A/N: Hey guys. I know the last chapter was a slight cliffhanger but I'm far enough ahead that I didn't have to make you wait long for this chapter 😊. Also I discovered these emoji's so I will probably use them often, especially when our couple are texting. This chapter starts in Ben's POV. I know I usually lean towards Mal's POV but that is only because Ben is always working and I don't think his work makes for interesting reading. Happy reading.
Reminder this story is rated M.
Ben's POV
I had a good idea who was behind this but I had to have evidence. When my dad came and got me on Thanksgiving to address a PR issue, I thought it was going to have to do with the press at the Christmas Ball. Turns out it had nothing to do with the Christmas Ball. I knew I couldn't keep this from Mal. She was due to arrive soon.
I wasn't able to spend as much time with her as I wanted to lately. Every time we tried to be alone someone or something interrupted us. It was getting so frustrating, especially since we have become more intimate. Mal hasn't said that she is ready to take that last step, but she has been so eager lately. I couldn't wait for the Christmas Ball to be over, when I will have more free time. After yesterday morning I owe her.
I heard a light knock on the door. "Come in" I called out and Mal entered my office closing the door behind her.
"Ben what's going on?" she asked. She seemed really worried.
"We have an issue, but it isn't dire" I said hoping to ease her worry. "Turns out someone sent a tip to the press stating you were spending time with another guy and that is how those articles got started. The press already knew to go looking for something" I told her. She looked confused.
"How? Who?" she asked, shock plainly written on her face.
"They received an anonymous email. As for the who, I have my suspicions" I said. "I have a feeling that Audrey or Queen Leah may be behind this."
"How would either of them known that I was spending extra time with Derek? Audrey is still gone on her retreat and Queen Leah is in South Riding" she said.
"That is the speed bump I have hit. Right now we are waiting on our IT team to find out where the email came from" I told her. "This is the email they received." I turned my computer around and Mal walked up to my desk to read it.
To: Auradon Times; Auradon Daily; Auradon Post
From:
To whom it may concern,
I have stumbled upon something most news worthy and thought I would share it with you so that you may do your own digging. It is told that Lady Mal has been spending quite a bit of time with a gentleman who is not the king. In fact she has been with said gentleman every afternoon for the last three days. I think this is a story worth looking into.
"Hmmm it certainly sounds like Queen Leah" Mal said. "If you find out who did it, is there anything you can do?" she asked me.
"What's done is done. If it was Audrey or Queen Leah I can issue consequences" I said.
"Consequences?" she asked.
"Nothing that bad. Just enough so that they know that it is unacceptable to spread untruths. The publications were already fined for defamation" I said. "So we can issue them fines also, maybe have them make a public apology." I heard her sigh. "What is it?" I asked her.
"It's just that I really don't want it hashed back up and a public apology would do that" she said to me, crossing her arms in front of her and dropped into the chair in front of my desk.
"What do you think we should do?" I asked her.
"Honestly Ben, I don't think much should be done. They are so proud that just confronting them with any proof you find might be enough to humiliate them" she said to me. "What if it wasn't them?" she asked me.
"I thought about that, but who else in this entire kingdom doesn't want us together?" I said shrugging my shoulders.
"True" she said. "So when will they know for sure who sent it?" she asked next.
"By the end of the day tomorrow, if not before then" I told her. She stood and walked around my desk and sat across my lap. She wrapped her arm around my shoulder and started running her fingers through my hair.
"I just want to forget it ever happened" she said leaning her head against my shoulder.
"Me too, but more than that I don't want it to happen again, so my main concern is letting them know we know and it isn't acceptable" I told her.
"How about this; if you find out that it was Queen Leah, why don't you hold a council meeting" she suggested. "Nearly everyone is going to be in town for the Christmas Ball, so call a meeting the day before the ball and you can address her there. You could tell she was embarrassed at the last council meeting when you called her out."
"That is a good idea. Keeps it private but still puts her in her place in front of her peers." I smiled at her. "How did you get so smart?" I teased. She shrugged one shoulder and brought her face to mine, kissing me softly.
