Smoke and Survival (Best Wishes Book 2)

by A. J. Macey

  “Your Majesty.” I continued to stare at her shoes. What the hell does one do when face to face with royalty?

  “You don’t have to bow.” Her tanned hand came to rest on my arm, and I think my brain fizzled out of commission as my gaze raised to meet hers. “Mir is a close friend of mine, and she’s quite the famous woman around here.” Her eyes held the tiniest glint of something I couldn’t place as she shifted to stand beside me, and Logan moved to stand with Landon on my left. “On the day of my coronation she came in during the celebration and materialized a full ballroom of living, animated plants that danced to a song she had commissioned for me.” Her voice filled with wistfulness.

  “How did she do that?” I asked quietly, staring into the deep sapphire eyes of a missing woman.

  “Her wish token. She was able to conjure such wonderful treats with her coin. She’s one of the most famous Djinn, but she’s been missing for almost two decades.” Her sorrow was palpable in the quiet hall.

  “She’s a Djinn?” I whipped my head to the queen forgetting momentarily that she was royalty and I was, well, a nobody.

  “Well, yes.” Her voice was hesitant as she eyed me. “I thought she was your grandmother or great grandmother.” I felt my heart squeeze painfully at her thought.

  “I was adopted as a baby, and I don’t know who my family is.” I fiddled with my necklace chain, my eyes on the coin in the portrait. “Is this her token?” The cold coin settled into my palm as I held it out for her to examine.

  “Yes, it is.” She smiled down at the coin before looking at me. “You may not know who your family is in its entirety, but you have at least one person,” she said warmly as her right hand waved out toward the painting. “I will let the Dean know if I hear anything from her or find out what happened to her if you would like.” The portrait wavered through unshed tears as I launched myself into her arms, squeezing her tightly around the waist.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you,” I mumbled, a sob breaking through my words. The emotional rollercoaster of the last few weeks tumbled out with my tears. Her warm arms wrapped around me, a hand rubbing up and down my back gently as I continued to cry.

  “It’s all right, Love, everything will be all right. You’re safe,” Logan and Landon both cooed softly, their husky words comforting me. “We’ll keep you safe.” I pulled back when I finally realized what I was doing.

  “Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” I stammered, my hand covering my mouth when I saw a water stain on her silky dress. “I’ve had a really, really hard time the last few weeks, and I think it finally caught up with me,” I rushed to explain, embarrassment flooding my cheeks.

  “It’s all right, little one.” Her hand resting on my shoulder drew my eyes up to the pastel green irises laced with golden shimmering streaks that stared down at me. “One does not fully live if one does not feel. It is what separates those who merely exist and those who truly thrive.” Her heartfelt words radiated through me down to my very bones, as if she was my mentor and not a queen. I nodded slightly, a loose strand of blonde hair falling into my eyes before I tucked it behind my ear.

  “Thank you.” I bent my head forward, grateful for her willingness to help me. Professor Rasmussen’s voice broke through the moment, calling us back to the group at the end of the hall. Students stared shamelessly as I stepped back from the queen. Great.

  “Of course, Lucienne, I look forward to seeing you in the future.” She patted my shoulder gently before she turned and walked back into the throne room. I inhaled a shaky breath as I wiped my eyes, and Landon and Logan took up their usual positions on either side of me.

  “Look at you, Lemon Drop, making friends with a Fae Queen.” Landon’s tone was teasing, his arm wrapping warmly around my shoulders with a gentle squeeze. A slightly hysterical laugh bubbled up through me, echoing against the marble and mixing with the increasing volume of my fellow students’ conversations. The rest of the trip passed with no more bouts of uncontrollable crying or thoughts of Noah, my mind focused solely on Mireille Bonheur and who she was to me.

  13

  November 18th

  Sunday Morning

  Lucienne

  I eyed the outfit Sadie had picked out for me; a slinky navy blouse, a black pair of skinny jeans, my cream chunky knit cardigan sweater, and a simple pair of cream colored heels. My heart stuttered in my chest as I thought about going on an actual date for the first time in years. Sadie had taken what had been coined ‘Lucie Duty’ this morning after I had asked her if she’d help me get ready for my date. I don’t think I can do this. My stomach turned with a surge of nerves.

