1 felt the warmth of her hand long after she had removed it.

I followed my father away from the dining room and to his rooms. He did not look back at me once, nor spoke to me until we were behind closed doors.

Once the door had shut behind us, however, he swiveled to glower at me.

“You’ve ignored my summons these past days.”

I had. “There have been many things that required my attention.”

“Matters more important than respecting your King?”

“More important than humoring the tired whims of my father, yes.”

The King’s face went bright red. “How dare you! Who do you think you are?”

I stood my ground. “Tell me you have some reason to want to see me other than Piper.”

He thrust his finger into my chest. “She is a danger, Nicholas. You are not taking this seriously.”

He huffed out a frustrated breath, then turned on his heel again. He placed some distance between us.

“You could have better handled the revelation of your past relationship. You nearly made us the laughing

the kingdom.”

people,” I said. “No one was laughing. If anything. It helped us gain

respect.”

relationship with Piper in such a way. I had only wanted to protect her. But if it would help appease my father and therefore get him

would apologize to her

need her gone, the

the distance between my father and I. He stood near the

at the

doing everything you want. I’ve asked Lilliana on another

The flickering flames cast shadows across his face. The way you talk about her, Nicholas, is very peculiar. I know she

Don’t be ridiculous.

* +15 BONUS

with her, don’t you? You are my oldest son.

and the promoters, you are most likely to take my

some commoner

don’t need to over–dwell on this, father. I know better than anyone how much Piper

here.”

why do you insist on allowing her to

“The

any of our choices. Lilliana, for example. Think of ways to bring

They don’t need

tried to replace my shared moments in Piper’s presence, with Lilliana

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