Lucky Charm (Reverse Fairytales Book 2)(60)

Alezis combed my hair up, spending way too long making it into the most complicated updo I’d ever seen. It was going to be a nightmare to take down later that night. He must have used about a hundred pins to keep it in place, not to mention a whole can of hairspray. My make up was surprisingly light, just a touch of pink that matched the airy dress.

At midday exactly, I wandered downstairs to the main doors, holding on to the back of my dress for fear of tripping over it. It was quite the most cumbersome outfit and totally wrong for a meeting with a secret group of fighters. How I wished that I’d scheduled the garden party and the date with Luca on different days. Luca met me by the door, his eyes sparkling although not as much as his suit on which the silver buttons had been polished, so that they shone like stars. He was wearing the uniform of his country, a suit usually only worn on special occasions.

“You look stunning, my dear,” he said, kissing my cheek.

“Don’t you think this is a little too much for a garden party?” I asked, dropping the train at his feet.

“Nonsense. You’ll be the belle of the ball!” He held his arm out, and I took it. I needed it to be able to walk steadily over the garden.

Xavi had been correct when she said that a marquee had been erected. I recognized it as the same one that had been put up on my wedding day to Xavier last year. A whole host of unpleasant memories flooded through me, but I swallowed them down. I was glad to see that the marquee was already full of guests.

“There’s probably more Magi in this tent than in the rest of Silverwood put together,” whispered Luca. I nudged him, not wanting anyone to overhear, but he was probably right. At the far end was a long table with food at one end and champagne glasses at the other. A number of the palace staff were busy putting them on trays and circulating through the crowd.

“Why are we serving alcohol? This is meant to be a serious meeting. I can’t do that if everyone is drunk!”

“I thought it might loosen everyone up. It is a garden party. People expect a drink.”

I sighed. I’d hoped for a quick sandwich and juice each before we could head indoors to deal with the reason these people were really here.

“Is that a band in the corner?” As I said it, the men and women picked up their instruments and began to play. People began to dance, others were drinking. Everyone was happy. It was a complete disaster. I should have paid more attention to what was being planned. Jenny flounced past in her best dress with a purple flower attached at the top.

“Isn’t this magical?” she said, clearly the worse for wear after drinking too much.

“I’m going to call the meeting now before everyone gets too drunk. This is not what this garden party is supposed to be about.”

“It’s fine,” repeated Luca. “Relax, here, have a glass of champagne.” He took a couple of glasses from a passing waiter and handed one to me. “There is plenty of time for the meeting later. Everyone is having such a good time.”

I looked around. Yes, they were having a good time, too much of one. Surprisingly, despite this being billed to the media as a Magi event, barely any of them were wearing purple. Unlike the magi I’d seen on the TV crossing back into the kingdom, who had almost exclusively worn purple, here, the men had elected to wear black, and the women wore ball gowns of every color. I could only assume that Luca and Jenny had added a dress code to the invitations.

I turned to ask Luca, but he was already gone—disappeared into the crowd to talk to someone. Being as I was the supposed host, I decided to follow suit and introduce myself to some people.

I found an elderly couple sitting at the edge of the marquee. As I approached, they both stood and bowed.

“Hello. It’s nice to meet you. I’m so glad you could come today,” I said with my widest smile. “I hope you don’t mind me saying, but I imagined the Freedom of Magic members to be a little younger.”

Ok, it was rude, but true none the less.

“What was that?” The old man cupped his ear. How he was a member of an active fighting group was beyond me.

“I was just saying it’s nice to see you here,” I repeated a little louder. Someone tugged at my arm, pulling me away before I had time to hear his reply.

I spun around, coming face to face with Cynder.

“What is this?” he asked angrily, before pulling me to a quiet end of the marquee.

“You know what this is. You helped organize it.”

Cynder shook his head. “No. Luca told me that you didn’t want me to help, so I left it up to him and Jenny. I’ve spent the week keeping out of your way. Leo and Daniel have been using me at the police headquarters.”

“I know its way over the top, but we can still have the meeting later.”

“How are we going to do that...”

“There you are. I thought I’d lost you.” I turned to find Luca behind me. “I just went to speak to the band. They are playing our song next. Come dance with me.”

Luca took my hand and led me away from a very angry-looking Cynder.

“Our song?” I asked as the band began to play.

“It’s one we danced to at the ball. Please tell me you remember?”

I listened to the unfamiliar music and murmured uncommittedly. Most of the music sounded the same to me.

“Why did you not let Cynder help with this? He’s annoyed that it’s become a ball rather than a meeting. I can’t say I blame him.”