  “All right, girl, take a seat.” She waved her hand at the wooden chair she had dragged in from the main library. I sank into the hard seat and focused on my breathing. “Anything in particular you’d like me to do?” I shook my head, my hair shifting on the back of the plushy robe I was wearing. “I think since you have your hair up most of the time we should leave it down, or mostly down.” Her brightly painted fingernails peeked out between the blonde strands as she ran her fingers through my hair. I nodded again, willing to let her do as she wanted.

  She spent the next half hour curling large, loose curls, shortening my hair up to the middle of my back. She worked quietly, focusing solely on my hair, and my music filled the silence. I didn’t have a mirror in front of me, so her moving my hair from my face was the only indication she was styling it.

  “I’m so excited! Now time for your makeup.” Sadie clapped her hands sharply after she slid in yet another bobby pin. I tried to channel some of her excitement, but I was filled with too much anxiety. What if this goes terribly? I don’t know how to even act on a date! What if he doesn’t want to be with me after this? What if Noah shows up? Fears filtered through my head at a dizzying speed. My breathing started to pick up, eyes tunneling.

  “Lucie.” Warm hands cupped my face, bringing me back to the moment. Sadie’s blue hair was pulled back out of her face, her purple glasses winking in the lamp lighting. “What’s going on in that head of yours?” I took a deep breath, and her hands dropped from my face.

  “I’m nervous,” I mumbled, my finger worrying my lip. “I’ve never really been on a date.” She stood straight, her hands fisted on her hips as she smiled down at me.

  “Even if it goes terribly, none of them are going anywhere.” Confidence shone through her statement. At least one of us feels good about tonight. “They love you too much for that.”

  “We’ve only been together for like two weeks, how could they love me?” I scoffed, but despite my protests, hope swelled in my chest at her words.

  “Trust me, they’ve got it something fierce. I know it’s nerve wracking, but just try to have fun. You deserve it.” She wrapped her arms around my shoulders, and I squeezed her waist tightly, glad we hadn’t started makeup or it would have smeared everywhere. I pulled back and swiped my eyes, quickly drying the tears that threatened to escape.

  “Thank you, Sadie, now let’s get makeup on before I want to cry some more.” Happy laughter filled the air, my nerves settling as she started on my eye makeup.

  November 18th

  Sunday Late Afternoon

  Hudson

  I took a deep breath, my heart thudding behind my tie and dress shirt. I rubbed my free hand on my jeans, drying the sweat that had accumulated on my palm. Raising a slightly trembling fist, I knocked softly on her wooden door and stepped back after hearing shuffling on the other side. My jaw went slack when she opened the door. Holy shit. Her deep blue shirt brought out her eyes which were played up with a mix of brown shadows and black eyeliner. Her hair was curled, the top half pulled up and out of her face and knotted in a fancy bun. She had a small bag in her hand and a sweater folded over her arm. I adjusted my quickly hardening cock that grew stiffer when she turned to close and lock her bedroom door, and I got an eyeful of her denim clad ass. Fuck me, those luscious curves. I held out the small bundle of roses I had picked up from the small shop on Mai
n Street.

  “You look beautiful, Lucie,” I murmured, unable to take my eyes off her. Her sapphire irises sparkled as she took the flowers from me, a bright smile and flushed cheeks lighting up her face.

  “Thank you, they’re beautiful.” She sniffed the flowers, her eyes closing as she took a deep inhale of the fragrant red bulbs. “You look very handsome, hon.” She looked me up and down, and I was glad I went with the blue dress shirt and black tie. I cupped the back of her head gently and placed a soft kiss against her pink lips. She tasted like cherries, her vanilla scent swirling around me in a blanket of delicious sweetness.

