The Luna audibly gasped. Some of the girls around me started screaming. Guards quickly moved in to usher them from the room. I was urged forward.

“End the program,” the King shouted. “Now.”

The cameras immediately shut off.

Before I could reach the staircase and earn my favor from the prince of my choice, my path was blocked

with a very angry King and Queen,

“Nicholas!” the King shouted.

“What have you done?” the Luna cried.

Nicholas quickly came down the staircase to join me at my side. I stared at him, bewildered.

“You heard the public,” he said. “This is what they wanted, even if you were too bullheaded to see it.”

“Careful,” the King said.

“Piper won the people’s favor. More, she won the game by the rules we’d assigned.”

“I can do one better than that, even,” Julian said, jumping down from the stage. He carried

my broken

bow in his hands. Where had he gotten it? Had his Beta kept it hidden for him?

He threw it down into the space between the King and Queen, and me and Nicholas.

“She excelled even when our own staff tried to have her killed,” Julian said.

“Our staff?” the Luna gasped.

“Who?” the King demanded.

Julian and Nicholas both shifted their gazes to where Lena was tucked in the Queen’s shadow.

Her face went pale.

Julian smirked, “Anything to say, Lena?”

She seemed set, like she had no intention of moving. The Queen herself motioned her forward.

“Is this true?” The Luna motioned to the broken bow. “Is this your doing?”

answer. It seemed even she couldn’t

your forgiveness,” she said. “I only ever wished to preserve

the royal throne.”

“Piper could have

intend her physical harm. I only wished to keep her from finishing the contest. I had no reason to believe that

exactly what happened,” Nicholas

Lena bowed.

at each other. Neither seemed

happened tonight.

is an evening of supposed celebration,” the King said. “We will

she will be reprimanded?” Nicholas

King said. All eyes looked to the

send in your

the rest of this evening.”

Lena scurried to obey the Luna’s command, scrambling from the

King rubbed his forehead.

hurried closer. “Great news! The public has now

They applaud you for making the choosing of Piper so dramatic.”

yes, that’s fine.” The King pushed him away.

new open space. “We need to move into the second area

area?” I whispered to Nicholas.

replied, voice just as soft. “You’ll get more

sounded very appealing at the moment, knowing the King and

to send me home

should have sent

of the 15 remaining girls, with Nicholas himself having stuck his neck out to save me. I didn’t

for the night,” I said. If

party.

his

wanted me to

so confused. But I found that now, just like three years ago,

simple request.

well,” I

remaining girls. The cameramen were setting up to record a long

d’oeuvres were served, as the King’s servants

setting up. In the other corner, a water station was prepared beside a table of champagne bottles and

to come over to speak with me, twice

escorted away

available to talk after the King has had his time to speak with each,”

on

King. The servants guided me to a familiar

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