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?”

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

pressing down onto me. One pair belonged to Linda, who downed an entire champagne flute while glaring at me.

The King v

his throne. He wore no expression, but a chill struck through me under the intensity of his eyes. He was judgmental and observant. I

Linda’s ultimatum.

chance either way. So I held out my hand and accepted

hand in both of his.

stared a moment, a touch of surprise widening his eyes. “Piper?”

sore loser, brother.” Julian’s grin sharpened. “Wouldn’t want the whole room to see

jealous you are.”

schooled his features. “I’m

words, even though it had no real reason

be jealous, and I

hand, pulling me out onto the dance floor. As he held my hand with one of his, he wrapped his other

I was able to keep up fairly easily. With Julian twirling me around the dance floor, I noticed Linda and the King had stopped

never left us for long, even as other girls

myself for whatever observation he was about to make. “You and Nicholas disappear for a time. Then when you return, he is

swallowed thickly. “I don’t know what you mean.”