Lena pressed a hand to her face.

“Lena, we will speak about your part in this later.” Nicholas said, dismissing her.

“Yes, Sir.” Lena, keeping her eyes on the ground, quickly turned and walked back toward the palace.

Elva, who had been hiding behind my skirts, peeked her head out. “Is it over? No more loud yelling?”

“I

“It’s over,” I told her, but then looked up at Nicholas, whose tight expression had not relaxed. “I think.”

“Mark“” Nicholas called out⠀⠀

Mark emerged from the tree line. He had been close and ready. Likely he had planned to jump out if he

had been needed.

Nicholas lowered himself down to one knee to speak to Elva. “Elva, do you mind playing with Mark for a

minute while I speak with your mother?”

Elva seemed unsure. She looked up at me.

I smiled and nodded, giving her support.

“Okay…” Slowly, she walked over to Mark, who held out a hand for her. She kept looking back at us

though, as if she didn’t trust us alone.

earshot, Nicholas’s piercing

up his right wrist, showing me the wrist guard I’d

you give this to me directly,

thought of lying,

knew the truth.

I said. I motioned toward the wrist guard. “This was just a

gesture.”

arm. “It’s much more likely that you are using your previous knowledge of me in

true. If I wanted it that way, I wouldn’t have

knew I would discover the

just wanted to help

accusations tried at my patience. He thought so

seemed tarnished

my denial seriously. He merely shook his

knew you’ve been chasing after me, but I didn’t expect you to now have Julian up your

What did Julian have to do

up my

up your sleeve.”

I’m not sure why. I suppose your beauty would

usually avoids anyone with too many

My… beauty?

Focus, Piper.

mouth to deny Julian’s attraction, but

distance

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