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  "Thanks," I said. "I can't wait to see your kingdom."

  Nori smiled back at us. "Oh, it won't be mine forever," she said. "Someday, it will belong to Shorty. And you."

  Chapter Sixteen

  Two Weeks Later

  "Are you sure this will work?" Shorty asked.

  I drew closer to the pond where our adventure had started. I held the golden flute in both hands and put one finger over a hole, making sure I still knew how to use it. The moon rose higher, shining with the light of hope.

  I'd been practicing every day for the last two weeks at the Star Kingdom castle. I'd go out into the gardens, sitting among silvery tulips I had never seen the likes of in the other world. I rehearsed the song at night under the stars with the galaxy overhead. Shorty and I would sit in the gardens until it got late and we couldn't hold our eyes open anymore. The castle wasn't as huge as the one in the Fox Kingdom, but I didn't mind. Queen Nori never pressured me to wear dresses or go to balls. Shorty, either. In fact, I had put on my old jeans and T-shirt just for tonight so Franco's mind wouldn't explode any more than it had to when he got out of the water.

  "I think this will work," I said. "I don't want to wait another month to do this. But at least we have all night to make it happen."

  I walked closer. Mud spread out under my tennis shoes. Nori had fixed them for me, making them new again right along with my jeans, but I ruined that. The water remained still and calm despite the breeze making the leaves rustle around us. Fireflies blinked in green and even an occasional orange around us. I didn't feel threatened here even though I knew the dark spot was only a few hundred feet from us.

  I raised the flute, put my fingers over two of the holes, and played.

  A tone sounded through the air and I moved my fingers over another hole and blew again. The made-up song I had practiced flowed, and I played faster and faster while Shorty stood there, waiting for something to happen.

  And then the water parted.

  It was magical in the moonlight and much more beautiful than Alric's entrance had been. The water sparkled and opened like a pair of glassy curtains, revealing a shimmering bottom like liquid crystal.

  "It's working," Shorty said.

  And then a shape formed inside.

  A boy, with long messy hair and holey jeans.

  He rose through the barrier as if it were only an illusion. Franco smiled when he laid eyes on me. He reached out, and I grabbed his hand.

  "Welcome back," I said.

  Thank you for reading Glass and Death! If you want to follow me and know when I release my next series, and also when I have something cool like a free book or sale, be sure to sign up HERE for the latest news. You also just might get some free stuff just by signing up...and you can also visit my website at www.hollyhookauthor.com to contact me or see my other titles!

  --Holly Hook

  www.hollyhookauthor.com/books

  Holly Hook is the author of several Young Adult fantasy, science fiction, fairytale, post-apocalyptic and adventure series. She has been writing since very young and publishing her work since September of 2010.

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