I sniffed, but I wouldn’t let the tears fall. By the end of Nathan’s list, I had been the only person to have received zero support. The orphanage I supported would receive no donations from tonight, despite my best efforts. In her ten minute appearance, Jane had undone hours’ worth of my efforts.

Even now, standing as we were with the crowd around us dispersing, I was earning many passing glares. Gratitude filled my heart for what Nicholas had done. But worry still harbored in the rest of me. Jane had come here tonight to harm my reputation and she had succeeded in doing so. I didn’t kno

Nathan led Nicholas and me into a sitting room where the King sat upon a chair. All other chairs had been pushed to the back of the room. It was clear he meant for the rest of us to stand. As we entered, the King narrowed his eyes in Nicholas’s direction. Nicholas lifted his chin. “Nathan, I

I nodded, grim. “I should send you home tonight,” the King said. “But, father –” Nicholas began. The King held up his hand, stopping him. “But I will wait for the public’s reaction. They have protected you thus far, Piper. Tonight you showed them your true colors. We’ll see if their love

The next morning, Elva was still resting peacefully after I awoke and changed, so I left her in the care of Charlotte, the Nanny, and Mark, and went down to breakfast alone. I was nearly there, when both Veronica and Tiffany blocked my path. “We want to talk to you,” Veronica said. We we

I entered the dining room and sat down for breakfast across from Tiffany and Veronica and beside Susie. Susie gave me a supportive smile. “How’s Elva?” she asked. “She was just exhausted,” I replied. “I let her sleep in this morning.” “Oh good. I was worried.” When Susie said something l

Nicholas walked into the room behind me. “Mark? What the hell?” “Protocol, Sir.” Mark did not lower the gun away from me. “The answer, Piper. Please.” “Morning glory,” I said. Instantly, Mark lowered the gun. “I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “Whatever it takes to keep Elva safe. Where i

That evening, I met with Nicholas and Julian in one of the sitting rooms. Julian had unfurled the blueprints to the palace out on one of the small tables. Now, he was holding a cup of coffee in each hand. He likely hadn’t been to sleep yet. Neither had Nicholas, though he was running on adrenali

I was not excited for this new event at Terry’s mansion. While Julian had only helped arrange it so that we could sneak into Terry’s office and snoop around, the problem, of course, was that now I would be forced to interact with Terry. A man who had some twisted fantasies about being with me an

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. “Promis