When I looked back up at Nicholas, he was still staring at me. Maybe he would have stared forever, I didn’t know. But then Olivia appeared near his arm. She touched his forearm and he had to look down at her. She wore a dress the color of the ocean, fluid, with white trim. Nicholas wore a matchi
Nicholas continued to stare at me, waiting for my answer. He seemed entirely unbothered by the gathered crowd of their assumptions. “Piper?” he asked, when I hesitated. “Of course we can speak,” I said. Nodding, he turned. “If you will excuse me,” I said, first to Julian and then to the gath
Then, to me, Nicholas spoke again, “Look at me, Piper.” I hesitated at first, but he didn’t move from his spot in front of me, like he was patiently waiting me out. So, eventually, I chanced a glance upwards. Nicholas captured my gaze with his own and held me captive. He held so much emotion i
The King and Queen watched from atop their thrones as the princes danced with and among the candidates and guests, while the cameras swooped in and out to capture all. We kept our smiles bright, eager to show how much fun we were having – all to maintain our standing in the competition, of course.
That was Jane. I had zero doubts. What I needed to do now was keep my promise and alert Nicholas. Yet when I turned to find him, I saw him stepping onto the stage where the thrones were, with Olivia on his arm. The King and Queen were greeting them warmly. I couldn’t exactly interrupt that witho
“Piper and I have been having an affair,” Joyce said into the microphone. The King stepped forward and attempted to rip the microphone from his hands, but Joyce, younger and stronger, shook him off with relative ease. “Let me speak my truth, father!” “You are out of your mind!” the King snappe
As Jane lunged toward me, I made my own move, reaching into my bodice. Jane grabbed my left arm, but I used my right hand to wrap the cuff on Jane’s wrist. I expected her to wince, or gasp, or have some kind of reaction at all. Instead, she just seemed amused. She stopped short, but she also smi
I complied, unwilling to be skewered. She hid the knife against my side as she ushered me toward the door. I looked back but none of the royal family was to be seen. Neither was Veronica. I maybe could have caught Susie’s attention, if I called out or flagged her down. She was valiantly trying to