The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0264

“Didn’t Julian mention the pendant to you?” I asked.

“No,” Nicholas said curtly.

“He gave me this.” I lifted the pendant higher, for Nicholas to see. “He said that all I have to do is press down on the moon, and my location would be sent to him. I asked him to include you in on it…”

“Conveniently he failed to mention it to me.” Jealousy dripped like venom from his voice.

“He must have forgotten.”

“Doubtful.” Nicholas accepted the pendant and examined it closely. He fl*pped it over to look at the back of it. “I would have felt better if he had told me about this, but… I can’t deny it gives me some measure of comfort to know you have it.”

“It does?”

Nicholas nodded. “I want you protected, even if I’m not the one doing it. Julian is many things but he is not on Terry’s side. If he gave you this to protect you from him, that offer was genuine. As is the threat. If even Julian is worried about you…”

Nicholas and Julian seemed to have skewed ideas of the other. I had seen Julian’s concern before, in albeit fleeting moments. But Julian was not so rambunctious and carefree as Nicholas assumed him to be.

I doubted that defense of Julian would be welcome right at this moment, with Nicholas barely containing his envy, so I withheld it. Julian would probably prefer the misconception anyway, since he so often sought to cultivate it.

“I will be speaking to Julian about this, however,” Nicholas said, his voice lowering with dark promise.

I laughed a little, nervously, hoping I didn’t get Julian in too much trouble. Though, knowing him, he could handle himself just fine against his brother.

blissful moments, I closed my eyes and enjoyed his warmth and closeness. But then, too soon, he pulled

if we continue to delay, we risk being so late that it will affect

even one more rank, so I leaned back

car into reverse and returned us to the street. Then he moved the gear into

or two at most. We were the last car to pull into

I said as I exited.

not engage

thought at once, though perhaps this particular gentleman took his position as a servant very seriously. I wouldn’t hold it against him. I simply stepped

out for me, and I laced mine

servants opened the door for us. “Thank you very much,” I said to them both. Both ignored me, eyes low, as if they had been instructed

Nicholas in confusion.

are true. His cruelty knows no bounds, and I suspect, though I have no proof,

would have done something about it by now,” I

his head. “Everyone has turned a blind eye. I’ve broached the topic with my parents before, but they will not hear me. His cruelty breeds loyalty, unfortunately. The servants won’t speak to me, let alone

I wanted to save the servants here. But when I looked at them, their gazes were on the floor, their bodies still as statues. I doubted they would

to bring Terry down.

the mansion, Into a greeting room at the base of a grand staircase. Gold

tapestries hung on every wall, under lights and sometimes cases. I had little doubt that over them, let‘

with Terry standing in the center of the room. Servants, their downcast gazes in place, walked around the room carrying trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. Camera crews catch every potential moment of action.

spots us, waves Nicholas and me closer. Nicholas holds tightly to my hand as we

my l*ps, and his eyes narrowed. “Why, Piper. It

l*pstick.”