Lottery King 2, page 8
“Don’t you think so?” Poppy asked, and her purple eyes on my face brought me back to the conversation.
“I’m sorry,” I apologized to the ladies around me. “What was that?”
“Lady Poppy was saying how lovely a wedding in the garden will be,” Lady Taylee said helpfully.
“I worried there may not be enough space for all the guests,” Lady Shay pointed out. “But I’m sure your housekeeper can remedy that situation. I love what she’s done with the art gallery for this evening.”
“Oh, yes,” Poppy agreed with polite enthusiasm. “Isla did a fantastic job, and she’s already assured me she can adjust the grounds to fit all our guests.”
“I think a wedding in the garden sounds perfect,” I murmured, and I stroked a hand casually between Poppy’s shoulder blades just above her wing joints.
“When will you be sending invitations?” Lady Shay asked.
“Um…” Poppy shuddered slightly under my touch as she tried to answer the question. “Probably in the next few weeks.”
“We’re thinking about having an August wedding,” I added with a smug grin. “Definitely before summer’s over.”
“How romantic,” Lady Taylee murmured with a dreamy look in her brown eyes.
Lord River and Lord Finn walked up and joined us then, and the older fae had an almost empty glass of wine in his hand that was promptly refilled by a passing servant.
After the ram-horned fae filled the glass, I tapped his shoulder lightly and gestured for him to lean into me.
“Keep an eye on his intake,” I whispered. “We don’t want Lord River blacking out on us.”
“Yes, your majesty,” the servant said politely, and there was a conspiratorial smirk in his eyes.
Lord River had nearly drunk himself into a stupor during a political dinner two weeks ago while we were supposed to be discussing an issue of logging practices in a region of Ireland he represented. After that night, I’d decide to have my staff keep a more careful watch on how much the balding fae imbibed.
“I simply had to come over and express my congratulations on your engagement, your majesty,” Lord Finn said, and he held his blue-scaled hand palm-up for Poppy’s. “I am sure you will have a long and happy marriage.”
“Thank you, Lord Finn,” my fiancée said as she placed her hand in his. “I just hope to serve the people well as Queen Consort.”
“Just keep being you, Lady Poppy.” Lord Finn grinned as he placed a polite kiss on the back of her hand. “And you won’t be capable of failing.”
“You’re very kind.” Poppy blushed from his flattery.
A brief flash of jealousy coursed through me, and I wrapped my hand possessively around Poppy’s waist. Lord Finn took the hint, and he bowed his head respectfully as he took a polite step back.
“I must agree with Lord Finn,” Lord River added in a slightly slurred voice. “You shall be a wonderful first queen for our beloved King Michael.”
“Thank you, Lord River,” Poppy murmured, and she furrowed her eyebrows with a touch of concern at the way the shorter man swayed on his feet.
“I’ve already handled it,” I murmured in her pointed ear, and then I addressed our little group. “If you’ll excuse us, I’d like to dance with my future wife.”
“Of course, your majesty,” Lady Taylee mused, and she clasped her hands in front of her chest with a dreamy smile.
The dryad representative watched us like a little girl would watch Cinderella as I led Poppy to the middle of the dance floor.
I guided Poppy around in a twirl that sent her skirts swishing around her legs before I pulled her in close against my body. Then I wrapped one hand around her narrow waist and held her left hand up so everyone in the room could see the diamond on her finger, and I nodded for the band to play another song.
They began to play a hauntingly beautiful version of Elvis Presley’s Can’t Help Falling in Love, and there was something about the melody being played in all string instruments that tingled in my spine.
“I love you,” I murmured to Poppy as I began to lead her through the steps of a waltz around the dance floor.
“I love you, too,” Poppy breathed.
The entire crowd gathered in a huge circle around the edges of the dance floor to watch us as we twirled around the room. Their faces blended into a blur of colors as everything past my fiancée’s face faded out of focus.
Laughter started to bubble up out of Poppy as I led her through the steps, and by the time the song came to an end, she was flushed with excitement and joy. I swirled her around in a final flourish, and then the entire room erupted with applause for our dancing skills.
