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?”

shock tonight, I was sure, with revelation after revelation. I wanted to make sure he was

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

The King v

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

Linda’s ultimatum.

way. So I held out my hand and accepted Julian’s

my hand in both of

a touch of surprise widening his

sharpened. “Wouldn’t want

jealous you are.”

an instant, Nicholas schooled his features. “I’m

though it had no real reason to. Nicholas and I did not

other anymore. He had no right to be jealous, and I had no right

floor. As he held

faster song, though the steps were simple. I was able to keep up fairly easily. With Julian twirling me around the dance floor, I noticed Linda and

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

and Nicholas disappear for a time. Then when you return, he

“I don’t know