Chapter l261

Chapter 0261

Mark, looking at me against the closet wall and Nicholas kneeling in front of me, went very pale very quickly. “Uh… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to… intrude.”

Nicholas refastened my pants and pulled up the zipper. Slowly, he rose to his feet.

“Some other time,” he whispered to me.

“Promise?” I whispered back. My face was hot with embarrassment, but I couldn’t deny the idea of his

mouth on me had driven me to the brink of madness.

Nicholas winked at me. Then, he turned to face Mark.

“What is it, Mark?”

“Sir, I…”

“It’s fine, Mark. Just tell me what you need.”

“Your father, sir. The King wishes to see you.”

Nicholas sighed. “Likely regarding what he expects from me during the next event.”

“Most likely,” Mark agreed. He quickly glanced between Nicholas and me. “I, uh. I’ll be outside.” He awkwardly turned and hurried out of the closet.

Nicholas looked back at me. “I’m sorry, Piper.”

“It’s not your fault.”

“Still Nicholas approached me again. He reached his hand up and brushed his thumb along the side of

my cheek. “There never seems to be enough time for us.”

I smiled a bit, sadly, I didn’t have the heart to say that it would be worse if he was King. Someday, there

would be no time for us. We’d both have to move on.

Maybe it would have been better to end the dream now. To tell Nicholas that nothing like this could

aver happen again. Then, maybe, we could protect both our hearts.

But, even to protect us, I couldn’t do it. These fleeting moments we shared, even if they were always too

Were some of my most precious moments, I wouldn’t trade them for anything.

would hort to remember later. But I’d still rather have the memories at all, then to ne

Chapter 0261

Mark, looking at me against the closet wall and Nicholas kneeling in front of me, went very pale very

quickly. “Uh.. I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to… intrude.”

Nicholas refastened my pants and pulled up the zipper. Slowly, he rose to his feet.

“Some other time,” he whispered to me.

“Promise?” I whispered back. My face was hot with embarrassment, but I couldn’t deny the idea of his

mouth on me had driven me to the brink of madness.

Nicholas winked at me. Then, he turned to face Mark.

“What is it, Mark?”

“Sir. I…”

“It’s fine, Mark. Just tell me what you need.”

“Your father, sir. The King wishes to see you.”

Nicholas sighed. “Likely regarding what he expects from me during the next event.”

“Most likely,” Mark agreed. He quickly glanced between Nicholas and me. “I, uh. I’ll be outside.” He

awkwardly turned and hurried out of the closet.

Nicholas looked back at me. “I’m sorry, Piper.”

It’s not your fault.”

“Still.” Nicholas approached me again. He reached his hand up and brushed his thumb along the side of my cheek. There never seems to be enough time for us.”

I smiled a bit, sadly. I didn’t have the heart to say that it would be worse if he was King. Someday, there

would be no time for us. We’d both have to move on.

Maybe it would have been better to end the dream now. To tell Nicholas that nothing like this could

ever happen again. Then, maybe, we could protect both our hearts.

But even to protect us, I couldn’t do it. These fleeting moments we shared, even if they were always too

some of my most precious moments, I wouldn’t trade them for anything

would hurt to remember later. But I’d still rather have the memories at

Nicholas let his hand drep. He sighed in for a lecture what ge

me which gut to give the most attention too.”

ignored the jealousy growing in my stomach, Sure it would be illne

“I don’t know,” Nicholas said. “She’s falling out of favor Clivia had the better showing at the gala He

might insist that I switch. He’s been micromanaging my life for so long. I didn’t exactly mind before out

ths gaze lifted to me. He gave me a small smile trever fought against it after we broke up just went

I

along with whatever he wanted. I figured he woule know best what the kingom needed. But now, more

and more, I find myself wanting to fight against him.”

“Nick…”

“I want things for myself, Piper. I know that might be impossible but it’s what I went cant deny t

I stepped into him this time. I leaned up and softly pressed my l*ps to his

Our stolen moments were just that. In the end, Nicholes would have to choose someone else whether

he wanted to or not.

But for now, I would hold him. I would k*ss him, untill simply wasn’t allowed to anymore

After Nicholas left, I went outside to join Susie. Elve, and Mark in the gardens. Ehe was gerdy wrestling

with the wolves Silver and Night Silver licked at her face. Elva giggled.

Susie and Mark sat on the grass, close but not touching. They kept stealing glances at each

Those two. I wondered if they’d k*ssed yet. From the soft blush to Susie’s cheeks, I was willing to bet they

had stolen a moment or two. de

Things were going well. We were talking and laughing For a moment or two I was able to for

worries about the future and simply relax around my friends.

1 enjoyed our time, though it was a bit bittersweet. Someday, I would have to go back to my old Wife. And though I had some good friends back home, I would miss Susie Mark, and the wolves and the easy

moments were we could simply be

“What’s on your mind, Piper7 Susie asked me “You seemed really far away just now

Tai sorry.” I said I didn’t want to be to her. “I guess I was just thinking about the futu

Trewetted the words as soon as they were out of my mourn Because Susie stat

om Mark Mark glanced at her a touch of hurt in he eve

+15 BONUS

Nicholas let his hand drop. He sighed. “I’m in for a lecture when I go see my father. He’s certain to tell

me which girl to give the most attention too.”

I ignored the jealousy growing in my stomach. “Surely it would be Lilliana?”

“I don’t know,” Nicholas said. “She’s falling out of favor. Olivia had the better showing at the gala. He

might insist that I switch. He’s been micromanaging my life for so long. I didn’t exactly mind it before but

His gaze lifted to me. He gave me a small smile. “I never fought against it after we broke up. I just went along with whatever he wanted. I figured he would know best what the kingdom needed. But now, more and more, I find myself wanting to fight against him.”