“Please, everyone!” I announced with joyous laughter. “Join us!”
The dance floor was quickly filled with more couples as the band began to play another song that was a little more upbeat. Poppy and I enjoyed two more dances before the servants began to fill the long buffet tables with silver trays of steaming-hot food. Then Isla and two more witches on the staff appeared to produce enough tables for everyone to sit and eat with a wave of their hands. Champagne, wine, and sparkling ciders flowed like endless rivers, and everyone was very clearly enjoying themselves.
I couldn’t help but notice the way Lady Helena kept glancing at me, and there was a tension around her caramel eyes that worried me a little. Toward the end of dinner, she approached me, and her tawny wings were still with anxious energy.
“Good evening, your majesty,” Lady Helena said, and she smiled at Poppy. “Lady Poppy, you look beautiful.”
“As do you, Lady Helena,” my fiancée replied in a friendly voice.
“I hate to interrupt the joyous mood of the evening,” the gorgeous harpy said, and the worry that had floated around her like a cloud all night filled her eyes.
“Is something wrong?” I asked as my mind went on high-alert.
“But I was hoping I could speak with you alone for a moment.” Lady Helena murmured quietly.
“Yeah, of course.” I nodded and stood from the table.
Poppy looked up at me with tense but trusting eyes, and she gave me an encouraging smile as I led Lady Helena out of the ballroom. My office was nearby, so I led the Grecian representative there, and Lady Helena paced into the room as I closed the door behind us.
“What is it, Lady Helena?” I asked as I felt my patience for formal pleasantries starting to die.
“There’s trouble brewing in Greece, your majesty,” Lady Helena said.
“Trouble in Greece?” I repeated. “What kind of trouble?”
“Radical activists,” Lady Helena answered in a straightforward tone. “A group of sirens in Athens contacted me today. An extremist group has been stirring up trouble lately, and they’ve informed me that the situation is becoming more volatile by the day.”
“An extremist group,” I sighed as I walked over and perched on the edge of my desk. “Are they new?”
“No, unfortunately.” Lady Helena frowned. “It’s a group of gorgons, and they’re sowing political discord in an attempt to recruit people to their cause.”
“And what’s their cause exactly?” I arched an eyebrow at the harpy.
“They’ve never proclaimed their goals in plain terms, your majesty,” Lady Helena answered. “But their propaganda is very anti-monarchy. The sirens who reached out to me believe they’re trying to seed the roots of a revolt to overthrow the crown.”
Lady Helena grimaced at the last word, and I knew what she didn’t say.
“The crown,” I repeated in a wary voice. “Meaning me.”
“Yes, your majesty.” Lady Helena gave me a solemn nod. “The group has been a presence in Greece for centuries, but they have never been this bold before. Apparently, someone new has taken up a leadership position in their group. The sirens inform me that they’re starting to get some traction among the population of Athens and the surrounding area. It’s not looking good, your majesty.”
“I can see that,” I grumbled, and I thought silently for a moment.
This sounded like a tense situation, and I knew a powder keg when I saw one. I heaved a deep breath as I made the only decision I saw.
“Alright, it looks like I’m going to Greece.” I nodded decisively.
“Your majesty?” Lady Helena gasped.
The harpy looked entirely shocked by my announcement, but before I could question her reaction, there was a knock on the office door.
“Michael?” Poppy’s voice called from the hallway.
“Come in,” I answered.
My fae lover opened the door cautiously before she walked in.
“Lady Helena says there’s political discord and a potential revolution stirring in Greece,” I filled Poppy in quickly. “How quickly can we arrange to travel there?”
“I’m sorry,” Lady Helena interrupted with utter confusion on her beautiful face. “You plan to go to Greece?”
“Of course.” I shrugged slightly. “This sounds like a situation I need to handle myself.”
“Wow,” Lady Helena breathed.
“What?” I asked.
