laughter and the chaotic clinking of glasses. The aroma of food struck her like a cloud of steam released from a covered pot. Her mouth filled with saliva. Onions and garlic and braised meat and something peppery that stung her eyes—
Her stomach howled at her. Light-headedness crept over her brain like a fog. She hadn’t eaten in over a day, and even that meal had been unsatisfying.
She gulped hard and tried to focus, surveying the room. To her right, enormous windows looked over a lake, bordered on each side by the curved wings of the white palace, like an enormous protective swan. The lake continued as far as she could see. The floor of the room jutted out like a balcony over the water. Although it made for an uninterrupted view, Cinder couldn’t deny a feeling of dread curdling in her stomach. There was no rail to keep a person from falling off the edge.
The swell of conversation started to die out, but it was not until Cinder had breached the line of soldiers that she saw the audience to her left.
The orange light flickered in Cinder’s vision and didn’t go off, no matter where she looked. There were a lot of glamours here.
At the center was Levana, seated upon a massive white throne, the back of which was ornamented with the phases of the moon. She was wearing an elaborate red wedding gown.
Cinder’s retina display began to pick up the queen’s underlying features. It was like being at the ball again, the first time she’d laid eyes on the queen and had realized it might be possible for her optobionics to see beneath the glamour. But it wasn’t an easy task. Her cyborg eyes were in conflict with her own brain and the queen’s manipulation, and her mind couldn’t figure out what it was seeing. The result was a stream of confused data, blurred colors, fragmented lines trying to piece together what was real and what was an illusion.
It was distracting, and already giving her a headache. Cinder blinked the data away.
Five tiers of seats arced around the throne, a crescent of onlookers surrounding Cinder on every side except the one that dropped off to the lake. The Lunar court. Women wore large hats shaped like peacocks and one man had a purring snow leopard draped over his shoulders; dresses were made of gold chains and rubies, platform shoes had beta fish swimming in their heels, skin had been painted metallic silver, eyelashes dotted with rhinestones and fish scales …
Cinder had to squint against the dazzle of it all. Glamour, glamour, glamour.
A chair was pushed back. Cinder’s heart jumped.
The bridegroom stood beside Levana’s throne, wearing a white silk shirt with a red sash. Kai.
“What is this?” he said, his tone somewhere between horrified and relieved.
“This,” said Queen Levana, her eyes full of mirth, “is our entertainment for the evening. Consider it my wedding gift to you.” Beaming, she traced a knuckle down the side of Kai’s face. “Husband.”
Kai ducked away from her touch, redness climbing into his cheeks. Cinder knew it wasn’t embarrassment or bashfulness, though. That was all fury. She could feel it in how the air crackled around him.
Levana twirled a fingernail through the air. “Tonight’s proceedings will be broadcast live, so my people can witness and join in the celebrations of this most glorious day. And also so they may know the fate of the impostor who dares to call herself queen.”
Ignoring her, Cinder examined the ceiling. There were no cameras that she could see, but she knew Levana had a way of creating surveillance devices that were practically invisible.
Given that the queen wasn’t wearing a veil, it was safe to assume any video footage would be focused on their “entertainment.” Levana wanted the people to see Cinder’s execution. She wanted them to lose hope for their revolution.
Levana raised her arms. “Let us begin the feast.”
A line of uniformed servants traipsed single file from behind a curtain. The first knelt at the queen’s feet and whisked a dome off a tray, holding it above his head. The queen’s smirk grew as she selected a large, pink prawn and pulled the flesh between her teeth.
Another servant knelt before Kai, while the others surrounded the room and dropped to their knees before the audience, revealing trays of orange fish eggs and steamed oyster shells, braised tenderloin strips and stuffed peppers. Cinder realized that Kai was not the only Earthen in the room after all. She recognized his adviser,
Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 1 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 2 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 3 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 4 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 5 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 6 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 7 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 8 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 9 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 10 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 11 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 12 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 13 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 14 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 15 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 16 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 17 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 18 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 19 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 20 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 21 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 22 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 23 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 24 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 25 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 26 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 27 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 28 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 29 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 30 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 31 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 32 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 33 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 34 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 35 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 36 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 37 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 38 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 39 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 40 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 41 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 42 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 43 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 44 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 45 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 46 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 47 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 48 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 49 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 50 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 51 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 52 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 53 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 54 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 55 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 56 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 57 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 58 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 59 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 60 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 61 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 62 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 63 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 64 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 65 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 66 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 67 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 68 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 69 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 70 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 71 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 72 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 73 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 74 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 75 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 76 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 77 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 78 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 79 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 80 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 81 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 82 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 83 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 84 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 85 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 86 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 87 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 88 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 89 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 90 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 91 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 92 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 93 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 94 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 95 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 96 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 97 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 98 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 99 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 100 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 101 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 102 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 103 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 104 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 105 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 106 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 107 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 108 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 109 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 110 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 111 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 112 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 113 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 114 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 115 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 116 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 117 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 118 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 119 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 120 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 121 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 122 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 123 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 124 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 125 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 126 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 127 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 128 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 129 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 130 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 131 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 132 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 133 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 134 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 135 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 136 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 137 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 138 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 139 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 140 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 141 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 142 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 143 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 144 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 145 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 146 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 147 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 148 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 149 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 150 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 151 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 152 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 153 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 154 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 155 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 156 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 157 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 158 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 159 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 160 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 161 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 162 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 163 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 164 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 165 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 166 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 167 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 168 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 169 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 170 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 171 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 172 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 173 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 174 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 175 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 176 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 177 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 178 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 179 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 180 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 181 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 182 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 183 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 184 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 185 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 186 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 187 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 188 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 189 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 190 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 191 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 192 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 193 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 194 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 195 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 196 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 197 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 198 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 199 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 200 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 201 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 202 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 203 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 204 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 205 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 206 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 207 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 208 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 209 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 210 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 211 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 212 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 213 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 214 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 215 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 216 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 217 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 218 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 219 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 220 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 221 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 222 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 223 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 224 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 225 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 226 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 227 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 228 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 229 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 230 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 231 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 232 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 233 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 234 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 235 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 236 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 237 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 238 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 239 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 240 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 241 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 242 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 243 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 244 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 245 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 246 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 247 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 248 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 249 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 250 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 251 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 252 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 253 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 254 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 255 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 256 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 257 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 258 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 259 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 260 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 261 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 262 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 263 Winter (The Lunar Chronicles #4) - Marissa Meyer - Page 264