Chapter l128

Chapter 0128

Nicholas

I hadn’t wanted to ask Lilliana on a second date, but after a threatening letter from the King this morning and the way he glared at me all dinner long, I knew I had very little choice in the matter. Especially if I

wanted to help protect Piper.

So I had pushed down the part of myself that revolted against the idea, and publicly asked Lilliana. As expected, she accepted simply and concisely with no outward reaction.

That was for the best, I knew. Emotions only complicated things. We didn’t need love between us to get married. Lilliana was best for the kingdom, so I would fall in line.

Even if my heart wanted something else…

Well, it didn’t matter what my heart wanted. I had shut off that part of myself three years before, and no resolution of misunderstandings was going to change that now. It was far too late to open myself up

again.

I wanted to forget about Piper. I wanted her and Elva safe and happy, but not. near me. They were dangerous. They reminded me how things could be, what happiness looked and felt like.

I couldn’t be happy. I had to be King.

But then Julian flaunted her in front of me. She looked gorgeous in the dress Lilliana had so poorly tried to emulate. Piper filled out the dress in a way Lilliana’s stick figure never could. Piper had such delicious

curves and…

Julian had one of his hands on Piper’s hip. I glared at it, hoping to set fire to it with my eyes. I’d never

had that ability before, but one could hope.

I wanted to throttle Julian for staking claim on Piper, suggesting she belongs to him. But how could I deny it? I wasn’t in a place where I could step forward and challenge his claim. And Piper was keeping her

beautiful, full l*ps firmly closed on the matter.

Ugly, green jealousy seared inside my chest.

I couldn’t help remembering the heat of the oven as Piper and I had stood side by side in the kitchen the night before. She had turned to me, her brown eyes dark in the dimly–lit room.

She was so… irresistible, I had leaned forward before I knew what I was doing.

I had wanted to k*ss her so badly, my entire b*dy ached.

+15 BONUS

But then the oven timer had gone off and we had separated, I had played it off like it had been a mistake, or a trick of the moment, but it hadn’t been. I had wanted to k*ss her then, just as J wanted to

k*ss her now.

But I knew it was impossible.

Lilliana smiled at me in a vague sort of way.

Julian smirked much harder. He knew what he was doing, playing with me.

–

Piper’s face scrunched up, troubled likely for my sake. She was far too kind.

The nearby cameras, meanwhile, caught it all.

I cleared my throat, gathering myself again. The princely mask easily slid into place, a well–worn routine.

“How good for us both, Julian,” I said, hating every word. “That we have both found favorites in the

competition.”

Julian added teeth to his smile. “Yes. Good for someone, alright.” His eyes slid to Lilliana, who gave no

Indication that she noticed. He didn’t say more.

With Lillie

With Lilliana indifferent to his remark, I felt no strong desire to defend her, so I let the matter drop.

The cameramen and their producers eventually grew tired of our silence and dragged their attention.

elsewhere.

One of the King’s servants immediately found his way to my side. “The King wishes to speak to you immediately. If you would follow him to his chambers.”

I could have groaned if I had a modicum less self–control. As it was, I simply straightened my shoulders.

“If you will excuse me.”

“Good luck, brother,” Julian said.

Piper reached out and touched my arm. It was a simple gesture. It didn’t have to mean anything. Except

it did.

like that v

A gesture like that was familiar/Overly so, to some people’s eyes.

so, to some people’s eyes.

I patted her hand, then pulled away before anyone could see.