“Nick…”

“I want things for myself, Piper. I know that might be impossible, but it’s what I want. I can’t deny it.”

I stepped into him this time. I leaned up and softly pressed my l*ps to his.

Our stolen moments were just that. In the end, Nicholas would have to choose someone else whether

he wanted to or not.

But for now, I would hold him. I would k*ss him, until I simply wasn’t allowed to anymore.

After Nicholas left, I went outside to join Susie, Elva, and Mark in the gardens. Elva was gently wrestling

with the wolves Silver and Night. Silver licked at her face. Elva giggled.

Susie and Mark sat on the grass, close but not touching. They kept stealing glances at each other.

Those two. I wondered if they’d k*ssed yet. From the soft blush to Susie’s cheeks, I was willing to bet they

had stolen a moment or two.

Things were going well. We were talking and laughing. For a moment or two, I was able to forget my

worries about the future and simply relax around my friends.

I enjoyed our time, though it was a bit bittersweet. Someday, I would have to go back to my old life. And

though I had some good friends back home, I would miss Susie, Mark, and the wolves. And the easy

moments were we could simply be.

What’s on your mind, Piper?” Susie asked me. “You seemed really far away just now.”

Tm sorry, I said. I didn’t want to lie to her. “I guess I was just thinking about the future.

regretted the words as soon as they were out of my mouth, because Susie instantly wilted. She inched way from Mark, Mark glanced at her, a touch of hurt in his eyes

It will be difficult. Susie agreed “When all this is over and we have to go back to our reglar yet.”

!!

Ts you said to Susie

She smiled at me. Til miss you too Though when we have our cell phones back, there’s no reason you

and I can’t stay in touch

Your family might not like that I’m going to go back to being a nob*dy”

“You won’t be a nob*dy to me.” Susie said. “You’ll always be my friend. I don’t care what my family says”

Her kindness warmed my heart and pushed away the dreary thoughts for a while.

But then suddenly, the wolves went on alert. They moved to stand in front of Elva, blocking sight of her

For the woods. Their ears peaked, facing the trees.

Eve rushed to my side “Mommy! I’m scared!”

culled her into my arms

Mark was on his feet in an instant, searching for danger.

lecked to Susie “What are the wolves saying?”

Susie inched closer to the wolves.

Siver chuffed

say that they sense someone in the woods. They’ve noticed many people hovering nearby lately.

especially when Elve comes outside.”

My stomach dropped.

Susie paused listened. The wolves are doing their best to keep the strangers away. They sense that

they mean to do harm to the child.”

1 Ela closer it’s okay, honey.” I whisper in her ear, “The wolves are protecting you. There’s nothing.

one afraid of

Susie’s eyes went wide a moment, listening to the grumble of the wolves. “They say your…” She stopped

these bele she said it, looking at Elva Jane has been in the woods sometimes

tell the difference?“) asked. I had to be vague, for Elva to not understand.

Ties are the same, but the smell is different. The wolves are not fooled

+15 BONUS

“It will be difficult,” Susie agreed. “When all this is over and we have to go back to our regular lives.”

“I’ll miss you,” I said to Susie.

She smiled at me. “I’ll miss you too. Though when we have our cell phones back, there’s no reason you

and I can’t stay in touch.”

“Your family might not like that. I’m going to go back to being a nob*dy.”

You won’t be a nob*dy to me,” Susie said. “You’ll always be my friend. I don’t care what my family says.”

Her kindness warmed my heart and pushed away the dreary thoughts for a while.

But then, suddenly, the wolves went on alert. They moved to stand in front of Elva, blocking sight of her from the woods. Their ears peaked, facing the trees.

Elva rushed to my side. “Mommy! I’m scared!”

I pulled her into my arms.

Mark was on his feet in an instant, searching for danger.

I looked to Susie. “What are the wolves saying?”

Susie inched closer to the wolves.

Silver chuffed.

“They say that they sense someone in the woods. They’ve noticed many people hovering nearby lately,

especially when Elva comes outside.”

My stomach dropped.

Susie paused, listened. “The wolves are doing their best to keep the strangers away. They sense that

they mean to do harm to the child.”

I hold Elva closer. “It’s okay, honey,” I whisper in her ear. “The wolves are protecting you. There’s nothing

to be afraid of.”

Susie’s eyes went wide a moment, listening to the grumble of the wolves. “They say your…” She stopped

herself before she said it, looking at Elva. “Jane has been in the woods sometimes.”

They can tell the difference?” I asked. I had to be vague, for Elva to not understand

Yes The looks are the same, but the smell is different. The wolves are not fooled.

A bit of relief washed over me. I had been worried, that if the wolves came to help, they would not be able to tell friend from foe when dealing with me and my twin. Though it seems I needn’t have worried.

The wolves, at least, could tell the difference between my sister and me, even if most people could not. I thanked the universe for small blessings.

“The strangers are leaving.” Susie said.

The wolves stayed on alert. After a moment, Night darted into the woods.

“He’s going to follow them,” Susie said

“We should go inside,” Mark said. I agreed.

I pushed myself up to my feet. Yet before I turned, I looked at Silver. I wished I had my wolf so I could communicate properly. As it was, I could only clumsily convey how much their protection meant to me.

“Thank you, Silver. From the bottom of my heart.”

She chuffed at me, then trotted off into the woods.

Susie translated, “She says you’re welcome.”