The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0540

Palm trees zig-zagged around, some of them bent at odd angles. One even looked like it had grown sideways for a while before bending back upwards.

Sitting there on the sideways part of the tree, was Nicholas. Just where Julian had said he would be.

"Piper?" he called.

I smiled a little as I walked toward him. When I was close enough, he reached down and offered me a hand. I accepted it, and he pulled me up onto the tree beside him.

From this height, three or four feet off the ground, the view was beautiful. More of the ocean stretched out before me. The light flickered on the rippling water, the rising and falling waves.

We sat in comfortable, companionable silence for a moment. His hand placed flat at his side, resting on the palm tree. Mine was placed directly beside his. We weren't touching, but I could feel the heat of him. I was so attuned to him, I swear our breathing matched just from being so close.

"You saw my outburst," he said. It wasn't a question.

*Julian thinks it's good for you, to look more human in front of the public."

forehead. "Julian saw

"Yeah," I said. "Sorry."

us again, and we watched the

spoke with

snapped to

and then what I could remember from Julian and Selma's conversation. I was clear about the main takeaway: the King and Queen wanted

good leader for my people. I also want to be a perfect son. But... my parents seem to be succumbing to their darkest impulses lately. It's a path I

where to even start

think about how they might have been

tree. "I'm

head and looked at me. There was a fire burning in his eyes, kindled with anger, but in short time, it developed

his fist, then turned his hand palm up

stepping one foot out of line, even for the things I so desperate want," he said. "I