“No one’s around,” Nicholas said. He was right. The hallways were dark and so quiet, we could likely hear a pin drop. It made me feel bold, knowing we were alone. I traced tiny circles onto the back of Nicholas’s palm with my finger. He closed his eyes a moment. His breath came a bit stuttered
Nicholas I was relieved to see Piper rush away, but I was also furious at myself. All my talk about protecting her, and I couldn’t stand up against my own father. Julian was right. I was a coward. And my cowardice was what was going to cost me Piper in the end. “Father,” I said, ready to try a
I couldn’t think clearly when faced with such an obvious threat. My protective instincts kicked into high gear. I would do anything to protect those closest to me. But Piper was close to me to. I swallowed hard. “I care about Piper.” The King’s demeanor had shifted. Maybe he could see the hesita
When I returned to my room, I changed into my pajamas and slid into bed. Elva was already fast asleep. Yet no matter how long I laid there, or which way I tossed and turned, I could not find sleep. My mind was still with Nicholas in that hallway. I could only imagine the terrible things the King w
When I slept that night, it was only because pure exhaustion from staying up the entire night before had finally caught up to me, and sleep pulled me under against my will. Else I would have been shaking with anger and worry. For a few, brief hours, I had felt peace. But now, I was awake again. No
“It should be me,” Nicholas said, just as I told him once more, “I should be the one to do it.” We glared at each other. “Jane and I have the history,” I said, impassioned. “She is my sister. It is my not just my right to be the one to bring her down, but it is my obligation.” “That obligation
The next morning at breakfast, the candidates were gossiping as per usual. Topics were sparse, especially since we weren’t allowed to watch any television. But the girls amused themselves with who was feeling under the weather, and who was wearing what to the ball. I tried to participate more than
“It’s just strange,” Julian said, as he escorted me from our room for one of our dates. “I guess since pretty much the time the King saw you and Nicholas, he’s been locked up with his advisors. I’ve seen him many once in passing, but he didn’t stop to talk to me.” To me, that didn’t seem all that