The Luna Choosing Game

On the dance floor, Nicholas placed his hand on my hip. I placed mine of his shoulder. The orchestra

began to play, and Nicholas led me forward in a dance.

His jaw was clenched and he wasn’t looking at me. Even compared to our previous dances, his

movements now were stiff and unnatural.

He was mad at me, unjustly, and knowing that made me equally mad at him.

“You can’t keep me from talking with your brother,” I said. “You can’t dictate who I talk to at all.”

Nicholas huffed a sharp breath, too full of distain to be a laugh. Then he glanced down at me and entirely dropped the façade of humor.

“It’s inappropriate for you to leave in the middle of the celebration to run off and fuck my brother.”

I missed a step and stumbled over my own feet. Nicholas’s firm grip was the only reason I stayed upright.

“What?” I hissed. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Don’t lie to me, Piper,” Nicholas hissed back. “You are always sneaking off with him. And then that night

would you knock on his

words too loud. A few of the dancing couples

and look. I was so embarrassed

urged me to keep dancing and he led me away from that group.

lover for you, Piper.

couldn’t believe he would think me capable of indulging in a carnal relationship with Julian right in the middle of the competition. It hurt me a

“Piper.”

you kissed me that night? You thought I’d jump

he said,

why did you kiss

me again. “It was a

+15 BONUS

all. “You can’t mean that.”

Piper. Not to me.” The words were clipped. They didn’t sound true. But he

them. He wanted me to believe them.

then it shouldn’t matter who I

hand clenched on my hip, bunching my dress into his fist. “He’ll hurt

only one

time. He caught himself

never in

away from him,” Nicholas said. His voice