The Luna Choosing Game

As Linda dived at me, knife first, both Julian and Nicholas moved at once.

Nicholas ran at me. He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me toward him, shielding me behind his body.

Julian, meanwhile, went straight for Linda. He grabbed Linda’s wrist and twisted. The knife clattered

down onto the floor.

“Someone get Joseph the hell back in here!” Julian shouted at one of the guards. They ran out of the room, doing as commanded. The others closed in around Linda.

Disarmed, she shrank in on herself, seemingly realizing what she had done. Her eyes were wide and vacant. Tears streamed down her face.

Nicholas eased me back, though he kept his hands on my shoulders.

“Are you okay?” he asked me.

“Yes.” That knife never had a chance to reach me with both brothers moving as if in tandem.

Still, Nicholas checked me over, dropping his gaze down the length of my body.

try to kill

far,” said

the danger had passed, and Nicholas released me, Susie rushed to my side.

“Piper!”

I waved out my arms so she could

looked at Nicholas. “Why would Linda do

set his jaw. “Some nobles don’t know

loud and authoritative. It was unusual to see Julian take anything seriously, but

where Linda

you are disqualified from

Even she must have known that she had no

in the

finally returned to the room, his eyes sunken in rage, Julian directed

press charges,” Julian said, looking at me. “What she has done is worthy of jail time,

me terribly, and now this final act of terror. But, even so, if I wished to press charges, it would extend into a court hearing. Even though I would likely win, I really just wanted this

shook my head a little. He seemed to

away,” Julian said to the

mouse. You can dress yourself up in silks and satins, but you will always be common underneath,” Linda said, finally finding her voice. “How dare you act like you are so far above me?!

into the way of the guards, forcing them