Chapter one100

Chapter 0100

“No,” Nicholas said.

Julian, still bowing, shot him a glare. “I wasn’t asking you, brother. In case that wasn’t obvious.”

1

“She will not dance with you, because she is about to dance with me.” Nicholas said.

Julian straightened upright. “Is that what was happening here? Because, to me, it appeared as if you two were awkwardly standing near each other and only barely talking.”

That description didn’t sound so different from some of the royal dances I knew, but I decided not to

point that out.

“Even if we were only talking, you must admit how exceedingly rude it is to interrupt,” Nicholas said.

“Rude, maybe,” Julian said. “But necessary, if I’m to save Piper from an evening of boredom.”

“Perhaps we should ask the lady to choose for herself,” Nicholas said. He looked at me.

Julian did too. “Well, Piper? Which of us will it be?”

My heart leaned for Nicholas and the comfort of his presence. I’d given him quite the shock tonight, I was sure, with revelation after revelation. I wanted to make sure he was okay.

Yet as I glanced out over the room, I felt two pairs of eyes pressing down onto me. One pair belonged to Linda, who downed an entire champagne flute while glaring at me. The other pair was the King’s.

The King v

watched me from atop his throne. He wore no expression, but a chill struck through me under the intensity of his eyes. He was judgmental and observant. I had no way of knowing if he knew about

Linda’s ultimatum.

I couldn’t take the chance either way. So I held out my hand and accepted Julian’s dance.

Immediately he clasped my hand in both of his.

Nicholas just stared a moment, a touch of surprise widening his eyes. “Piper?”

“Don’t be a sore loser, brother.” Julian’s grin sharpened. “Wouldn’t want the whole room to see how

jealous you are.”

In an instant, Nicholas schooled his features. “I’m not jealous.”

My heart sunk a bit at the words, even though it had no real reason to. Nicholas and I did not belong to

each other anymore. He had no right to be jealous, and I had no right to want him to.

“Could have fooled me.” Julian tugged on my hand, pulling me out onto the dance floor. As he held my hand with one of his, he wrapped his other arm around my back.

The music was a faster song, though the steps were simple. I was able to keep up fairly easily. With Julian twirling me around the dance floor, I noticed Linda and the King had stopped paying me any mind.

Nicholas, however, watched Julian and me with an unreadable expression. His eyes never left us for long, even as other girls approached to speak with him.

“Interesting,” Julian said, and I braced myself for whatever observation he was about to make. “You and Nicholas disappear for a time. Then when you return, he is even more protective than before.”

I swallowed thickly. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“It’s slight, but there’s definitely been a change in him.” Julian tilted his head, looking at me curiously.”

There’s a shift in you, too.”

I nearly stumbled over my feet, but Julian, holding me upright, guided me into the next step without

missing a beat.

“Can I guess what you two talked about?” he asked.

I would much rather have preferred that he didn’t, but I knew he would anyway.

“He knows the truth now, doesn’t he? About your wolf. About Elva.”

Julian’s power of observation was alarming and unnerving. I didn’t think I’d ever be used to it.

“You don’t have to say anything. I know I’m right.”

“I had to tell him,” I said..

“You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

Julian led me into a twirl, then tugged me back into his arms.

“Honestly, I’m surprised it took this long.”

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