Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(11)

I nodded my head gratefully. The whiskey wasn’t taking my pain away, it was just stripping the lining from my throat. I much preferred the freshness and bubbles of champagne. Seraphia left the room and came back a couple of minutes later with a young servant carrying two champagne flutes and a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she said, taking the bottle and pouring me a glass. I never thought I’d see the day when I’d get a new sister-in-law.”

“Why do you say that?” I asked, although I knew full well the reason. Reputations don’t happen for no reason, and Luca had quite a reputation for the ladies before I met him.

Her face fell as she realized what she’d said.

“Oh, it’s just that I didn’t take Luca as the marrying kind, that’s all. I was surprised when he told us that he’d put his name into the drawing for the ball last year.”

“He wants the chance to rule a country. He told me so.”

“I think it’s more than that. He’s a different person since meeting you. Look at him.” I looked over. He was chatting animatedly with his brother. He did seem to be happy.

“He would make a great leader, though,” she continued “He’s done so much to help me promote Magi rights recently. He told me that is something very close to your own heart.”

I nodded enthusiastically; glad to be finally on the subject. “It is. I don’t want a kingdom separated by hate. A lot of mistakes have been made in the past, and I want to rectify them. Everyone will be an equal in Silverwood.”

“It’s not that easy, though, is it? Luca tells me that you are having a hard time changing the views of the people.”

“It’s almost impossible,” I admitted. “I thought it would be easy once I was queen, but the kingdom has become more segregated than ever. I’ve opened up the palace and the universities to the Magi, but no one is taking me up on my offer. They are either too scared after all the violence last year, or they have gone. I’ve not seen a single Magi since the panic at my wedding to Xavier. If there are any left, they are all in hiding.”

“Keep at it! You are doing a wonderful job. People will come around eventually. Look at Luca.”

“What do you mean?”

She leaned in towards me and lowered her voice. “He didn’t like me when I first married his brother. I think he thought that Tomas marrying a mage would lower the monarchy somehow. It took a while, but he came around eventually, and now we are good friends. I have faith in you, and if you ever need any help, you know where I am.”

I thanked her, but her words were futile. It wasn’t even safe enough to invite her to my palace at the moment. I couldn’t see a way to make things better.

My head was beginning to hurt with the whiskey and champagne, so I said a hurried goodnight and slipped out of the room before Luca could spot me leaving.

I wished I’d had a chance to speak to Cynder. To tell him that whatever we had had between us was over for good. I wanted to explain why things had turned out the way they had and to apologize for my part in everything.

And you want to see him again.

“No, I don’t!” I whispered to myself, not entirely sure if it was the truth or not.

Walking the castle corridors was eerie compared to my own palace at home. I had become so accustomed to guards on every corner, that it felt weird to be roaming this huge house alone.

I managed to get to my bedroom without spotting a single other person. The beautifully made bed looked so inviting to me right now, but there was something I wanted to do before closing my eyes. I pulled out one of the cases I brought with me and searched through it. Xavi had packed most of my bags, filling them with gown after gown for every occasion except the occasion of just lolling around. The case I had on my bed was reserved exclusively for jewelry. When I opened it, I noticed that she’d put little notes on each piece telling which dress I should wear it with. I couldn’t help but smile. She didn’t trust me to be able to dress myself appropriately. Not that I could really blame her. I pulled out a small purse I’d thrown on top just before leaving Silverwood and opened the zipper. Inside was a little silver bracelet with a carriage charm and a silver slipper charm. No matter how much I wanted to pretend that Cynder wasn’t taking up my thoughts, the truth was, he’d not left them since I saw him at dinner. The fact that I’d brought this bracelet with me in the first place proved I’d not really stopped thinking about him at all.

I slipped the chain on my wrist and closed my eyes. I could see him as clear as day. His curly hair and those caramel colored eyes of his were branded on my brain.

I played around with the bracelet as I lay down on the bed, not even bothering to get undressed.

I could have asked myself why I wasn’t getting into my nightgown and slipping under the covers when I was so exhausted, but I knew it was because I was expecting a visitor. Cynder had seen me, I was sure of it, and he would know which room had been reserved for me. I didn’t have to wait too long. Within fifteen minutes there was a light knocking at my door. I jumped up out of bed, knocking the case with all the jewelry over and scattering diamond-encrusted tiaras and necklaces all over the floor. I jumped over them and with a hammering heart opened the door.

“I wondered where you went.”

Luca kissed me on the mouth. I could taste the whiskey on him. I wanted to enjoy it, but all I could think was “what if Cynder sees?” I pulled him into my room, which he took as an invitation. His kisses became more insistent, and his hands wandered lower and lower.