“I, I just…” Lady Helena shook her head. “I’m just impressed that you want to be so hands-on. I guess I expected you to pass the information to local agents, or tell me how to handle the situation. I didn’t think you’d want to go there yourself.”
“Oh,” I chuckled. “Yeah, I mean… I’m a pretty hands-on kind of person, and this sounds like a pretty serious issue. I want to handle it myself, and in person. Besides, I’ve always wanted to see Greece.”
“I’m glad to hear you say that, your majesty,” Lady Helena mused, and there was a smirk of admiration on her full lips. “I’m just surprised by it.”
“Is it that rare of a thing?” I scoffed.
“Yes,” Poppy answered simply.
“Really?” I asked, and I was surprised to find even more reasons to dislike the previous monarch.
“King Vairn rarely handled anything in person,” Lady Helena explained with a roll of her eyes. “He preferred to let just about anybody else handle things so he wouldn’t dirty his hands.”
“Asshole,” I muttered. “No wonder things were so messy under his rule.”
“Mmhmm,” Poppy hummed in agreement.
“When will you depart for Greece, your majesty?” Lady Helena asked. “I’ll let the sirens and other local representatives know to expect you.”
“As soon as possible,” I answered. “But I’ll need you to come with us.”
“Oh,” Lady Helena murmured with surprise again. “If that’s what you wish.”
“Definitely,” I said, and I pushed down the thought of the sexy harpy guiding me through the exotic city. “I’ll need your knowledge of the area and the radical group to help me navigate this issue, Lady Helena.”
“Very well.” Lady Helena smiled slowly. “And there’s no need for such formalities, my king. You may simply call me Helena in such informal settings as this.”
“Alright, Helena,” I said, and the intimacy of her name alone sent a shiver down my spine.
I felt Poppy’s sly smirk, and I turned to look at her.
“What?” I chuckled.
“Nothing.” Poppy’s smirk turned into a full smile. “I was just thinking, I can go wedding dress shopping in Athens.”
“That’s a good idea,” I agreed.
“I’ll arrange everything,” Poppy said with excitement. “We can leave tomorrow morning.”
“Perfect,” I said, and I took a steadying breath. “Helena, meet us back here in the morning?”
“Certainly.” The gorgeous harpy nodded. “And thank you, your majesty.”
“For what?” I chuckled.
“For taking such a vested interest in this issue,” Helena explained with a grateful smile. “You continue to impress me at every turn.”
“I’m just trying to do my job,” I said.
“You’re doing it well, your majesty,” Helena assured me, and then she bowed respectfully. “I apparently have bags to pack, so I’m going to say goodnight, and I will see you in the morning.”
“Good night, Lady Helena,” Poppy said.
“Just Helena,” the Grecian woman corrected her with a smile.
Poppy smiled and nodded, and when Helena walked out of the office and closed the door behind her, my fiancée walked right into my open arms.
“Oh, Michael,” Poppy breathed with worry.
“Don’t worry, babe,” I assured her. “Whatever’s going on in Greece… we’ll figure it out.”
“I know,” Poppy murmured, and she pulled back to look at me. “I guess I’ve just gotten used to a lack of political discord around here.”
“Eh, but without some radical extremists trying to overthrow my rule,” I said in a sarcastic tone. “Well… life would just be boring, wouldn’t it?”
“That’s one way to think about it,” Poppy laughed.
“Come on,” I sighed. “We should get back to the party before people start to wonder where we went.”
“I suppose we should,” Poppy sighed. “We can sleep on the plane tomorrow anyway.”
“Exactly,” I agreed, and I kissed her.
The dancing and merriment in the ballroom was still in full swing when Poppy and I returned, and I suspected our short absence had gone mostly unnoticed. The guests stayed for a few more hours before everyone slowly started to disperse. My fiancée and I made sure to say goodnight to each and every guest and thank them for being present to celebrate with us, and I found that part to be far more exhausting than even the hardest sessions with Firo.
By the time the door closed behind the last guest, my social battery was totally out of juice, and I was ready to crash into bed.
