The Luna Choosing Game

“No,” Nicholas said.

Julian, still bowing, shot him a glare. “I wasn’t asking you, brother. In case that wasn’t obvious.”

1

“She will not dance with you, because she is about to dance with me.” Nicholas said.

Julian straightened upright. “Is that what was happening here? Because, to me, it appeared as if you two were awkwardly standing near each other and only barely talking.”

That description didn’t sound so different from some of the royal dances I knew, but I decided not to

point that out.

“Even if we were only talking, you must admit how exceedingly rude it is to interrupt,” Nicholas said.

“Rude, maybe,” Julian said. “But necessary, if I’m to save Piper from an evening of boredom.”

“Perhaps we should ask the lady to choose for herself,” Nicholas said. He looked at me.

Julian did too. “Well, Piper? Which of us will it be?”

for Nicholas and the comfort of his presence. I’d given him quite the shock tonight, I was sure, with revelation after revelation. I

I felt two pairs of eyes pressing down onto me. One pair belonged to Linda,

The King v

me from atop his throne. He wore no expression, but a chill struck through me under the intensity of his eyes. He was judgmental and observant. I had no way of knowing if he knew

Linda’s ultimatum.

either way. So I held out my hand

clasped my hand in both of his.

moment, a touch of

Julian’s grin sharpened. “Wouldn’t want the whole room to see how

jealous you are.”

Nicholas schooled his features. “I’m not jealous.”

bit at the words, even though it had no real reason to. Nicholas and I did not

right to be jealous, and I had no right to

As he held my hand

a faster song, though the steps were simple. I was able to keep up fairly easily. With Julian

watched Julian and me with an unreadable expression. His eyes never left us for long, even

to make. “You and Nicholas disappear for a time. Then when you

“I don’t know what you mean.”