The Luna Choosing Game

I tried to pull my eyes away just to prove him wrong. Too quickly, I was looking again.

“She’s the King and Queen’s favorite,” Jullan said.

“Your brother’s, too.” I tried to keep the distain from my voice, but I was a poor actor. I was certain that it

shone on through,

“Maybe.” Julian studied me now, the others apparently forgotten. “I’m not so sure.”

“He wouldn’t let just anyone hand–feed him.” I crossed my arms.

Julian tilted his head. “Why, Piper. If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were jealous.”

His words startled me and my eyes went wide.

Jealous? No, that couldn’t be right. What Nicholas and I had was done and over with long ago.

Except it wasn’t. At least, not for me. My recent fantasies of Nicholas as my husband and father to Elva

proved it.

But to be jealous here, now, in the midst of this competition? I had not recognized the churn in my

stomach and tightness in my chest for what it truly was.

Yes, I was jealous.

wanted Julian, or anyone else, to

trying

to be terribly foolish to feel jealous over a man in a

girl here if I wanted to keep him to

or less, that’s

sideways glance. He

the challenge?” he asked. Voice lower, for my ears

who actually loves him?”

love him.” The words burned the entire length

have

Nathan arrived to reclaim wayward Julian and return him to

supposed to remain as a unit,”

+15 BONUS

Nathan didn’t move but a couple feet off, waiting for him. Obviously, Nathan

excuse me, I have to go try Lilliana’s pastries for myself.” Voice low again, he added, “They’re

Jullan Nathan said.

Nathan back to his family. Nicholas, I noticed, glared at him

full length of his

of two hateful eyes on my own person. I glanced to

I

fire with her gaze.

forward once more, ignoring her.

royal family went through two more tables before finally reaching ours. By this time,

Linda’s eggs were looking