“I told you not to,” Nicholas said. “I gave you reasons.” “You don’t understand,” I said. “What is there to understand? You are endangering yourself –” “Her sister is involved,” Julian cut in. He was coming closer to us. Nicholas’s mouth snapped closed. He furrowed his brow like he d

“She’s smart,” Julian said. “She knows how to fade into the background. I’ve seen her do it.” “Even so…” “I’ll keep an eye on her. One of us should head back to the party anyway,” Julian said with a wink. “The ladies are probably missing me, the most handsome of us anyway.” Nicholas gave

The next morning, all of the candidates were called down into the parlor. I checked with Mark and the guards before I left the room. With my twin potentially lurking around, we’d taken to a password system to confirm my identity. The password would be changed every day and given only once in the mor

I had more or less the same footwear as her, curtesy of the royal family, so her insult to me was at its base incorrect. But, knowing we would likely be walking through the gardens, I had chosen leather ankle boots rather than frilly and frail pumps or sandals. “Not all ladies’ footwear is so de

Nicholas shook his head. “I’m protective of you and Elva. Those instincts have nothing to do with whether or not I trust you.” I wanted to believe that, but if it was true, then why did he hesitate? “I’ve been alone a long time, and I’ve gotten by just fine.” The words emerge from a place of

“Everyone knows you are capable, especially Prince Nicholas. But wanting and needing are different,” Susie said. “You are allowed to want things, Piper, even if you don’t need them. You are allowed to want to be taken care of once in a while. No one should have to stand alone all the time.” “I d

“Nicholas? What are you doing here?” Crossing his arms, he tilted his head to the side. “Mark told me you asked him to teach you self-defense, but his duties are too essential to allow for the time to teach you. But, I do think it’s valuable for you to learn. So I’ve decided to step in instead.”

“It’s like you aren’t even trying,” he teased, and he wasn’t entirely wrong. At this point, I didn’t want to be away from him, I wanted to be closer. In my movements, I inched my ass backwards. It rubbed against the front of his pants, and I felt the hardness there. Nicholas grunted. Oh,

Julian started by placing down a queen of hearts. To his left, Veronica immediately lowered four cards. I watched her face closely, but she revealed nothing. Her emotionless façade seemed like it could even rival Nicholas’s. I decided not to call her a liar. If I did so, and I was incorrect, all

“Piper?” Julian was waiting for my question. “Okay.” I prepared myself with a deep inhale. Then I asked, “Why did you and Prince Nicholas never seem to get along?” Julian’s smile didn’t as much as twitch, yet I still felt a tension seep into the room. Maybe it was my fault. I knew I was aski