“It will be ok,” said Cynder, putting his hands on my shoulders behind me. I gave a huge sigh, and he kneaded the tension from my shoulders. As much as I hated to admit it, I welcomed his touch.
“I don’t know if it will be. The monarchy is too frail to stand another scandal. Two days ago you were the kingdom’s hero, and now they hate you. It’s like every day there is something new. One day you are the favorite, the next it’s Luca. The whole thing is madness.”
Cynder stopped what he was doing and spun me around. Dropping the curtains I’d been holding open, I turned to face him. His hand went to my face, touching my skin. My body reacted immediately as it always did when he touched me. Heat flooded through me at his slightest touch.
“I promise it will be fine.” He kissed me lightly on the lips, and despite myself, I closed my eyes, savoring it.
“Stop!” I said, but he already had. “It was the kiss of a friend, no more.” He smiled. “We stick to the plan. If the interviewer asks about my sisters , we say “no comment” and leave it at that.”
If only it were so simple. I followed him out of the room up to the sitting room where I knew Marybelle and her crew would be waiting. The “kiss of a friend” still burning on my lips.
“You’ve had quite the week,” began Marybelle, not giving us time to prepare. I’d wanted to tell her not to speak about Cynder’s sisters, but she’d gone straight into her interview, the second we’d both sat down.
“Yes, Marybelle, thank you.” I pulled down the hem of my skirt and tried to look in control. “This week has been quite an adventure. Firstly, we rescued a young boy from drowning, and this morning I began the process of rolling out a new initiative at the police headquarters for Magi to join the police force. At the moment there is not a single Magi police officer in the whole of Silverwood. That’s a startling statistic and one I’d like to see changed in the near future.”
“Of course. What do you make of the rumors about Cynder here?” She turned to him, her newly blonde curls bobbing behind her. “Did the queen know you had a wife when she invited you to the palace?”
“No comment.” Cynder crossed his arms defiantly.
“He’s not married,” I butted in. “It’s a vicious rumor and no more. Cynder and I have already spoken about it, and neither of us has anything more to say on the matter.”
“But surely you must be wondering if you can trust him, after all, his wife has provided evidence that they shared a last name and that they lived together.”
I gripped the hem of my skirt and began to pick at a loose thread. How Cynder could sit there so calmly was beyond me. While part of me wanted to scream out that she was once his foster sister, I knew it would do no good. Cynder didn’t want his past raked through by the media, and I could understand that. The beginnings of the Freedom of Magic movement were founded in those early years and to expose any of his history would likely bring down the group.
“I trust Cynder. I hope that you and the viewing public at home will also be able to do the same. Only two nights ago, he saved the life of a young boy who had been thrown into a freezing cold canal.” I tried changing the subject, but Marybelle wouldn’t be swayed.
“It’s just been brought to my attention that as well as the proof of marriage I mentioned earlier, there is also a wedding photograph.” On a screen behind her, a photograph of Cynder was displayed. He was looking very handsome in a suit. Next to him was Drusilla Bloom wearing what only could be described as a wedding dress.
The look of shock on my face as I took in the photo was not put on for the public. It was too late, they’d already seen it.
Anger and Passion Defeated
“You trust me right?” Cynder had to run to keep up with me as I stormed down the corridor away from Marybelle and her crew. I wasn’t sure if I was angry at Cynder or angry at the press, but I sure knew I was angry at someone. The whole interview had been a fiasco from the start. I’d gone into it believing that Drusilla was Cynder’s sister or ex-foster sister or stepsister, but the proof she was his wife kept coming, and the more I tried to deny it, the more ridiculous and naive I looked. Cynder had done nothing to help matters. He’s replied “no comment” to every question thrown at him, leaving me looking like a pathetic fool.
“I don’t know what I feel right now. Just leave me alone!”
“I’m telling you the truth!” he shouted as I ran along the corridor, desperate to be away from him, from everyone.