  “Ready, Princess?” I wrapped my arm over her shoulder as we made our way through the library, sticking close to the stacks and away from the main study area. She hummed a soft agreement and curled under my arm, roses cradled close to her chest. “We can leave the roses in the car if you would like? I figured we’d drive since it’s supposed to be cold out later.” I pushed open the front door to the library and held it open for her. She pulled on her sweater, wrapping it tightly around her before cuddling back under my arm.

  “I’d love that. Besides, my muscles are so sore from all the working out and walking around Fae yesterday, so I think walking would be a bad idea. I kind of like my feet to be functional.” She chuckled, the click of her heels on the cement emphasizing her point.

  “How was your trip?” I asked, opening the passenger door to my car. Her dimples appeared when her smile grew wide at the gesture.

  “It was really fun.” She paused her response for me to get in on my side. Once we were both buckled, she rushed through her words. “Walked around the main buildings, had lunch with the twins, met the queen, learned about my family.”

  “Wait, what? You met the queen? And what do you mean learned about your family?” My brows drew down, the campus fading in the rearview mirror as I pulled out onto the main road.

  “Our professor set it up. She came out and answered our questions for a while and when we were in the hallway with all these portraits, I found a woman who looks exactly like me; she even had my wish token.” I flicked my eyes over to her, seeing pale fingers clutching the coin around her neck.

  “Who is she?” I had to admit, I was dying to know more about her. A family member in the Spring Court capitol building? Impressive.

  “Mireille Bonheur. She was born in 1940, but she disappeared and no one knows where to. The queen confirmed that these were her wish tokens and said she hadn’t heard from her in almost two decades. She was a famous Djinn.” I heard the smile in her voice as she continued to stare at the token.

  “The queen confirmed it? You had a private conversation with the queen?” She really is just full of surprises.

  “Well, not fully private, the twins and Gerry were there, but yeah. Lily Attwell, the Queen of the Spring Court, told me about my grandmother or great grandmother. Hell, she even let me hug her when I started crying. Honestly, now that I’m thinking about it, it was pretty surreal.” She smiled at me, her dimples and white teeth drawing my attention. I found myself smiling back at her, unable to fight the infectious joy in her face.

  “That’s amazing, Princess, I’m glad you could learn about your family.” I looked back at the road, turning into the nearly empty restaurant parking lot. “But why did you cry?”

  “I think the stress of the last few weeks just overwhelmed me and learning about my family was, I don’t know, the final straw?” Her words tilted up, making it into a question. “I’m all right now though. I’m excited for food and our movie. You’re staying tonight, right?” I nodded before getting out of the car, my shoes quiet on the pavement around the car. “Speaking of you staying, where is Troy?” Her head looked around us toward the parking lot.

  “They did their shift change when I picked you up, so Troy should be here somewhere.” I locked the car and held my arm out for her, and thin fingers curled around my elbow in response. My lips pressed against her temple as we walked across the parking lot, the smell of the restaurant growing strong in the cold air. I greeted the hostess politely and relayed the reservation information. She motioned for us to follow as she grabbed two menus. I nudged Lucie to go first, my hand resting on her lower back.

  The small booth was off to the right against one of the walls, but not near a window. A tealight candle on the table flickered next to the single rose in a small glass vase. The white tablecloth was smooth under my hands as I slid into the booth, Lucie sitting on the side opposite me. We scanned the menu in silence before telling our orders to the waiter who kept sneaking glances at Lucie as he jotted them down. Lucie seemed completely oblivious to his attention, even when his fingers brushed hers as he took the menu from her. I ground my teeth at the nerve of this asshole while Lucie’s face scrunched in confusion as he walked away.

  “So, sweets,” she started, her attention shifting to me as she crossed her arms in front of her on the table. I had to force my eyes to stay on her face and not at her recently unwrapped chest that was being propped up on her arms. “Tell me something about yourself.” Her eyes twinkled in the soft lighting. I smiled and mimicked her stance, the leaning bringing me close enough to smell the way her signature vanilla scent mixed with the fresh rose that sat between us.

