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

my hands together. “He told me to stay away from you: He’s right, Nicholas. I should

palm into the small of my back. I should have shied from the touch, but I

closeness was the

escape my eye and tracked down my

desperation marred Nicholas’s voice, tightening it a bit from its usual faise calm. He

keep my picture in your wallet. Tell me, is

caught in my throat. Elva had told him

had seen it so much Hed she recognized him from the start? Was

could decide whether or not to deny it. “I can tell

as shame crept in. I allowed myself one last picture of him. I’d purged everything else, but I could never get rid of my favorite. He’d been smiling so bright,

be together but I didn’t want to let him go, not all the

don’t understand,” Nicholas said, and he sounded almost as broken as I felt. “Why would you

picture?”

don’t know.” I didn’t have a

how could you leave me for another man?”

out in my grief and my upset. I hadn’t meant to