of them began to sob. Others stomped angrily away. Angry because they’d not gotten the prince or because the Grimm Effect had duped them?

Didn’t matter. In moments, the ballroom emptied of Cinderellas.

The ball was over.




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