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?”

his presence. I’d given him quite the shock tonight, I was sure, with revelation after revelation. I wanted to make sure

One pair belonged to Linda, who downed an entire champagne flute while

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 had no way

Linda’s ultimatum.

I held out my hand

he clasped my hand in both of his.

touch of surprise widening his

grin sharpened. “Wouldn’t want the whole room to

jealous you are.”

instant, Nicholas schooled his features. “I’m not

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

He had no right to be jealous, and I had no right to want him

pulling me out onto the dance floor. As he held my

With Julian twirling me around the dance floor, I noticed Linda and the King had stopped

with an unreadable expression. His eyes never left us for long, even as other girls approached to

make. “You and Nicholas disappear for a time. Then when you return, he is

“I don’t know what