“I’ve never lied to you, Charm,” he said as I arrived at my bedroom door. He’d followed me the whole way.
“You didn’t tell me that you were a freedom fighter. You never mentioned Drusilla until Leo found out about her. You may not have lied to me, but you sure kept some important facts to yourself.”
“I’m sorry. Last year, I barely saw you. Every second I had with you was special, and I didn’t want to waste it by talking about my past, and since I’ve been here, it’s been nothing but meetings and interviews. We’ve not had a proper chance to talk alone. I’ll tell you anything you want to know about my past if you give me the chance. What is it you want to know?”
“I want to know if I should really trust you. You are right, we’ve never really talked, not ever. Our whole relationship has been built on dancing and danger, but we barely know each other.”
“I know enough to know that I love you, and that I have loved you from the moment you walked in on me doing the dishes last year.”
“I’m sorry, Cynder. I’m not sure that’s enough anymore.”
I walked through the door of my bedroom, slamming it in his face and threw myself down face first on the bed.
I hated feeling sorry for myself, but no matter what I did, something always seemed to go wrong. I did trust Cynder, I’d trusted him all along, but the sheer amount of evidence Marybelle had produced was overwhelming. Every time I’d tried brushing it off, she’d come up with something else, and while I’d flapped about, trying to think up things to say, Cynder had kept quiet about the whole thing.
I wanted to be by myself to process everything, but even that was not to be. Only minutes later there was a knock at my door. I ignored it, hoping whoever it was would go away, especially if it was Cynder, but the door opened. I turned to find Luca standing at the end of my bed.
“What’s the matter? Cynder said you were upset. Something about the interview. He didn’t go into specifics, but he thought you might need someone to talk to.”
“I’m not upset! I’m angry!” I replied, but as I said it, I noticed the tears rolling down my face. Luca was by my side in a flash, holding me. I let the tears of frustration fall, and I let Luca comfort me. I needed him so badly right now.
His arms engulfed me, taking away the pain I was feeling. He made no sound, but gently rocked me and stroked my hair until my tears subsided.
“What am I doing?” I asked, buried deep within his arms.
“Hmm?”
I looked up at his face. It showed nothing but love and concern for me. I’d asked him what I was doing, but the truth was I knew what I had been doing. I’d been messing with my own emotions and those of Cynder and Luca, and although I’d not physically cheated on Luca, emotionally I had. I’d told Marybelle right from the start that I was going to marry Luca, and yet, I’d let Cynder kiss me as recently as a couple of hours ago. I’d said stop and brushed it off as something innocent, but it wasn’t innocent. Nothing about what I did with Cynder was innocent. It shouldn’t matter to me whether he was married or single, except in terms of how people would view it, but it did matter, and I hated that. I needed to purge Cynder from my system. We all knew he was only here for the media and the public and yet this whole time, I’d been hoping for more. It was time to put that hope behind me and look to the man who was sitting in front of me. The man I’d promised my life to.
I leaned forward and kissed him slowly. He seemed surprised at first, and I couldn’t blame him. I’d been pulling away from him for so long that he
’d gotten used to it. As my lips parted his, he soon got over the shock and followed my lead, pulling closer to me, exploring me, his hands on my body, finding places I’d not let him touch before. To my surprise, I was enjoying it. Any fear or hesitation I’d felt in the past disappeared, leaving me with a wanton desire to discover him completely. I’d seen his body once before when I put him in his pajamas in Thalia, and then I’d been nervous, in a hurry to get it over with. Now there was an urgency, but at the same time, I was in no rush. The buttons on his shirt came open easily, letting me feel the warmth of his smooth chest as I ran my hand under the starched white material.
He groaned and kissed me harder, pushing me flat onto the bed. And then he was above me. His weight pinned me down, leaving me breathless. I’d waited so long for this, and he had too. Long enough.
