Echoed Lullabies (Lunar Chronicles x Reader)

Chapter 105

Standing on the dais on which he'd been crowned the king of Luna, Kai crossed his arms and scowled into the audience. The leaders and diplomats from the Earthen Union were stone-faced in an attempt to hide the anger lurking under the surface. Levana had locked them in the great hall with guards posted outside each door along with hundreds of Lunar aristocrats, who smirked and tittered at the Earthens as though they were exotic animals—adorable and fascinating and harmless.

He could hear the distant sounds of fighting and stampeding feet, but they were muffled by the thick stone walls.

The threat of revolt and the massacre of thousands of their countrymen was not enough to taint the Lunars' revelry. They were acting as though they were at a circus. Cheering when the sounds of fighting got louder outside. Placing bets on different thaumaturges and who would have the highest death count when it was done. Making crude jokes about who among them would be going without cashmere wraps and blueberry wine next season if the laborers from the outer sectors didn't stop playing at war games and get back to work, lazy buffoons that they were.

Listening to it had Kai's vision blazing red. He didn't realize his hands had been tightened into trembling fists until Torin settled a hand on his shoulder. Kai started, then forced his fists open and took in a calming breath. "They have no idea," he said. "They have no clue what it's like in the outer sectors, no gratitude at all for the workers that allow them to have the luxuries they do. They believe they're entitled to everything they've been given."

"I agree, it's sickening and perhaps even unforgivable," said Torin, "but we should consider that they have been kept in ignorance as much as those in the outer sectors have."

Kai snarled. He was not in the mood to feel sympathetic toward these people. "It would appear the honeymoon is over."

"I must say, the queen does have a flair for the dramatic." Torin cast a sly grin toward Kai. "So, it seems, does her niece."

He smothered a twitch of pride. Cinder did have a knack for making an entrance. "What have we learned?"

"All of the exits have been bolted shut from the outside, and if the Lunars are to be believed, there are two guards posted at each exit."

"Guards are easily manipulated, aren't they?" Kai gestured toward the audience. "These Lunars—do you think they could control the guards through the doors? Cinder always said she could detect people through doors, but I don't know if she could also manipulate them. But if we could get some of these Lunars to manipulate the guards into unlatching the doors, then clear a path down to the docks ... maybe we could get everyone to safety."

"The docks would offer shelter and the potential for escape should Linh-dàren fail," said Torin, "but I can't imagine these Lunars choosing to help us anytime soon."

Kai blinked. It was the first time he'd heard anyone refer to Cinder as Linh-dàren—a title of high honor.

"You're right," he said. "They won't help us, and they're idiots for it. Have they even stopped to think why Levana locked them in here too? They think they're invincible because they're under her protection, but Levana doesn't care about them. She'll use them as quickly as anyone if she thinks it will further her cause."

A distant rumble shook the palace, followed by yelling, throaty and furious, from what could have been thousands of voices. Then there was a rain of gunfire.

Kai shuddered. Even knowing Levana had gone to meet Cinder and whatever allies she'd persuaded to join her, it hadn't seemed real. A revolution, a battle ... it was incomprehensible. But now there were guns and people were dying and they were trapped.

"That was a bomb!" screamed a representative from Eastern Europe. "They're bombing the palace! They're going to kill us all!"

A group of nearby Lunars started to titter and cry out in mocking fear, "A bomb, oh stars, not a bomb!"