The Luna Choosing Game

You and Nicholas have a special bond, and I can’t wait to see how far I can bend it.

I didn’t understand Julian at first. Nicholas and I hadn’t been a couple in three years. Whatever bond we

had was assuredly broken by now. The plans Julian had for us would make no difference anymore.

But then I realized, this wasn’t about me, or me and Nicholas as a couple.

Julian’s hostility was aimed fully at Nicholas himself.

They had always seemed like fierce enemies at the Academy. Perhaps the addition of them being brothers didn’t make that perception untrue. Maybe it only intensified their rivalry.

“If you are planning on using me against Nicholas, you are making a big mistake,” I said. “Nicholas no longer cares for me. In fact, he likely hates me. You’d be wasting your time.”

Julian’s smile neither grew nor wavered. He merely watched me a moment, then dipped his head. “Good luck in the selection, Piper.”

Without another word, he turned and exited the room.

I had no idea what he was thinking.

I stayed in the room for a while, after that. The maids that were assigned to me had yet to appear. That was fine. I didn’t need anyone to look after my daughter and me.

of a nearby dresser. Elval was diligently following me from the bed to dresser and back again. She pointed at everything

that, Mommy? A painted vase atop

wall, a portrait of

window, a pair of horses grazed in a fenced–in field

grew disinterested and returned to her toys. Ed pulled the comforter off the bed and draped it across the back of a tall

hide

restond to impacking

door, Thad only blowed the door

door swung open, Nicholas stood there with a

into my throat at the sight of him. It must have been a reflex. So many times he’d sneaked into my room at the Academy. Seeing him now, in my doorway, sent me

held mine. I wondered if he

he

I come in?” he

remembering myself, I added, “Your Royal

brow furrowed at the use of his title, but he

was good for

one of the guards, who stepped diligently to his side.