His lips trailed down to my neck, giving me goosebumps and spreading heat throughout my body. Almost without thinking, I arched my hips up to meet his, and he groaned once again, urging me on. Pulling his shirt free from his trousers where he’d had it tucked in, I drew it down his arms and tossed it to the floor.
Our embrace became much more passionate as I marveled at the hardness of his muscular arms and the feel of his chest upon my own.
“Do you want this?” he whispered.
“Yes.” I breathed back. I did want it, I needed it.
He began to undo the buttons on the front of my dress but stopped.
“I do want it. I’m ready!” I said urgently.
“I know, it’s not that. Your buttons are stuck.”
I looked down. They’d been fine when Xavi had dressed me earlier.
The dress itself was pretty basic with pretty gold buttons that buttoned down the whole length of it. I had a go with the top one, but it wouldn’t open. The next two were the same.
“It’s fine.” I sat up, kissing Luca again. “I can pull the dress over my head.”
He took my hand in his.
“I want this as much as you do. Hell, I want it more than you do, but maybe there is a reason those buttons don’t open. You told me a while back that you wanted your first time to be special. It’s not special if you are only doing it because you are upset.”
“I’m not upset,” I replied too quickly.
“Angry then. I don’t want you to look back and remember it like this.” He stood from the bed and retrieved his shirt. I watched as he pulled it back on and began to button it up.
“Please don’t go!” I whispered, the tears threatening again. I was so ready for him.
“I’m not going anywhere.” He lay back down on the bed and pulled me close. I rested my head on his bare chest where he’d not done his buttons up yet.
A thousand thoughts and emotions swirled around in my brain, but the tiredness I’d been fighting all day overcame me, and I fell asleep, safe in Luca’s arms.
Later when I awoke, Luca went down to dinner, leaving me to freshen up. I ran to the bathroom and glanced at myself in the mirror. The mascara that had been carefully applied by one of Xavi’s team was now smudged all around my eyes giving me the appearance of a panda. I washed my face clean of all my makeup and gave myself a long look in the mirror. At only nineteen years of age, I was a young queen, but the last year had taken its toll. The young, carefree girl I used to be was long gone. Instead, a weary woman stared back at me. I sighed. Looking down at my buttons, I tried the top one again. This time it opened easily as did the others. Fastening them back up I wondered why they hadn’t earlier. It was almost like someone had fastened them shut with magic.
The Garden Party
The next week passed quickly. What with having to read more sensationalist crap every day from the newspapers, and having daily meetings with Leo and Dean about everything going on in the police force, I’d almost forgotten about my date with Luca. I’d barely seen him since our kissing session had come to an abrupt halt. He’d spent most of the week organizing the garden party with Cynder and Jenny. I was glad they were all so busy because it meant I hadn’t had to see Cynder either. There was so much evidence that he was really married that appeared every day in the papers, that I’d given up and taken to not reading them at all. I had too many important things to deal with such as running a kingdom, to worry about my pathetic excuse for a love life.
The weather outside had warmed up considerably, and now spring was in full bloom. The showers that usually fell all April had kept at bay and on the morning of both the date and the garden party, the sun shone down, warming the palace gardens and bathing them in the unseasonable heat. It would make Xavi’s job a little easier. She always hated it when I had to wear boots instead of pretty shoes.
The garden party was a ruse to get the Freedom of Magic into the grounds to have a meeting with them, but to make it work, an actual garden party had been planned for the early afternoon. After that, we would all retire inside and make plans for the future. Once that was over, I was free to go on my date with Luca. It exhausted me just thinking about it.
Jenny knocked on my bedroom door early and presented me with a silver tray with a fully cooked breakfast, a bowl of fruit, and a jug of coffee. There was also a small vase with a beautiful pink flower in it. It was so out of character that I almost thought I’d dreamed it until the smell of the bacon and coffee swirled around me.
“Has someone died?” I quipped, pouring myself a cup of the coffee and swirling a spoon of sugar into it.
