Luca

When everyone saw Luca standing in the doorway, they all became suddenly quiet. The jubilation of just a few seconds ago died down as they took in the expression on Luca’s face.

“Excuse me, everyone.” I disentangled myself from the group of people and walked over to him. His expression didn’t change, and it frightened me. I’d managed to mess up again and hurt someone I cared about. In all the drama of the day, I’d given little thought to Luca, but now that he was here, I knew that he should have been my main priority.

We walked along the corridor in silence, neither of us knowing what to say. Behind us, I could hear the others filing out of the cinema room. I needed to find somewhere quiet to speak with him. Somewhere where no one would interrupt us. Even though my father was no longer around to listen in to private conversations, I still felt his presence whenever I had something important to say, something that I wouldn’t want him to hear. Last year, I often retreated to the gardens to whisper secrets. It felt like as good a place as any.

Outside, the grass was slightly damp as if we’d just missed a light drizzle. The camera crews and the rest of the media had long since left, but there were still a number of workmen taking the stage down. I directed Luca around the side of the house and into the expansive back garden where we would finally be able to speak in peace.

“Is it true?” he asked.

“Did you see my interview today? I spoke the truth there. I told the world that I had picked you to marry, and in a few months, I would become your wife.”

“I didn’t see the interview. I was too busy rushing here, but that wasn’t the question I asked you. I asked if it was true. Are you having an affair with a member of my parents’ staff?”

My brain and my heart were at war with each other. While I could technically say no and be telling the truth, I knew it would not be fair. I had to either be completely honest with him or not at all. I couldn’t go into a marriage with lies of any kind, even lies of omission.

“Before the ball last year, before I even met you, I met Cynder. He was working in our kitchen. I found him dancing around the kitchen one night, so in my fear of having two left feet, I asked him to teach me to dance.”

I didn’t dare look at Luca’s face as I spoke. Nor could I look toward the apartment where Cynder and I once spent a night together. Instead, I concentrated on a bird that was pecking away on the lawn, playing tug of war with a worm that had come up for the rain.

“I came to have feelings for him. After the ball, he was accused of planting the bomb. He had to go on the run. I missed him terribly. I did everything I could to try to find him.”

“I see,” replied Luca, not seeing at all.

“At the time, I was still getting to know you. I’d barely spent any time with you at all. I was dating four men, one of which, I was being pressured into choosing as a husband. I’m not going to lie to you. I didn’t immediately fall for you. It took time. I had the kingdom to think about as well as myself.”

“So you picked me because I was right for the kingdom?” he spat.

The bird won the war and flew off, the worm dangling in its beak.

“At first, yes. You were the obvious choice. You were a similar age to me and held my ideals. Then as I got to know you, I realized you were a great person to be around. I began to think of you as more than someone that would be good for the country, but as someone who would be good for me too. When I asked you to marry me, it wasn’t just out of duty, although that did come into it partly, it was because I could see a future for us together. I can honestly tell you that before the other night, I’d not seen Cynder for over six months. I’d had no contact with him at all. I’d chosen you, and I was happy. What happened the other night was not a secret tryst or a romantic excursion. Cynder didn’t know I’d come to Thalia. He’d gotten a job there to put the past behind him, just as I had. The problem was, the past came back to haunt him. He was a member of a group of Mages that had spent years trying to bring about the downfall of my father. Unfortunately, when I arrived in Thalia, I managed to bring Frederick Pittser with me.”

“Who?”

“Frederick Pittser, the reporter that spoke to us at the TV studios in Thalia, remember? I thought he was nothing more than an outspoken anti-Mage, but Cynder found out that he was actually high up in an underground anti-Mage group who were plotting to kill me. He took me from your palace to save me. In doing that he saved a lot of other people too.”

“How so?”

“Pittser or one of his cronies tried to shoot me as I escaped with Cynder. If I’d still been at the ball, he would have come for me there, shooting anyone in his path until I was dead. It’s ironic that last year it was the Magi who were trying to bring down the monarchy, but this year it’s the anti-Magi.”

“So you and he...”

“Nothing happened. I promise. I’ve chosen to marry you, and I will. Cynder dropped me off in Silverwood and left. He’s on his way back to Thalia.”

I heard him sigh in relief as though I’d alleviated all his fears. Part of me still felt bad that I’d left out the most important part—that my heart still beat for Cynder, but there was no future with him. He was on his way back to Thalia, and the likelihood was I’d never see him again, or if I did, it would only be on the occasions he was either serving me dinner or maybe in a few years, cooking it at the Thalian palace.

“Hmm.”

“What?” I asked.

“These past few days, I’ve been wanting to kill him, but it seems I should be thanking him.”

“He’s gone back to Thalia. I think the best way to thank him would be to get word to your parents to tell them not to fire him. He’s a great chef. He’d be an asset to their kitchen team.”

“I’ll do that. If he’s there, that means he’s not here near you. I understand now why he took you, but that doesn’t stop me feeling jealous.”

I looked up at his gorgeous face. It was almost comical how someone could be so utterly beautiful could be jealous of someone like me, and yet, I could see the pain in his expression.

He was quiet for a moment, so for the first time since he’d been home, I touched him. I put my hand to his face which softened immediately. He looked so relieved and so handsome. When he leaned forward to kiss me, I moved forward to meet him in the middle. This time, there was no hesitancy on my part. I’d made the decision to be with Luca, and the flutters I thought I’d lost long ago came back. Luca was the most wonderful kisser. The way his lips moved against mine as we explored each other made the flutters turn into tingles then great earthquakes that shot up my spine. His tongue found mine as I pressed my whole body into his, matching his passion. I was ready for him and everything he had to give.

