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

everything.” I clasped my hands together. “He told me to stay away from you: He’s

coming closer. He pressed his palm into the small of my back. I should have shied from the touch,

everything, his closeness was the

die. A tear escape my eye and tracked down my face.

marred Nicholas’s voice, tightening it a bit from its usual faise

recognizable. “Elva told me you keep my picture in your wallet. Tell me, is it

throat. Elva had told him about that? When? Why?

Hed she recognized him from the

before I could decide whether or not to deny it.

in. I allowed myself one last picture of him. I’d purged everything else, but I

all the way.

understand,” Nicholas said, and he sounded almost as broken as I felt.

picture?”

have

me, how could you

didn’t.” The words came out in my grief and my upset. I