Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(57)
“It will be ok,” said Cynder, putting his hands on my shoulders behind me. I gave a huge sigh, and he kneaded the tension from my shoulders. As much as I hated to admit it, I welcomed his touch.
“I don’t know if it will be. The monarchy is too frail to stand another scandal. Two days ago you were the kingdom’s hero, and now they hate you. It’s like every day there is something new. One day you are the favorite, the next it’s Luca. The whole thing is madness.”
Cynder stopped what he was doing and spun me around. Dropping the curtains I’d been holding open, I turned to face him. His hand went to my face, touching my skin. My body reacted immediately as it always did when he touched me. Heat flooded through me at his slightest touch.
“I promise it will be fine.” He kissed me lightly on the lips, and despite myself, I closed my eyes, savoring it.
“Stop!” I said, but he already had. “It was the kiss of a friend, no more.” He smiled. “We stick to the plan. If the interviewer asks about my sisters , we say “no comment” and leave it at that.”
If only it were so simple. I followed him out of the room up to the sitting room where I knew Marybelle and her crew would be waiting. The “kiss of a friend” still burning on my lips.
“You’ve had quite the week,” began Marybelle, not giving us time to prepare. I’d wanted to tell her not to speak about Cynder’s sisters, but she’d gone straight into her interview, the second we’d both sat down.
“Yes, Marybelle, thank you.” I pulled down the hem of my skirt and tried to look in control. “This week has been quite an adventure. Firstly, we rescued a young boy from drowning, and this morning I began the process of rolling out a new initiative at the police headquarters for Magi to join the police force. At the moment there is not a single Magi police officer in the whole of Silverwood. That’s a startling statistic and one I’d like to see changed in the near future.”
“Of course. What do you make of the rumors about Cynder here?” She turned to him, her newly blonde curls bobbing behind her. “Did the queen know you had a wife when she invited you to the palace?”
“No comment.” Cynder crossed his arms defiantly.
“He’s not married,” I butted in. “It’s a vicious rumor and no more. Cynder and I have already spoken about it, and neither of us has anything more to say on the matter.”
“But surely you must be wondering if you can trust him, after all, his wife has provided evidence that they shared a last name and that they lived together.”
I gripped the hem of my skirt and began to pick at a loose thread. How Cynder could sit there so calmly was beyond me. While part of me wanted to scream out that she was once his foster sister, I knew it would do no good. Cynder didn’t want his past raked through by the media, and I could understand that. The beginnings of the Freedom of Magic movement were founded in those early years and to expose any of his history would likely bring down the group.
“I trust Cynder. I hope that you and the viewing public at home will also be able to do the same. Only two nights ago, he saved the life of a young boy who had been thrown into a freezing cold canal.” I tried changing the subject, but Marybelle wouldn’t be swayed.
“It’s just been brought to my attention that as well as the proof of marriage I mentioned earlier, there is also a wedding photograph.” On a screen behind her, a photograph of Cynder was displayed. He was looking very handsome in a suit. Next to him was Drusilla Bloom wearing what only could be described as a wedding dress.
The look of shock on my face as I took in the photo was not put on for the public. It was too late, they’d already seen it.
Anger and Passion Defeated
“You trust me right?” Cynder had to run to keep up with me as I stormed down the corridor away from Marybelle and her crew. I wasn’t sure if I was angry at Cynder or angry at the press, but I sure knew I was angry at someone. The whole interview had been a fiasco from the start. I’d gone into it believing that Drusilla was Cynder’s sister or ex-foster sister or stepsister, but the proof she was his wife kept coming, and the more I tried to deny it, the more ridiculous and naive I looked. Cynder had done nothing to help matters. He’s replied “no comment” to every question thrown at him, leaving me looking like a pathetic fool.
“I don’t know what I feel right now. Just leave me alone!”
“I’m telling you the truth!” he shouted as I ran along the corridor, desperate to be away from him, from everyone.
“I’ve never lied to you, Charm,” he said as I arrived at my bedroom door. He’d followed me the whole way.
“You didn’t tell me that you were a freedom fighter. You never mentioned Drusilla until Leo found out about her. You may not have lied to me, but you sure kept some important facts to yourself.”
“I’m sorry. Last year, I barely saw you. Every second I had with you was special, and I didn’t want to waste it by talking about my past, and since I’ve been here, it’s been nothing but meetings and interviews. We’ve not had a proper chance to talk alone. I’ll tell you anything you want to know about my past if you give me the chance. What is it you want to know?”
“I want to know if I should really trust you. You are right, we’ve never really talked, not ever. Our whole relationship has been built on dancing and danger, but we barely know each other.”