Chapter l256

Chapter 0256

The next morning, Elva was still resting peacefully after I awoke and changed, so I left her in the care of

Charlotte, the Nanny, and Mark, and went down to breakfast alone.

I was nearly there, when both Veronica and Tiffany blocked my path.

“We want to talk to you,” Veronica said.

We were about to have breakfast beside each other. “Could it wait until breakfast?” If they were going to

yell at me about ‘my‘ behavior last night, I’d prefer it not to happen on my empty stomach.

“No,” Veronica said.

Okay, then. I sighed in resignation and followed them to a quieter spot away from the doorway to the

dining room.

Tiffany crossed her arms. “We talked to the other–you last night at the gala.”

“She looked like you and spoke like you, but it was clear to us both that she was not you,” Veronica said.

“Yeah, plus… why would you change clothes? That’s not like you at all. And then change back?” Tiffany

shook her head. “It doesn’t add up, Piper. So spill. Tell us what’s really going on.”

My heart pounded. Of all people that didn’t know the difference, why were these two so observant?

Even the King had been willing to believe the worst of me.

“It was me… I was just having a bad night,” I said. I didn’t want to lie, but I couldn’t tell anyone the truth,

not even them. Too many people knew it already, from Nicholas’s guards to some of the servants. It was

a miracle the truth hadn’t leaked yet.

That it hadn’t was a compliment to the strong character of everyone on Nicholas’s payroll.

“That was not a bad night,” Tiffany said.

“That wasn’t you,” Veronica added.

“Did

you

lose a bet or something?” Tiffany said. “Someone extorting you?”

Veronica gave Tiffany sideways look. “It wasn’t her.”

Tiffany looked back. “Who else could it be?”

They both looked at me expectantly.

I closed my eyes. “I wish I could tell you, but I just can’t.” If it were only me that could be hurt, I would

reputation.

Elva. The underground organization. This ran so much deeper than just me and Jane.

“It’s alright, Piper,” Julian said. Appearing beside me, he placed a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You can

trust these two.”

I frowned at him. He was the one who was so adamant about not trusting anyone.

Julian grinned at my upset. “There’s a reason I picked these two. Well, other than their great senses of

humor.” He laughed. “They’re trustworthy.” He shrugs. “And they hate the underground.”

“The underground is behind this?” Tiffany asked, her voice taking on a sharp edge.

“I should have known,” Veronica said. At her sides, her hands clenched into fists. “Those bastards.”

Julian nudged me. “You can tell them.”

So I did. Not everything, of course. Not about my wolf, or Elva’s involvement. But I did explain that I had a twin sister who was caught up with the organization. I said Jane wanted to ruin my life to get me

desperate enough to fall into the underground’s web.

As I spoke, their gazes became more pitying than judgmental. By the end, they were outright angry on

my behalf.

It was something of a relief, to finally be able to tell someone the truth and to not have to bear the

weight of their misguided judgement anymore.

“So this b*tch of a sister of yours is running around pretending to be you?” Tiffany asked. “And that was

her last night, being terrible to everyone?”

“Yes,” I said. “And yes.”

Tiffany whistled. “I thought my family was messed up.”

“We won’t be fooled again,” Veronica said.

“Yeah, for sure.” Tiffany sighed. “Sorry if we were jerks to you last night. It took a minute for us to put

two and two together.”

“You don’t have to apologize…”

“We do,” Veronica said. “The underground organization has taken from us both.”

Veronica and Tiffany glanced at each other. Julian lowered his hand from my shoulder to my lower back.

“Then we’re all in this together now,” Julian said. “We’ll have to work to take them down, but

“I’m in,” Veronica said.

“Me, too!” Tiffany added with a fist pump.

We all smiled at each other. It felt good, like I had just gained two more friends.

“Please keep it a secret though,” I said. “It’s a secret I can’t afford to have revealed yet.”

“You must have your reasons,” Veronica said.

”

–

“Man, that’s got to suck, not being able to tell anyone. Your sister must be getting you in a world of

trouble.”

After I nodded, they both agreed.

“Your secret is safe with us,” Veronica said. She always spoke definitively, so this gave me comfort.

Veronica and Tiffany then excused themselves to go to breakfast. I nearly joined them, when a good

look at Julian gave me pause. I waved them ahead without me.

“Julian.”

“Hm?”

His eyes were red, bloodshot, with heavy bags hanging underneath them. He wavered unsteadily as he

stood, swaying back and forth. He looked terrible.

He looked exhausted.

“Did something happen?” I asked him.

“What do you mean?” He could barely keep his eyes open.

I gripped his arm to keep him from swaying too far in one direction.

“You are dead on your feet.”

“Oh, that? I just need some coffee and I’ll be fine.” He yawned. “Nicholas kept me up all night. We kept trying to think up ways to trap Jane.”

Julian and Nicholas stayed up all night?

“We’re not any closer, though,” Julian said with regret. “Trying to keep your secret. Trying to capture Jane without killing her. We’re running out of options, especially with you under fire now.”

“She hasn’t hurt me.”

“Did you already forget the knife she held to your throat? Nicholas hasn’t, I can tell you that much. And after last night? We can’t decide if Jane wants to kill you or damage you beyond the point of return.

Neither option is ideal, obviously.”

I hadn’t forgotten the knife to my throat, or the cold look in Jane’s eye. Nor had I forgotten all of Terry’s

dark promises.

Nicholas had a right to be worried about me.

“Nicholas wants to tell the King the truth,” Julian said.

“I know.” I worried my bottom l*p with my teeth. “What do you think?”

–

“He’s too close to Terry. He’d never believe us – you over his brother–in–law. His trust with Nicholas

and I goes a bit further, but even that has limits. If we don’t have definitive proof that your sister exists,

and Terry’s involvement, the King will never believe us.”

“Nicholas thinks otherwise?”

“He wants to believe in our father. His dedication often renders him blind.” Julian yawned again. “Up all

night, and we have nothing to show for ourselves.”

“Maybe a nap would help,” I suggested. Fear gripped at my chest, but everyone needed rest. No great

plans were ever thought of in a sleepless delirium.

“Coffee,” he said. He patted my back in a comforting way. “Hang in there, Piper. We’re not down and out,

yet.”

“I don’t know…”

Julian lifted his hand to my shoulder, drawing my eyes back to his. He was tired, but he held my gaze with tight focus as he said, “Terry won’t have you, Piper. Nicholas and I would die first.”