Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(5)

I felt sick, hearing what he was saying to me, but there was no way he could possibly know how I felt about Cynder.

I crossed my arms and stood as tall as I could, still barely coming up to Pittser’s chest. “What do you want, Mr. Pittser, because I don’t take kindly to being blackmailed for something that didn’t happen.”

“I want you to stop the Magi scum from re-entering. Silverwood was doing fine before you decided to stick your oar in.”

“There were bombings and riots!” I reminded him. “People died!”

“Keep them out, and we won’t have to find out if the people believe that your affair didn’t happen, will we? The MDS will rule.”

There it was again. The MDS. He turned on his heel and left me standing alone in the corridor in a state of bewilderment.

Frederick Pittser was wrong. There’d been no affair. I’d not seen Cynder in over six months, but it was true that I’d never told Luca about him. What was the point? Cynder was in my past. Luca was my future. I didn’t want anyone else to know either. I’d had enough questioning from the press about why I was so interested in Magi rights. If they found out I was in love with one of them, it would make a mockery of everything I’d achieved. Ok, I’d not achieved much, but if the world knew about Cynder and me, it would only push the cause backwards.

I was still walking down the corridor when I realized that in trying to think everything through, I’d automatically thought of myself as being in love with Cynder.

I rubbed my arm and sighed. It was going to be a long day.

My arm still throbbed as I walked into the banqueting hall. I tried to put Frederick Pittser and his threats out of my mind as I took in the scene before me. My mother had outdone herself with the decorations. Everything was golden from the cutlery to the floral arrangements. The whole place sparkled. I plastered on a smile as hundreds of guests, the elite of the elite, rose from their places to greet me. A cheer went up, and the applause thundered through my ears as I made my way to the head table. I was popular in here, at least.

The last time the banquet hall had been this full was the night of the ball. This time there was to be no dancing and, hopefully, no drama or explosions.

As I was served the most ludicrous fancy meal, I thought back to when Cynder had brought me a plain chicken dish.

“Is it ok?”

I looked to my left to see Luca gazing at me. “You’ve been looking at your plate for the last five minutes, and you are yet to pick up a fork. Everyone is waiting.”

“Hmm?” I looked around. He was right. I’d forgotten that no one was allowed to eat until the monarch started their meal. Everyone had been waiting patiently for me to start. I picked up my cutlery, feeling embarrassed and nodded my head at everyone. As soon as I took my first bite, the sound of hundreds of pieces of cutlery being picked up filled the hall. I could almost hear the collective sighs of relief as they were all finally allowed to eat.

“Oops,” I whispered under my breath.

“Don’t sweat it. It’s your first day on the job. It will get easier.” Luca speared a potato and popped it into his mouth.

“What would I do without you?” I smiled back at him.

The meal went without a hitch, and the champagne party afterward went late into the night without any problems or interruptions. Part of me was on edge, waiting for a bomb to go off or a riot to break out, but apart from a couple of tipsy guests, everything went smoothly.

That night, Luca escorted me my bedroom.

“You did gloriously today, My Queen.” He did a small bow, and I swiped him playfully on the sleeve.

“Thank you. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you.”

“My parents want us to do an official visit to Thalia next month. I was hoping you’d say yes. I’d like you to meet my brother, sister-in–law, and my nephews.”

“I’d love to!” I exclaimed. I’d invited the whole family to the coronation, but as Luca’s sister-in-law was a Mage, they felt it would be safer to stay at home, and only his mother and father attended. I hated how, even now, some of his family didn’t feel comfortable in visiting Silverwood. “I’ll speak to Jenny and my mother to arrange it. Can you let your parents know that we’ll definitely come?”

Luca grinned. I don’t think I’d ever seen him so happy.

“I love you. I’m so grateful you picked me.”

I wanted to say his words back to him, but as usual, something stopped me. He was so free with his language and had expressed his love for me on so many occasions, but I was yet to say those three words to him. Instead, I leaned forward and kissed him.

Kissing Luca was always a pleasure. He was as beautiful on the outside as he was on the inside and as for kissing—he was an expert. As soon as our lips touched, he moved towards me so our bodies were slammed together. He took the back of my head in his hands and kissed me with an urgency and a passion that one day I hoped to match. I fell into his embrace savoring every moment.

He peppered my neck with kisses until he got to the neckline of my dress. I thought that’s where he would stop, but he pulled down slightly on the material, causing me to step back.

“We can’t,” I whispered. “Not until the wedding night.”

“Why not?” asked Luca, looking put out.

“You know why not. It’s not protocol.”