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.

or anyone else, to know

throat, trying to collect

have to be terribly foolish to

I’d have to fight off every girl here if I wanted to keep him

hummed. “More or less, that’s true.

glance. He just smiled at me.

the challenge?” he asked. Voice

who actually loves him?”

burned the entire length

“Could have fooled

Nathan arrived to reclaim wayward Julian and return him to his family.

remain as a unit,” Nathan insisted.

+15 BONUS

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

Lilliana’s pastries for myself.” Voice low again, he added, “They’re bumt on the bottom, by

Jullan Nathan said.

then turned and followed Nathan back to

of his

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

I

fire with

forward once more, ignoring her.

tables before finally reaching ours. By this time, the

and Linda’s eggs were looking a bit dry.