The Luna Choosing Game

“You would deny the direct command of your prince?” he asked, voice firm. It was an act, I knew him enough to be able to tell. But he was giving me the reason I needed comply with his wishes if I so chose.

And I desperately wanted to.

“Okay,” I said at last. He utilized his servants to draw attention away from us. When he was certain we were safe, he whisked me away, out onto the balcony where we were alone

Night had set in. The moon was bright above us, illuminating the spacious balcony more than the

candlelight could.

Nicholas maintained distance, not touching, though he stayed close enough to reach for me if I faltered. My twisted ankle felt much better now, though, so I walked steadily. It was only my hands that were

shaking.

We stopped at the railing, and together looked out over the darkness. I thought the gardens might be

below, but I couldn’t be certain.

He stood beside me, looking at me rather than the view.

“Piper,” he prompted.

“Your father knows about us,” I said.

He froze

you followed, all those years ago. He knows everything.” I clasped my hands together. “He told me to stay away from you: He’s right,

He pressed his palm into the small of my back. I should have shied from the touch, but I melted into it instead.

was

tear escape my eye and tracked down my

hint of desperation marred Nicholas’s voice, tightening it a bit from its

told me you keep my picture in your wallet.

in my throat. Elva had told

Hed she recognized him from the start? Was

decide whether or not to

I’d purged everything else, but I could never get rid of my favorite. He’d

let him go, not all the way. I wanted to

said, and he sounded almost as broken as

picture?”

I didn’t have a good

so much about me, how could you leave me for another

grief and