"Are you going to be at school tomorrow?" she asked.
"I plan to be, though now that Thanksgiving is over and with the ball coming up I don't know if I will have a lot of free time" I told her.
"Well I will be around a lot the week before the ball because I will be helping Belle host all the guests that stay here at the castle, so we will get to see each other at least a little bit" she said smiling at me.
"I'm glad you are able to see a bright side in all of this" I told her. It wasn't long before my secretary, Debra, told me I had a call from King Naveen about the new school, so Mal told me to let her know when I heard anything from IT before she left to head back to her dorm.
I went to school the next day with no more news than I had the day before. I didn't get to see Mal until our Magical History class. She gave me a questioning look and I just shook my head. I waited for Mal at the door when class let out. I grabbed her hand as we walked out to the courtyard. All the tables were taken so we found a sunny patch of grass and sat down. It was getting pretty cold so the sun felt nice.
"Do you think it will snow soon?" Mal asked me, scooting closer to me to get warmer.
"I dunno. We had a day of snow around this time last year but the sky is clear right now" I said. She moved to sit between my legs, leaning back against me. I loved how comfortable she was with me now, even in public.
"You're always so warm" she said, tipping her head back to look at my face. I leaned down and kissed her lips briefly.
"I guess I get it from my dad. He runs hot too" I said.
"So you haven't heard from IT yet?" she asked, as she pulled out her salad and began to eat.
"Not yet" I said. I pulled out my phone to check my email. I scrolled through looking to see if there was one from IT and there it was. I clicked on it and read what it had to say.
"I knew it!" I said out loud.
"What?" Mal said between bites.
"I just got an email from IT. The IP addresses match Queen Leah's. They were able to match them exactly" I told her.
"What does that mean?" she asked, with a confused look.
"The email sent to the press comes from the same computer that Queen Leah emails me from using the same network, both IP addresses match which means she was at home when she sent it" I explained.
"How in the world did she know though?" she mused.
"I have no idea. I could always pull her phone records" I said. "Someone must have told her. You would think it would be Audrey, but she hasn't been here."
"I think you should just ask her. No need to make extra work for yourself by pulling and going over phone records. Besides they could be a dead end" she said to me.
"Ok. I guess I will schedule a council meeting then" I said.
Mal's POV
It was now Friday and time for my next magic lesson with Fairy Godmother. I was glad Ben told me about that anonymous email and that he was able to figure out who sent it. Now he had to schedule a council meeting and confront her. Better him than me I thought.
I made my way to the Magical History classroom once again. I knew Ben wouldn't be here this time. He was traveling to Towering Heights this weekend to check on the new school, which was due to be complete in the new year.
I walked into the classroom to find Fairy Godmother working on her computer. She looked up when she heard me enter.
"Good afternoon, Mal" she said smiling at me.
"Good afternoon" I replied. "What are we going to work on today?" I asked.
"I think we will just talk today. I would like to know what spells from your mothers spell book you used before putting it in the museum" she stated. "and if you can explain why you used them."
"Oh um ok" I said as I sat at the desk in front of her. "There was the hair spell. That one is self explanatory. Speed reading spell that I used to try to get through the book Belle gave me about becoming a Lady of the Court. A cooking spell I used for a date with Ben. A reversal spell that I used to reverse the cooking spell when Ben found out about it. A traveling spell which also let me through the barrier when I went back to the Isle before cotillion... I think that's it" I told her leaving out the spells I used to break into the museum when we first got here. She looked at me a little stunned.
"That isn't as much as I thought it might have been" she told me.
"Well I did do the hair spell a lot" I said with a little laugh.
"And have you made any potions to spell someone else?" she asked. I just looked at her. Should I tell her about the love potion? I kinda had a feeling that she already knew, so I felt like I didn't want to lie about it.
"Well I did make a love potion" I said timidly.
"I already guessed that, but why don't you tell me the whole story" she said.
