The Luna Choosing Game

His gaze sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. Blushing slightly, I glanced away from him and toward the cameras instead. Their presence reminded me of where I was and what Julian had just asked me.

I cleared my throat. To Julian, I said, “You’ll have to wait and see.”

He laughed.

Ten minutes later, Julian held out his hand, “Will you dance with me, Piper?”

I knew he was up to something, but with the cameras watching, I couldn’t refuse.

I placed my hand in his. He closed his fingers around mine, and tugged me closer to the pianoforte.

Then he pulled me into his arms.

At the same time, Nicholas led Lilliana to dance as well. They held each other stiffly and at a

respectable distance. The moved with formal, stilted steps.

Julian placed my hand on his chest, and Nicholas nearly tripped over his own feet. Yet he immediately

righted himself and continued dancing.

cutting as it had earlier

me to bother Nicholas. But I struggled to understand why it was working. Although Nicholas had made it clear from the start that he

supposed Nicholas’s reactions were still tethered

not seem like the glare of a man who was simply trying to protect

I thought of something,”

circles, Julian led me closer to Nicholas and Lilliana. Before I could truly react, Julian abruptly disappeared, so when I came out of my spin, I was

glanced, and Julian had masterfully switched partners. Now he danced around with an annoyed-

looking Lilliana.

and I, up at him. I thought he might walk away or suggest we return to our

original partners.

went

– and the cameras

was interested in Julian, so I told him, “If you

a little. “You wouldn’t need to tell me. I’d always be able to recognize.

costume or

in my chest.

confident. How could he be so sure?

I

to hear what he might say, or

Piper,” he said,