Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(3)

Not that I needed any reminders of Cynder. He pervaded my every thought, and at night, he filled my dreams. I’d been naive when I thought agreeing to marry Luca would help me forget. Nothing helped me forget, but in truth, I wasn’t sure I wanted to. He was still out there somewhere. Still on the run, despite no longer being a wanted criminal. I’d not seen him in over six months. I told myself for the umpteenth time that it was for the best, and yet, it was harder to believe than it was to crush myself into a corset.

The protesters were at the back gate too. I could just about see them through the iron bars. It wasn’t enough that they stood at the front gates of the palace every day; they had to completely surround the outer walls to drive their point home. I pulled out the telescope that had been sitting in my room for the past few months and angled it towards the gates. The signs they held were getting worse. As I watched, one managed to scale the wall. The guards were on him before I had a chance to worry, but the banner he was carrying gave me a jolt of fear. On it were three letters and a death threat.

MDS Forever

Death to the Monarchy

It looked like it wasn’t just the Magi they were after; they wanted to kill me too!

I shook my head and tried to collect my thoughts. I’d never heard of the MDS before today, but it looked like whoever they were, they weren’t my biggest fan.

Taking a deep breath, I turned and stepped out of my room, ready to take up my duty as the new queen of Silverwood.





Blackmail


My eyes felt blinded after the myriad of pictures the press wanted of us in every combination. My mother; my mother and Elise; Elise and Leo; Luca; Luca’s parents, etc. And in every one, me at the front smiling graciously as though I’d been born to the role. Some might say that I was born to it, but there wasn’t a day that went by when I didn’t think of my elder sister Grace. It should have been Grace standing here, taking center stage with a handsome beau on her arm. I often wondered what would have happened if she were still alive. Would she have been forced to marry Xavier or would she have stood up for herself and waited for true love? Knowing Grace, she’d have done what was best for the country, but I’d seen her diary. I knew that she didn’t want to marry Xavier any more than I did.

I looked over to Luca. He was smiling at the camera. A reporter was interviewing him with his parents. He’d become quite a star since being chosen to be my husband, and he’d taken to his new role like a duck to water. His parents, the rotund King Theron and the willowy Queen Sarina were both beaming with pride. It made me feel pleased that they were all so happy. It was one thing I felt I’d done right. If only everything else about being queen would fall into place now, then I could be truly happy.

Or at least, as happy as possible without the boy who makes my heart flutter.

I ignored the little voice once again as a photographer grabbed me and lined me up with Luca, Leo, and Daniel for a throwback shot. Luca held my hand while Leo and Daniel stood on either side of us. All three of them looked so handsome in their smart clothes. I really felt lucky to have them with me. Of the three men from the ball, one had become my fiancé, one, my great friend and one, my brother-in-law. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. After the photo, I kissed Daniel on the cheek and gave Leo a hug. It made me feel so happy that because of the ball, all three of us had found love.

Is it really love?

The voice again. I did love Luca. He was a wonderful man, but I had to admit, I didn’t feel the goosebumps when he walked through the door. My heart didn’t race in his presence the way it did when I thought of Cynder. And yet, he was so perfect for the role in a way that Cynder could never hope to be. Cynder had grown up as a second-class citizen. I hated to admit that. To me, there was nothing second-class about him, but he’d not grown up learning how to rule a country as Luca had. No, things had turned out for the best, I just had to keep telling myself that.

My family and friends were led away to the great banquet hall to join all the guests who had been invited for the coronation, while I stayed behind to give a full interview. I’d written my speech carefully with the help of the royal advisors. This was no wishy-washy speech like all the others I’d had to give about choosing a husband. I’d filled it with my wishes and plans for Silverwood and the political ideals I held. It had taken me weeks to write and polish, and now I felt confident that the people of Silverwood would see me as a political force and not some flouncy-dress-wearing princess.

I sat down in the sitting room-cum-media room opposite a tall wispy man with the thickest, most luxurious hair I’d ever seen in the most garish, yellow blond. On his lapel, he wore a small golden pin in the shape of a rose. His name was Frederick, and he had taken over Sadie’s role as Royal Media Correspondent when she died. This was the first time I’d met him. I got the impression that the interviews with him weren’t going to be as frivolous and light-hearted as they had been with Sadie which I was glad about. I needed a serious interviewer for the topics I wanted to talk about, not just someone who would ask me who designed the dress I was wearing.

“Your Majesty,” he began, “how are you enjoying your first day as Queen?”

I’d expected this question and had a prepared answer.

“The ceremony was beautiful. Thank you.” I turned straight to the camera now. I wanted to address Silverwood, not Frederick.