"It wasn't long after we got here and you know how we were desperate to do what our parents told us to. Anyhow we were told you would be blessing Ben with your wand at his coronation. I asked Ben if we could be up front and he said that just his parents and girlfriend could be up there, so I made a love potion so that he would fall in love with me and I would be the girlfriend up front and I would be able to grab your wand. Things didn't quite go the way I planned because I started falling in love with Ben. Then I made an anti-love potion because I just felt like if the villains were going to take over it was just mean to have him still be in love with me, but it turns out the spell washed off in the Enchanted Lake on our first date and he knew about the love potion the whole time but he had real feelings for me. By the time the coronation started I was having mixed feelings and I didn't even know if I was going to go through with the plan" I said all of this in a rush. "You were there for the rest" I muttered and she just nodded her head.
"So the love potion and the anti-love potion are the only ones you have used?" she ask.
"Oh I did make Carlos a truth gummy. It was before him and Jane got together and he didn't have the nerve to tell her how he felt, but Dude ate it and that's why he can talk now" I said.
"And all the potions came from the spell book correct?" she asked.
"Yes" I answered.
"Ok well you haven't used as much magic as you could have I suppose" she said with a small smile. "This gives me a better idea what you are capable of."
"Oh! I just thought of something!" I exclaimed.
"What is it dear?" Fairy Godmother asked.
"The door locking spell was not the first spell that I came up with. The spell I used to defeat my mother was also my own. It took a lot for it to work though" I said looking at her.
"Your powers weren't as developed then. That spell may have been a break through for you though. Good magic is more powerful Than evil magic and that is why it worked even though it was hard" she said. I nodded. That made sense since the magical surges started not long after that.
"Well with the Christmas Ball coming up and school letting out for the holidays the next week, I think we can wait until the new year to meet again. Just practice summoning things silently" she suggested. "It might be a good idea if Ben wasn't around when you practice" she said with a grin and I couldn't help but laugh.
I spent the weekend working on homework and watching the Isle. It was Sunday evening and I was flipping through the channels on TV while Evie was busy working on the dresses for the ball.
"E our room is not big enough to hold four ball gowns" I said to tease her. I watched as she used a hand to flatten down all the tulle so she could see me over her work.
"Well I'm nearly done, thank goodness" she responded before her sewing machine began to buzz again. I just laughed. I couldn't wait to see my dress when it was done. So far all I had seen of it was the dark green fabric she had picked out.
My phone chimed with an incoming message. I turned and concentrated on it sitting on my bedside table. It swiftly moved, landing in my outstretched hand. I smiled to myself. This was getting easy I thought. I looked at my phone to see who was texting me and saw it was a message from Ben.
Hey baby, we just took off to head back home. I can't wait to see you at school tomorrow.
I quickly texted him back.
I can't wait to see you too. I miss you!
I didn't bank on getting any significant time with him this week. He already told me had several meetings this week. One with PR to actually arrange the press for the Christmas Ball. He also had to meet with his security team. There were going to be lots of royals in town so he wanted to make sure everyone was safe with Uma still on the loose.
Do you think you, Evie, Jay and Carlos can meet on Saturday to discuss our notes on the VKs?
I forgot that he wanted to meet again before Christmas, but why didn't he want to meet after the ball I wondered.
I can ask. Why not wait until after the ball?
"Hey E?" I called out to her and the buzzing stopped.
"Yeah?" she inquired.
"Are you free for a VK meeting with Ben Saturday?" I asked.
"That should be fine. I have plans to be at the castle anyway. Cinderella is coming that day and I am going to do her and Belle's final fitting" she said. "Let Ben know that I'm doing that in the morning." I nodded but then realized she couldn't see me.
"Ok, I'll let him know" I said. My phone buzzed with his reply.
I'm hoping to have time off to spend with my girlfriend after the ball. 😘
His words made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
I can't wait for all this madness to die down, then maybe I can have you all to myself.😉
I stared at my phone waiting for his reply.
Oh really Lady Mal? And what do you plan to do with me?
I loved when he got flirty like this. I thought it would be fun to play along, so I decided to flirt back.
The real question is what do you plan to do with me?
I wondered how far he would go with this banter.