  “Let’s see… I’m a junior at the university, my favorite color is green, and I have two little sisters. One is in middle school and the other is a sophomore in high school.” I chuckled as I thought about them.

  “What are their names?” Lucie’s voice was excited, her chin resting on her palm as she looked at me.

  “Ella and Aria. Ella is the sixth grader and Aria is the high schooler. They love to help our parents at their jobs when they get a chance, pretty sure they’ll follow in their footsteps.” A soft smile curled my lips as I saw Lucie’s eyes widen slightly in excitement, her full attention on me and what I was saying despite the fact that the waiter had just walked by with another glance at Lucie.

  “What do your parents do?” she asked, face lighting up with a broad smile.

  “My mom’s a vet, and my dad is a park ranger. They’re both really into outdoorsy stuff and gardens,” I explained. “One of my mom’s favorite things to do is go to The Garden in the Spring Court with Dante’s mom.”

  “What’s The Garden? And your mom’s friends with his mom?” Her brow wrinkled in thought, probably trying to organize all the new information in her mind. It was sometimes hard to remember that she had only been with us for the last couple of months, not the years that we’d all known each other. Before I could answer, the annoying waiter returned with our drinks, setting my iced tea in front of me and a soda in front of Lucie. She gave a quick ‘thank you’ before her eyes returned to me despite the waiter’s attention solely on her face. After a few awkward moments, he mumbled something I couldn’t hear and walked off.

  “The Garden is the Spring Court’s official botanical garden. It’s over 250 acres and has pretty much any flower and plant you could think of in it. It even has different biosphere domes to allow plants that flourish in the other courts to thrive in a new climate. A lot of fae who go to school there visit it for a field trip.” Pausing quickly, I took a drink of my tea, then continued as I added in two packets of sugar. “Miranda and my mom love to go and just walk through it or sit in the greenhouse cafe and enjoy tarts and tea.” Lucie’s eyes were bright; the longer I talked the more interested she became.

  “Can we go some time?” she exclaimed excitedly, her arm that was propped up falling to the table as she asked. Chuckling, I nodded, knowing full well I had wanted to take her there before she even asked.

  “Maybe we can make it a weekend trip. There’s a little bed and breakfast nearby that I love. They make the best pastries.” At the mention of pastries, Lucie moaned lightly. I knew she loved any type of baked goods, but the moan had my thoughts traveling in another direction. In an attempt to distract my thoughts, I started asking about her. “Tell me about you, Princess.”

 
; “Well you already know I grew up believing I was human,” she began, her eyes dropping to her glass. “I know I said I was adopted, but that was a lie.” I reared my head back at the news. Lucie lied? “I was found when I was a baby outside the restaurant my mom worked at. My birth mother left a note saying how she and I weren’t safe.” Her voice was soft, keeping the conversation between us. “I didn’t know until the day before graduation. Before that though,” she perked up, “I would help my mom bake for her catering jobs or for the holidays. I usually handled the cooking because, while my mom can bake with the best of them, she sucks at cooking.” I laughed at the admission, the scent of our food interrupting her stories as the server set them in front of us. My seafood dish looked delicious, and by the expression on Lucie’s face, she was really looking forward to her pasta.

  “What else?” I prompted before taking a bite. She finished chewing, giving another moan at how good it was before continuing.

  “Charlie and I have been best friends since we were really little. We used to get into so much shit. Mainly Charlie’s ideas but I tagged along for the adventures.” She laughed, her fork twirling the fettuccine around the tines. “I was on the cross country and track teams when I was in middle school, decided in high school to focus more on school work because the races were almost every weekend and I was taking advanced classes.” She shrugged, a small smile curling her lips. “That’s about it, I was just a normal kid.” Even though she didn’t say it, I heard the unspoken words until Noah. I swallowed down the bite I had in my mouth that had turned to lead at the thought. To my surprise, I was thankful when the waiter stopped at our table again, pulling us away from the spiral our conversation could have taken. We slipped into easy conversation for the rest of dinner, me doing most of the talking to keep any mention of Noah far away.