Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(16)

“He didn’t see you.”

“Did you forget I’m a Mage?” Cynder wiggled his wand and then returned it to his pocket.

“Why were you caught last year if you could just make yourself invisible like that?”

“I wasn’t invisible, you could see me. I just made it so that Luca couldn’t. If he was expecting me to be here, he’d have seen me. I tricked his mind that’s all. The people who captured me knew what they were looking for. They were experienced Magi hunters. That little trick wouldn’t have worked on them for a second.”

“Oh,” I sighed, trying to bring my heart rate back down to an acceptable level.

“What was Luca saying about an interviewer? I didn’t see the broadcast.”

I shrugged my shoulders. “There is an interviewer who threatened me last week at the palace in Silverwood. He said that I have to stop my crusade for Magi rights. He followed me here to Thalia and somehow managed to get a job at the local news network.”

Cynder sat up on the bed, interested in the information. “What do you mean ‘threatened you?’ Did he hurt you?” I could see the anger in his face. I was ashamed to admit it to myself, but it made me happy. It meant he still cared about me.

“He bruised my arm, but it was nothing I couldn’t handle,” I lied.

Cynder looked thoughtful for a moment. “A lot of people don’t want to live in peace with the Magi. You know that. He’ll be some crazy fanatic. I’m sure Luca will get him fired, and he’ll crawl back under the rock he came from.”

I sighed and straightened up on the bed. “He knows about us.”

“What?” Cynder sat up straight, matching my own posture.

“He told me when he bruised my arm. He said that if I don’t stop what I’m doing, he’ll tell the world about you and me.”

“How can he know?”

“I don’t know. I told Elise and Leo about us, but no one else.”

“What do you know about Leo? Could he have told someone?”

“No. It’s not possible. Leo is as fanatical about Magi rights as the interviewer is against them. Besides, he’s a good friend, not to mention my new brother in law.”

“What’s this guy’s name? I’ll ask around and see what I can dig up about him.”

“Pittser. Frederick Pittser.”

Cynder’s hand went up to his chin. I could still see the faint scars along his jawline where he had been beaten. I wanted nothing more than to kiss them, but I held back.

He got up from the bed and walked over to me. I could feel my heart rate increasing with each step he took. I should have stopped him. I should have said no, but I didn’t.

When he kissed me, I felt like my heart might explode. His kiss was soft and sweet and way too short.

He pulled away leaving me breathless and desperate for more. Even though Luca kissed with such passion, it was nothing compared to the utter abandonment of my senses that Cynder made me feel. When I kissed him, I could feel my blood rushing through my veins, my body more alive than ever before. I never wanted it to end. It also made me feel like the most wretched woman in existence. I pulled back quickly, my rational side taking over a fraction too late.

“This can’t happen. I’m engaged to someone else, someone who will be good for the kingdom.”

“That’s why you are marrying him? Because he’ll be good for the kingdom? What about you? Will he be good for you?”

I looked into his eyes. I could see him searching right into my soul. I wanted to tell him that I loved him only, but what was the point? I’d only end up hurting Luca and destroying the tiny bit of credibility I’d managed to build up among the people. I’d promised myself that Luca was the way forward for me, so why was it so hard to answer Cynder’s question.

Because you are going to have to lie to him, that’s why.

He’s a good man. He cares for me, and I care for him.

“Do you love him?”

“Does it matter? You and I can’t be together. It’s impossible. Luca will help me make Silverwood a better place for the Magi, a better place for you.”

“And I couldn’t, right? I’m just a kitchen hand, and he’s a prince! I get it. You’d be a fool to choose me.”

He brought his wand out and casually flicked it so the broken glass on the floor rearranged itself back into the light bulb it once was. I watched as it rose up and fixed back into place.

“That’s not it at all. You know I don’t care if you are a kitchen hand.”

“But you care that I’m a Mage. Despite all your words to the people of your kingdom, you don’t have the guts to stand up there and tell them about me. You are scared that some interviewer will tell the world and what would it look like? The new queen having an affair with a piece of scum Mage?”

“Stop it!” I cried. “You know that’s not the truth. I made a promise to Luca and to my people. You being a Mage has nothing to do with that. Luca will help me make Silverwood safe again for the Magi. You’ll be able to come home.”

Cynder laughed mirthlessly. “There is nothing for me in Silverwood now. Everything I wanted has gone.”

“I’m sorry. I never expected things to work out this way.”

“I came to say goodbye. I’m happy for you. I’m glad that you are happy. You’ll make a wonderful queen.”