I plan to make you feel so good that all you can do is moan my name and beg for me.
I felt my skin begin to flush. I heard Evie's sewing machine stop again and she stood and hung up the dress she was working on and looked over at me and smirked.
"I take it you're talking to Ben" she said. I just nodded.
"What could he possibly be saying that has you blushing like that?" she questioned. I shook my head.
"Let's just say he's a smooth talker" I said grinning at her.
"Trying to talk you straight into his bed no doubt" she joked.
"I can only hope" I replied. Evie gave me a shocked look and I just laughed. I then texted my reply to Ben.
Evie says you are trying to talk me straight into your bed. (Don't worry I didn't tell her what you said)
"I can't believe you are over there sexting" Evie said to me right as Ben sent his reply.
Is it working?
"I am not sexting!" I said looking up at her.
"Fine. I can't believe Ben is sexting you then" she corrected.
"We aren't sexting. Nothing he has said has been that explicit" I said looking back at my phone to text him back.
Well to be honest it doesn't matter to me if it's your bed or mine, though your's is bigger.
"Oh yeah, what is he saying?" Evie asked.
"I just told him what you said about trying to talk me into his bed" I said trying to steer her away from what Ben was saying.
"And what did he say to that?" she asked. I sighed, well that didn't work I thought.
"He just asked if it was working" I murmured as Ben's reply came through.
It's not the only thing that's bigger.
"Ok maybe now he's sexting" I said with a giggle after reading his text.
Watch it Beast, you're turning me on.
Two could play at this game. I looked up at Evie who was giving me an incredulous look.
"What?" I inquired.
"I'm just shocked that's all" she said.
"Please, I'm sure you and Doug have shared a few risqué text messages" I shot back.
"Maybe" she said with a smirk.
I love it when you call me that.
I think it bodes well for me that I can turn you on with just a text.
Are you wet?
The next three messages came back to back. I couldn't believe he would ask that. Who am I kidding, the few times we have been intimate Ben has kinda been a talker, so of course he would ask I thought. Why lie to him.
Yes
"Do you need some alone time?" Evie teased. I just laughed.
"I think I can control myself. It would be a different story if he was here though" I said with a giggle.
"Never thought I would see the day when you would be sexting" she said.
"I mean is it really sexting if you've never had sex?" I asked.
"You've definitely done enough with him to sext" she informed me with a laugh.
How wet are you? 💦
I shook my head as I read his text "Oh my god" I said, giggling again.
"I don't think I want to know" Evie said.
I can't very well find out with Evie here.
"I'm going to get a shower" Evie said collecting her things. "It won't matter if I use all the hot water because after you're done talking to Ben you are probably going to need a cold shower" she teased and I just stuck my tongue out at her.
I'm so hard thinking about how you taste. 👅
Ben! Is your dad with you?
I'm in the bathroom.
Then you may want to take care of your problem. Just picture your hand as my hand, or better yet my mouth.
Evie was done with her shower in no time. Ben hadn't texted me back so I figured he was busy with his issue. I wanted Evie to help me with something.
I gotta run. I love
"E? I know it was 'movie night' when you and Doug did it for the first time" I started signing quotes as I spoke. "But did you plan it at all or did all just happen?" I asked her.
"I went into the date hoping it would happen, but I didn't actually plan it out. I think Doug was the same way. Why?" she asked.
"Well I want to be with Ben like that, but we are always so busy. I feel like maybe I should plan it" I stated.
"So just plan a date" she said.
"I want it to be special. Not like a regular date" I said to her. We both sat there thinking for a little while.
"I've got an idea!" Evie stated suddenly. Her idea was great and we spent the rest of the evening planning my perfectly sweet seduction of the King of Auradon.
So Mal is ready to take that final step with her king! Let's hope she can plan an awesome date. So Ben is going to call a council meeting. There will be a lot of royals and leaders in town. Do you guys want to know everyone who is in attendance? I know roughly who all I plan to have at the meeting and it is a lot! I can skim over attendance and let you know the number of people there or go through the whole attendance. Which would you like?
Reviews are love!