“Only the pigs for the bacon and sausages,” she replied back. “Luca asked me to bring you this. He wants you to have a day you’ll remember forever. He asked me what way would you like to be woken the most and I told him you can’t go wrong with bacon when it comes to you.”
I grinned up at her. “You are not wrong,” I replied, spearing a piece and taking a bite.
“I’ll leave you alone, but he told me to tell you to go to Xavi and dress up for the occasion.”
“I was planning to. Whatever I wear for the garden party will have to do for the date tonight. I’ll not have time to change in between.”
“I think Luca expects you to wear something extravagant. He’s got something wonderful planned.”
“He has?” My heart dropped. I’d told Luca to plan something special, but extravagant? I wasn’t sure I was up for too much, especially as I had a busy day to get through first.
“Yes, he has!” Jenny clapped her hands together in glee.
“What exactly has he got planned?” I asked, suddenly feeling worried. Jenny rarely got this excited.
“I can’t say!” She ran her hand across her mouth and pretend zipped it, before leaving my room with a big grin on her face.
Great! Just what I needed, something else to worry about.
Xavi was already waiting for me with her whole team when I arrived at the dressing room. Just as Jenny had been, she was filled with excitement about the coming day.
“I’ve got a garden party today,” I began. “I need something light, just above the ankle maybe, with no heels.” I didn’t want to spend the afternoon on my tip toes for fear of sinking into the lawn.
“No, no, no.”
“Excuse me?”
“You are going to be wearing something special today. I’ve already chosen it.”
She clapped her hands and immediately two of the helpers brought out the longest dress I’d ever seen. Yards and yards of pink material floated behind it like a train. Another helper held out a pair of matching pink shoes.
“I can’t wear that. It will get filthy out in the garden.”
“Luca tells me that a marquee has been erected and flooring has been put down to cover the grass. You’ll be fine, and what’s more, You’ll look stunning.”
I sat in the chair waiting for Alezis to do my hair and feeling blindsided. Why was it that no occasion ever called for me to wear long pants and comfortable shoes? My mind flashed back to the few days I’d been on the run with Cynder where I’d been able to dress as I liked. Our date had been the same. I’d
been allowed to be me. I threw the thought away. Thinking of Cynder hurt and I didn’t want to feel anything but focused on the day ahead. What may look to the outside world as a day of fun and frivolity was actually a coordinated political event, and I, for one, couldn’t wait to get the party part over and bring everyone inside for the meeting. Although Leo and Daniel had been keeping me up–to-date with everything that was going on at the police headquarters, it was fair to say that they were getting nowhere finding The Regent, despite hiring the best men and women to join the task force. I tried not to be disappointed, after all, they’d spent the first few days of the week doing interviews and hiring, but I’d hoped that with all the technology they had, they’d be able to come up with something in the past three days. A lead—anything.
Alezis combed my hair up, spending way too long making it into the most complicated updo I’d ever seen. It was going to be a nightmare to take down later that night. He must have used about a hundred pins to keep it in place, not to mention a whole can of hairspray. My make up was surprisingly light, just a touch of pink that matched the airy dress.
At midday exactly, I wandered downstairs to the main doors, holding on to the back of my dress for fear of tripping over it. It was quite the most cumbersome outfit and totally wrong for a meeting with a secret group of fighters. How I wished that I’d scheduled the garden party and the date with Luca on different days. Luca met me by the door, his eyes sparkling although not as much as his suit on which the silver buttons had been polished, so that they shone like stars. He was wearing the uniform of his country, a suit usually only worn on special occasions.
“You look stunning, my dear,” he said, kissing my cheek.
“Don’t you think this is a little too much for a garden party?” I asked, dropping the train at his feet.
“Nonsense. You’ll be the belle of the ball!” He held his arm out, and I took it. I needed it to be able to walk steadily over the garden.
Lucky Charm Page 18
