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.

anyone else, to

my throat, trying to

terribly foolish to feel jealous over a man

here if

hummed. “More or less, that’s true.

sideways glance. He just smiled at

up for the challenge?” he asked. Voice lower,

who actually

love him.” The words burned the entire length of

“Could have

reclaim wayward Julian and return him to

as a unit,” Nathan insisted.

+15 BONUS

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

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

Jullan Nathan said.

back to

of his

felt the weight of two hateful eyes on my own person. I

I

on fire with her gaze.

I faced forward once more, ignoring

two more tables before finally reaching ours. By this time, the

and Linda’s eggs were looking a bit