“For the sake of providing a united front,” the King said, “I am making a request of you. It is not a command, because I believe you to be a good person. You must be for my sons to both think so fondly of you. I trust you will do the right thing.”Oh, I really didn’t like where this was going. I had
After that terrible meeting, I needed some space to think. Nicholas, having left the room with me, was reluctant to leave me alone.“You can’t listen to them, Piper,” he said. “They are just trying to manipulate you.”“Maybe,” I agreed. That was a distinct possibility, especially with how kind the K
“You don’t know that,” I said. “It’s as possible that Hawk kidnapped him as it is that Joyce wanted to go. We don’t know all the facts.”Veronica received no comfort from my words. Her shoulders slumped slightly. “I wish I could have been in two places at once.”I didn’t know what to say to that. It
I decided to make my presence more obvious and walked closer to Elva, Nicholas in his wolf form, Night, and Silver. Nicholas shifted back into his human form now, sitting in the grass.“Piper,” he said, smiling slightly, a wolfish grin. He was proud of his wolf form.“Hi, Mommy!” Elva said. “Nick-la
“Why would they want us to know they stole the princess?” I asked.“It’s the location that matters,” Veronica explained.“If it was the rebels who kidnapped her,” Julian added, “It was likely they intended to start a war, even then.” He looked back to the list. “I wonder how my parents were able to
“You worried about going home?” Julian asked.“A little,” I admitted. “I’m not sure what the people will think when they see where I come from.”Julian shrugged nonchalantly. “They like you in part because of your humble origins, Piper. You have nothing to worry about.”If only it was that simple. “
In the bedroom, Nicholas and Charlotte helped Elva and I pack our bags for our weekend homecoming trip. I pick out many subtle outfits for Elva and me. Back home, people would notice if we dressed too expensive. It might even have painted targets on our backs.Elva, however, didn’t understand. When
As the car entered the neighborhoods that I recognized, I grew more and more tense. Nicholas squeezed me tighter, likely trying to offer what comfort that he could. But there was little comfort to be had.I didn’t mind the smaller place. I didn’t even mind the harsher lifestyle.But I didn’t want to