The Luna Choosing Game

“I don’t care what the King thinks of me,” Nicholas said. “I will see justice done.”

“That’s incredibly noble of you, brother Julian rolled his eyes. “But I have a different scheme. It would provide the same result, with less mess.”

Nicholas shook his head like he didn’t even want to hear him out. But I disagreed. We should hear every

option before acting, especially if Nicholas’s plan would hurt him in the long run.

“Please explain, Julian,” I said.

Nicholas shot me a look, which I pointedly did not acknowledge.

“If we call out the bullies directly, we could back them into a corner and make things worse. It would be

so much simpler if we lifted up Piper instead. We could make her untouchable.”

Nicholas thought a moment, then asked, “How?”

I had the same question.

Julian nodded toward the boar carcass that the wolves were protecting.

Understanding crossed Nicholas’s face. I still wasn’t sure.

if it

Julian shrugged. “But give me a couple days, anyway. I think I can work with this

are you talking about?”

me. “You’ll see.”

us,” Nicholas said. Then, after a quick scowling glance

Julian laughed.

Julian. But Nicholas? Even with the misunderstanding of betrayal looming between us, I knew I could

counted for something. A heck of

trust you,” I told himn.

satisfied with the way he tapped

palace.” Julian waggled his

said at

between them. “I could try to walk…?”

so that his back was to

his shoulders, and he hoisted me up onto his back.

giving me

was nice though, pressing into the long expanse of Nicholas’s back. His strong hands pressing

thighs.

to think too much about it. Nicholas was only doing this for my sake, to get me

and swiftly back to the palace. Romance had

he hadn’t wanted Julian

thoughts go. Nicholas no longer cared for me like he used