Read Online The Love Lottery by Linda Andrews - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Linda Andrews
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shout echoed off the marble walls, and she flinched. Alessa straightened, her fist raised at her side.
The Consiglio Comunale snapped their attention to her.
Footsteps whispered over the tile behind Lia, but she didn't turn. She had to do this. Now. The butterfly lit on her shoulder, giving her courage. This was her chance to stay in Amores. She just hoped Zephyrus blew Dante home soon.
"We all know that Psyche and Cupid walk among us still, so no one is suggesting I am she."
Alessa blinked then shook her head. For a moment, she stared at her fist then shook out her fingers and strode to Lia's side.
"Of course not. But this is Lia's home—the only one she's had for nineteen years. She's as much a part of Amores as the descendants of the signers of the Cupid Charter. And while we are in the business of romantic love, does not the love of children come from that as well?"
Sindaco Mezzerti poked the scroll.
"The charter clearly states…"
Lia ground her teeth. Enough with the stupid charter.
"The charter states that all single female citizens can drop their name into Cupid and Psyche's urn on Valentine's Day. Since I am still a citizen of Amores until the end of term…" Forever, if I have my way. "…I will add my name to the Love Lottery."
A hiss sounded behind her. In front, the mayor jerked back in his seat. Signora Grimor flicked her black braid over her shoulder and leaned toward the mayor.
"What!" Alessa clamped onto Lia's arm. "You don't—"
Lia ignored her sister and squared her shoulders.
"If the gods will it, I will find a mate tomorrow."
Pain lanced her chest. No, not a mate, if Dante had not returned from the outside. She crossed her fingers. Please, gods, have Dante return.
Signora Grimor nodded to the mayor before leaning forward in her chair.
"And if an eligible bachelor doesn't draw your name, will you leave the village without further appeals to the consiglio?"
"No!" Alessa groaned and tightened her grip on Lia's arm
"Si." Pain needled Lia's fingers. Setting her hand on her sister's, she tried to loosen the vise. The Love Lottery had to work. Cupid wouldn't have suggested it otherwise, wouldn't have shown her Dante's face.
Unless…
Unless, Cupid was playing one of his tricks and wanted her cast out.
Lia slowly filled her lungs. If her name wasn't drawn then she'd find Dante on the outside. She had to find him.
The mayor grasped the scroll and began to roll it up.
"You know you will never be able to find Amores again? Never be able to return here or see any of us once you live among the regular humans?"
"Yes." Her voice broke, cracked the very heart in her chest. Please, gods, don't let this be a trick.
Mayor Mezzerti leaned to the left and right to consult with the other council members.
"The matter is closed, unless Alessa would like to add her name to the drawing."
Alessa groaned but shook her head. Strands of black hair escaped her bun.
"No? Very well. Lia Lombard will add her name to the urn tomorrow at sunrise. The gods’ will be done."
Tucking the scroll under his arm, the mayor jumped off his throne. The Consiglio Comunale followed.
Lia turned toward the door. Dante! Her heart stuttered in her chest before battering against her ribcage. Had her thoughts conjured him? She blinked. No, they couldn't have. He was different from the last time she'd seen him.
Feet crossed at the ankles and hands stuffed into his trouser pockets, Dante Trancredo leaned against the walnut door frame. Light from the torches flicked over the dusky skin covering his high cheekbones and cleanshaven jaw. His black eyes flashed, when they swept over her. Heat bloomed under her skin. He looked better than the picture she kept under her pillow.
"Dante, you're back!" Alessa brushed Lia’s shoulder again as she rushed past.
Lia's sandals took root in the mosaic's grass, and she sucked on her bottom lip. Hope filled her stomach in a riot of wings. Was this what Cupid meant? Would Dante draw her name
The Consiglio Comunale snapped their attention to her.
Footsteps whispered over the tile behind Lia, but she didn't turn. She had to do this. Now. The butterfly lit on her shoulder, giving her courage. This was her chance to stay in Amores. She just hoped Zephyrus blew Dante home soon.
"We all know that Psyche and Cupid walk among us still, so no one is suggesting I am she."
Alessa blinked then shook her head. For a moment, she stared at her fist then shook out her fingers and strode to Lia's side.
"Of course not. But this is Lia's home—the only one she's had for nineteen years. She's as much a part of Amores as the descendants of the signers of the Cupid Charter. And while we are in the business of romantic love, does not the love of children come from that as well?"
Sindaco Mezzerti poked the scroll.
"The charter clearly states…"
Lia ground her teeth. Enough with the stupid charter.
"The charter states that all single female citizens can drop their name into Cupid and Psyche's urn on Valentine's Day. Since I am still a citizen of Amores until the end of term…" Forever, if I have my way. "…I will add my name to the Love Lottery."
A hiss sounded behind her. In front, the mayor jerked back in his seat. Signora Grimor flicked her black braid over her shoulder and leaned toward the mayor.
"What!" Alessa clamped onto Lia's arm. "You don't—"
Lia ignored her sister and squared her shoulders.
"If the gods will it, I will find a mate tomorrow."
Pain lanced her chest. No, not a mate, if Dante had not returned from the outside. She crossed her fingers. Please, gods, have Dante return.
Signora Grimor nodded to the mayor before leaning forward in her chair.
"And if an eligible bachelor doesn't draw your name, will you leave the village without further appeals to the consiglio?"
"No!" Alessa groaned and tightened her grip on Lia's arm
"Si." Pain needled Lia's fingers. Setting her hand on her sister's, she tried to loosen the vise. The Love Lottery had to work. Cupid wouldn't have suggested it otherwise, wouldn't have shown her Dante's face.
Unless…
Unless, Cupid was playing one of his tricks and wanted her cast out.
Lia slowly filled her lungs. If her name wasn't drawn then she'd find Dante on the outside. She had to find him.
The mayor grasped the scroll and began to roll it up.
"You know you will never be able to find Amores again? Never be able to return here or see any of us once you live among the regular humans?"
"Yes." Her voice broke, cracked the very heart in her chest. Please, gods, don't let this be a trick.
Mayor Mezzerti leaned to the left and right to consult with the other council members.
"The matter is closed, unless Alessa would like to add her name to the drawing."
Alessa groaned but shook her head. Strands of black hair escaped her bun.
"No? Very well. Lia Lombard will add her name to the urn tomorrow at sunrise. The gods’ will be done."
Tucking the scroll under his arm, the mayor jumped off his throne. The Consiglio Comunale followed.
Lia turned toward the door. Dante! Her heart stuttered in her chest before battering against her ribcage. Had her thoughts conjured him? She blinked. No, they couldn't have. He was different from the last time she'd seen him.
Feet crossed at the ankles and hands stuffed into his trouser pockets, Dante Trancredo leaned against the walnut door frame. Light from the torches flicked over the dusky skin covering his high cheekbones and cleanshaven jaw. His black eyes flashed, when they swept over her. Heat bloomed under her skin. He looked better than the picture she kept under her pillow.
"Dante, you're back!" Alessa brushed Lia’s shoulder again as she rushed past.
Lia's sandals took root in the mosaic's grass, and she sucked on her bottom lip. Hope filled her stomach in a riot of wings. Was this what Cupid meant? Would Dante draw her name
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