“I’m so fucking tired,” I chuckled as Poppy and I trudged up the stairs. “And I’ve never been so grateful to have a full staff.”
“Why’s that?” Poppy asked, and she stifled a huge yawn.
“I used to throw parties in college,” I explained. “And they were way rowdier than that. My friends always made a huge mess, especially Robin, and then I had to clean up everything by myself.”
“Oh, that sounds awful,” Poppy laughed.
“It was.” I grinned tiredly. “I had two options: Either stay up until dawn cleaning, or leave it until the next day when I was battling a hangover. Neither choice was any good, and I finally decided to stop being the host.”
“That was probably a really wise decision,” Poppy giggled.
I closed our bedroom door behind us and immediately started peeling off the layers of my fancy suit. Poppy started with her hair, and she collected a pile of bobby pins on the side table that was rather impressive. Then she removed her gown and dropped the pile of gold into the laundry chute before she walked into the bathroom.
“My feet are aching from so much dancing,” Poppy called from the bathroom.
“Mine, too,” I chuckled.
I joined her to brush my teeth, and I found that watching her remove her makeup was unexpectedly intimate. It felt like the first time I’d seen her naked, and it made my heart warm in my chest.
We snuggled under the blankets together, and I was so worn out from all the excitement of the party that I was asleep in a minute. I slept hard and deep until I felt Poppy’s soft lips press to the corner of my temple in the morning.
“Mmmm,” I grumbled slightly as my mind tried to sink back into slumber.
“Michael,” Poppy murmured gently. “We have to get up.”
“Nope,” I teased. “I’m king, and I don’t wanna get up.”
“Michael,” Poppy giggled softly. “Come on.”
“Nooo,” I whined playfully as I pried one eye open to look at her. “Sleep.”
“Michael,” Poppy laughed.
My teal-haired lover was already dressed in cotton jogger pants and a loose tank top in a bright shade of pink. Her hair was twisted into two braids that hung over her shoulders, and she looked ready to lounge comfortably during the day of travel that lay ahead of us.
“Greece,” I breathed as my brain really started to wake up. “We’re going to Greece today.”
“Yes, your majesty.” Poppy grinned. “And you need to get up and get dressed so we can get going.”
Then I was hit with a brick wall of shock.
“I’m going to Greece today?” I muttered in an astonished whisper, and the tiredness of a few seconds ago was instantly replaced with excitement. “What even is my life? Alright, I’m getting up.”
“Good,” Poppy said in an almost smug voice. “I laid out some comfortable clothes for you, and Matis, Sunny, and Birch will pack your things.”
“Good morning, your majesty,” Sunny said, and the morning sun glinted off his bright yellow hair.
“Morning, boys,” I said to the triplet fae valets as I climbed out of the bed.
“What are your plans for your time in Greece, your majesty?” Birch asked.
“I’m honestly not sure,” I sighed and stretched. “I guess pack a little of everything. I’m sure there will be official business and casual meetings, too.”
“Yes, a bit of everything,” Poppy agreed. “And a swimsuit.”
The triplet valets nodded and set to work, and by the time I’d dressed in the light sweatpants and t-shirt Poppy had picked for me, they had a Louis Vuitton three-piece luggage set packed and ready to go for me. There was also a toiletries bag on top of that which had all my self-care essentials in it. Poppy’s luggage was Gucci, and it was just as full as mine.
I blinked dumbly at the plush leather bags for a few long seconds. I was so used to cramming everything into a single nylon bag with wheels that stuck more often than not. That was when I even had the money to travel, which wasn’t a very frequent occurrence.
We walked out of the room together as a small army of maids arrived to carry our bags downstairs, and Tristan pulled open the front door for us as we reached the last step.
“Safe travels, your majesty,” the cyclops said.
“Thanks, Tristan,” I replied.
Firo, Cove, Rune, Lady Helena, Nyxx, Ena, Kage, and a few other servants were all gathered around in the driveway. I was a little confused as to why there wasn’t a car waiting for us, but I figured it would pull up in a moment.
