“She’s smart,” Julian said. “She knows how to fade into the background. I’ve seen her do it.”

“Even so…”

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וויר

“I’ll keep an eye on her. One of us should head back to the party anyway,” Julian said with a wink. “The ladies are probably missing me, the most handsome of us anyway.”

Nicholas gave him a flat look.

Julian smirked and disappeared.

Then Nicholas took my arm and led me through the hallways. By now, my nerves were getting to me. I just wanted to see Elva, to hold her and know she’s okay.

Nicholas was texting Mark with one hand.

“No issues today,” Nicholas said, which gave me a measure of comfort. I still would feel better if I could see it all with my own eyes.

When we reached the hallway of rooms, I was walking very quickly. Nicholas, blessedly, was keeping pace. His guards were keeping watch outside my door. Nicholas stopped to speak with them.

“Go on inside, Piper,” he said.

I nodded and walked in.

Elva and the nanny were sitting on the ground, playing with their dolls. Mark stood nearby, watching. They all turned to look at me when I came closer.

“Mommy Elva jumped to her feet and rushed toward me.

my knees, opened my arms, and scooped her into a

past her bedtime but I wasn’t complaining.

to stay up to see

to stay, Mommy Elva said. She rested her head on my shoulder,

do For a bit longer, anyway,

into the room, then, and Eira it up

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arms and I had to lower her back down to the ground. She ran into Nicholas’s waiting arms instead. As

my heart in ways nothing else could. That Nicholas had been

made me feel all

long, another yawn burst out of Elva. It really was late

eyes with Nicholas and

get some sleep, little princess,” Nicholas said as

a story?”

down onto the bed. I joined them there and helped tuck Elva

huh? Okay.” He thought for a moment.

story about the bravest woman I know.”

Elva snuggled under her blankets, bringing them right up under her

said, smiling a little. “A Queen. She gave up her crown to

just like you

a

fierce, fire–breathing dragon,” Nicholas

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