The Luna Choosing Game

“Right.” Nicholas tightened his jaw.

“Well, she certainly did in this case,” I said, inserting myself into their conversation. “I would never hurt

anyone.

Lilliana looked at me blankly.

1 believe that,” Nicholas said.

Then Lilliana added, “Yes, me too. Piper would never hurt anyone.”

I frowned. This conversation felt… odd. Like attempting to speak with a puppet, she only ever seemed to

emulate what Nicholas had said.

Secretly I wished Nicholas would say something outlandish, if only to see if Lilliana would agree. He was

too good of a man for that, however.

If only Lilliana had taken to Julian instead. He would have had a field day amusing himself with her

mindless compliance.

“The cooking challenge for Linda was very inspired, Prince Nicholas,” Lilliana said. “You are very

intelligent.”

Nicholas looked absolutely miserable standing there, frowning so deeply, eyes downcast and away.

Thank you.”

to be your favorite,”

a claim over him and a slight to me,

any type of personality formulate in her. Pity,

fortunate,” I agreed, just to get her to ease

away from digging a hole

showing even more leniency, “I am Julian’s

particularly impressed. “Where is your prince? I am surprised that

you, as Nicholas did.”

Nicholas. I wondered if Julian would have stepped

they chopped off my head, maybe. Whenever the situation stopped being funny to him,

likely.

415 BONUS

felt more and more terrible for Nicholas. There had to be some way I could save him

how could he wish to tie himself so permanently to someone like this?

the sake of the

I

that.

his whole

time. But I could never forgive myself if I walked

of his life forever knowing how miserable he

save him from this fate somehow.

the gardens, we were