Somewhere a flash erupted. Luca pulled back, and we both looked to the high wall that encircled the palace grounds. A photographer dipped quickly below the top of the wall, and we heard him jump from his ladder and run away.

Luca and I laughed, which broke the tension that had been between us even more than the kiss had.

The very same thing had happened to us last year. It had been our very first kiss and had taken me by surprise. The photographer that had caught us then had left me in the worst position possible, and it was only because Jenny had woven her magic with the press, that we’d managed to stop the photo being published. Now, it didn’t matter. I’d picked Luca, and he’d picked me, and it didn’t matter if the whole world knew about it. After the nightmare of the day so far, having a photo of us kissing would only cement the words I had said earlier.

Luca took my hand, and we headed back into the palace.

The group we’d left behind had migrated to the parlor where they were all drinking champagne. My advisors had retired for the night, but my mother, Jenny, Elise, Leo, Daniel, and Dean were still there drinking.

When they saw us walk in hand in hand, they came bounding over and continued the group hug they’d started earlier. Someone passed me a glass of champagne and one to Luca. For the first time in a long time, I stopped worrying about the state of the kingdom and decided to celebrate my small victory. The Magi were coming back, Luca was by my side, and the people of Silverwood were finally beginning to believe me.

I took a swallow of champagne, feeling the bubbles tickling my throat.

I tried not to think of Cynder. He would be halfway home now on his horse. If Luca was true to his word, Cynder would have a job to go back to. I still had a very long way to go to pull Silverwood together, but hiring a Mage chief of police to work alongside Grenfall, was a stroke of genius. With any luck, Grenfall would quit his job, saving me from having to fire him. Either that, or he’d become more tolerant. Either way, it was a win-win situation.

I sipped my champagne and felt at peace. Looking over at Luca, confidently chatting with Leo and Elise, I knew I’d made the right decision. Someone tapped me lightly on the arm, and I turned to find Daniel. I hugged him tightly.

“Hey, you’ll crease the shirt,” he quipped and then a moment later, “Can we talk?”

He led me to the quieter side of the room, and we sat on the long ornamental sofa.

“I guess you know about me, huh?”

“Cynder told me everything,” I admitted.

“I’m sorry to have deceived you. I hated myself for doing it. Right after our first date, I wanted to back out, but I saw that you needed me more than ever. I came in here with the intention of pulling your father down, but when I met you, I realized it would mean I’d end up pulling you down with him. You were so sweet and fearless that I couldn’t bring myself to do it.”

I smiled at his words. “I was anything but fearless. I spent most of last year quivering under my clothes.”

“If that’s the case, you hid it well. I saw that you could become the leader we always imagined. The Magi wanted the royalty to be gone completely, but when I met you, I saw another path.”

“Oh yes?”

“I saw you as queen. I knew even then you’d do a much better job of it than your father or your grandfather or any of your ancestors before you. Instead of greed and prejudice, you looked around you and saw what needed to be done. It’s no surprise to me that Silverwood is a small country with little going for it. For years, its subjects have been so busy warring amongst each other that we’ve wasted energy we could have put into building it into a respected kingdom. A kingdom that prospers and is equal to those around it.”

It might have been the champagne talking, but I was feeling bold. “That doesn’t sound like much of an ambition. Why not make it a kingdom that has no equal?”

Daniel grinned and held up his glass. “And that’s why I know you’ll make a great queen.”

“Thank you, Daniel.” I took a sip of my champagne and looked over my shoulder to where the others stood. They were all so busy chatting and laughing and drinking that they wouldn’t hear me.

“I know that you and Cynder knew each other and I know why you came to the palace. I’m wondering...” I trailed off

“You are wondering why I stayed?”

“Yes,” I admitted. “You got what you wanted. My father died. I became the queen. You live outside the palace, but you are here all the time. You and Dean may as well move in here.”

“Just because the Magi are now free, doesn’t mean you are.”

“What do you mean?” I asked.

“You got shot at the other night. Your father might be dead, but there are still people that want to kill you. The Magi Death Squad will not stop until we overwhelm them. Thanks to you, there are hundreds of Magi coming back into Silverwood. You’ve provided opportunities for us that we couldn’t hope to have as recently as last year. Just as the Magi wanted one of theirs in power instead of a king or queen, the anti-Magi want the same thing now except with one of their kind. You have no heirs. It’s possible that Elise could take over, but if they kill you, there’s nothing to stop them going for her too. They’ll already have someone in mind to take over when you die.”

“Frederick Pittser?”

“No. He’s high up, but there will be people above him. I’ve been given word that there is a man they call The Regent, but I don’t know who he is. Whoever he is, he’s ready to become the new ruler when the time comes. With all our intelligence, we are still no closer to finding out who he is so all we can do is protect you and let you continue to spread your voice to the people. The best thing you can do for your safety is to promote Magi rights to the point where the Magi are so ingrained into society that no one even notices or cares about whether someone has magical ability or not.”

“But that could take years,” I pointed out.

“It will take years. It’s likely that it won’t even happen in your lifetime, but you are setting the groundwork for a Silverwood that can live together in harmony. Your children and your children’s children will continue that legacy I hope. Until then, I’ll be here as long as you need me to protect you.”

“Does Dean know?”

“That I’m a Mage or that I’m here to protect you?”

“Both...either.”

“No. I’ve not told him.”

“Do you love him?”

“I love him more than I ever believed possible.”

“Then tell him the truth. He deserves your honesty.”

Daniel came over to my side and hugged me.

I grinned. “You know, now that I know you are a Mage, I might have to get you to do more around the palace.”

“For you, Mi’lady, anything. Just call me your fairy godmother.”

I gave him a playful swipe and grinned.

I felt so safe in his arms. I truly was the luckiest girl in the world to have all these men looking out for me.