Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(19)

But then you might never see him again.

I shushed the voice in my head and looked around for Luca instead.

“I really must go and find Tomas,” Seraphia said. “He tends to hide at the back of the room for these things, and I love to dance.”

Seraphia glided into the crowd. I was wrong about people not noticing us. I saw some very appreciative stares as she cut through the crowd. It had nothing to do with her royal title and everything to do with how stunning she looked. A young man I’d never met before walked up to me and held out his hand.

“May I have this dance?”

He looked so earnest and a little flushed as if it had taken a great deal of courage to ask me. I wanted to say yes to him, the dancing looked like such fun, but it wouldn’t look good if the new queen danced with someone who wasn’t her prince.

“I’m sorry. I’ve only just picked up my champagne,” I said, holding up the glass.” He looked dejected as he moved back into the crowd.

“You should have danced with him.” A voice to my left made me jump. It was Luca.

“And how would that have looked? I didn’t want to insult you.”

“Last year, you were dating three other men, and I survived. I think I’m past being jealous of other men by now.”

I wondered if he’d feel the same way if he knew about Cynder.

“Besides,” he continued. “It’s customary here to dance with as many people as possible. Dancing with other people is not an insult. If you look, you’ll see that people swap partners all the time. It’s how the dances work.”

I watched, and he was right. Every so often, the people would swap partners and dance with someone else. I saw Theron dancing with a buxom lady who looked half his age. I couldn’t tell who was happier about the situation, him or her. I gazed around to see if Sarina was bothered that her husband was currently nose deep in another woman’s cleavage, and found her dancing with a very distinguished grey-haired gentleman.

“There is very little infidelity here in Theron. I think it’s because people here have trust in each other.”

My cheeks colored and I went back to feeling terrible. I’d not cheated on Luca in any way but in the heart. Except for the kiss I’d shared with Cynder in my room earlier. The kiss I could still feel branded on my lips. I could argue with myself that Cynder had instigated it, and it had only lasted a couple of seconds, but I knew I’d wanted it.

“I’ll dance with all the men then,” I quipped, trying to hide my shame.

“Oh no, you don’t. I’ve got you now.”

I hastily placed my glass down as he whisked me out onto the dance floor and spun me around in the same way the other couples were doing. I didn’t know the dance at all, my dance teacher Stephan hadn’t taught it to me, but it was pretty easy to follow. Spin, spin, bow, hold hands, spin again, etc. etc. After a few minutes, I was spun around very fast and caught by the man next to me. When I looked back, I saw Luca dancing with an older lady. He turned and winked before spinning out of view. The man I’d ended up with was not the best dancer, and for a change, I was the better partner of the two. Neither of us was brilliant, but we managed a few spins without either of us stepping on the other’s toes.

I danced for hours, enjoying it more than I thought I would. My feet were killing me, but the endless champagne breaks helped. Every so often, I’d end up dancing with Luca. We’d chat for a few minutes before I’d end up in another man’s arms. It felt so strange, especially when I ended up paired with Theron for a while, but it was enough to take my mind off everything that was bothering me. I’d been dancing almost solidly for two hours, only stopping now and again to get a glass of champagne, and I was getting exhausted. I could smell the delicious aromas coming from the banquet hall next door. I couldn’t help but think it would have been better to feed us all first as I was beginning to feel light-headed with the exertion and the alcohol on my empty stomach. I’d barely eaten all day, and I was starving.

I looked around to see if I could see Luca. I wanted to ask him what time dinner would be served. As he was so tall, he was pretty easy to spot above the others. He was dancing with a stunning blonde woman who was wearing a skin-tight black dress, which was wholly inappropriate for the event. My first thought was that Xavi would pitch a fit if she saw what she was wearing. As I watched, she laid her head on Luca’s shoulder. I’d seen him dancing with many women this evening, and it hadn’t bothered me, but there was something about the way they danced together. They looked a little too comfortable in each other’s arms. There was a familiarity between them as if they’d danced together like this before. I hated that I felt a pang of jealousy, especially after what I’d done that day, but I didn’t like the way they looked together. I was just about to walk over to them when the music changed and the partners did too.

Someone took me in his arms, and I barely noticed. I was too busy watching the fact that Luca and the blonde hadn’t changed partners as they were supposed to.

I was pulled close to my new partner and his hand fit into the curve of my spine. I closed my eyes. I already knew who it was. I could feel it. The way he moved, the smell of his cologne. I didn’t need to see him to know it was Cynder. Dancing with him had always been a kind of magic that no one else could perform, not even the most powerful Magi. It was sensuous and breathtaking. I knew if I opened my eyes, the spell would break. I couldn’t be dancing with Cynder. He was one of the servants. I felt his breath on my ear, sending goosebumps down my arm. It was like we’d never stopped dancing. He whispered something, and the spell was broken.