Corbin Read online

  The sailors, stunned by the turn of events but not wanting to suffer the same fate, turned back to their work.

  Sick to my stomach, I turned and looked out at the skyline once more.

  A moment later, I felt Aden’s hand slip into mine.

  Frustration washed over me, and I jerked my hand away. “Don’t. Don’t even. He got what he deserved.”

  “You don’t believe that,” Aden said.

  “Of course I do.”

  Aden set his hand on my shoulder and leaned into my ear. “You are not Mother, so don’t pretend to be.”

  “Ogre,” I hissed at him.

  “Troll,” he chided back, breaking the tension with the same old childish insults we always traded.

  Shaking his head, Aden turned and left me, joining the airship captain at the wheel.

  Clenching my hands into fists, I stared at the horizon. I tried not to think about the man who had fallen. I tried not to wonder if he had a family, a wife, children. I tried not to let the pang of guilt wrap itself around my heart. I couldn’t.

  I was not Mother, but I would be. I had to. If I had to beat every ounce of myself into shape to become what she wanted, I would do that. Because it was either that or I needed to throw myself off the airship and be done with it. There was no middle ground. I would be the Princess of Hearts and nothing else. My whole life depended on it.

  Class is in session! Welcome to Wonderland Academy. Don’t lose your head. Join Amber, Aden, and Alice in Wonderland Academy: Book One by Melanie Karsak

  About the Author

  Melanie Karsak is the author of The Harvesting Series, Steampunk Red Riding Hood, The Celtic Blood Series, The Road to Valhalla, and the Steampunk Fairy Tales Series. A steampunk connoisseur, zombie whisperer, and Shakespeare junkie, the author currently lives in Florida with her husband and two children.

  Keep in touch with the author online.

  Find all of Melanie’s books on AMAZON

  Also by Melanie Karsak

  The Celtic Blood Series:

  Highland Raven

  Highland Blood

  Highland Vengeance

  Highland Queen

  The Harvesting Series:

  The Harvesting

  Midway

  The Shadow Aspect

  Witch Wood

  The Torn World

  Steampunk Fairy Tales:

  Curiouser and Curiouser: Steampunk Alice in Wonderland

  Ice and Embers: Steampunk Snow Queen

  Beauty and Beastly: Steampunk Beauty and the Beast

  Golden Braids and Dragon Blades: Steampunk Rapunzel

  Steampunk Red Riding Hood:

  Wolves and Daggers

  Alphas and Airships

  Peppermint and Pentacles

  Bitches and Brawlers

  Howls and Hallows

  Lycans and Legends

  The Airship Racing Chronicles:

  Chasing the Star Garden

  Chasing the Green Fairy

  The Chancellor Fairy Tales:

  The Glass Mermaid

  The Cupcake Witch

  The Fairy Godfather

  The Road to Valhalla

  Under the Strawberry Moon, A Prequel

  Shield-Maiden: Under the Howling Moon

  Shield-Maiden: Under the Hunter’s Moon

  Shield-Maiden: Under the Thunder Moon