Fortunately, Selma did not reach for the door once it was open. With it open, it concealed most of Nicholas and me, though if she looked back, and looked closely, she would certainly see our shoes or our sides. The space behind the door was cramped. Nicholas’s arms tightened around me, tugging me

We sneaked out of Charlotte’s room much in the same way we arrived it. Once we were back in the safety of the main building, Nicholas turns to Julian and I and said, “I’m going to contact the King immediately.” Julian snorted. “And say what?” Nicholas was already frowning, but he frowned even de

Julian frowned a little too, sitting down, but he quickly schooled his face and looked at me. He wanted to get down to business then. Trying to distract him by discussing the comfortability of the furniture was likely to fail. “Bridget walked in on Nicholas and me last night,” I said. Julian’s e

Julian’s words rendered me speechless, and for a long moment, I didn’t say anything. He seemed content himself to let the words linger, and they did, hanging heavy in the air. It meant the world to me, for Julian to feel that way. I only wished Nicholas felt the same. As it was, while the words we

“Selma!” Julian called. “Can you come here a minute? There’s something I want to talk to you about.” “Of course, Prince Julian,” Selma said and she came near. I couldn’t see her with Julian in the way, but I could hear her well enough when she said, “How can I help you?” “Selma, listen, I’ve bee

Whether I was in danger or not, I was still likely to be eliminated at the next elimination ceremony. Being more popular than Bridget was not something I ever expected to happen, but now that it had, and now that Selma was confirming it had caused me to draw ire from the King and Queen, I knew the e

“I don’t know anything about running a nation,” I said. “You are learning, and you’re learning quickly. Think of all the events, Piper. You’ve done so well. And the times that you hadn’t were because there were plots set against you.” “Plots against me are part of the competition. I should be ab

“They’re pushing him past his limits,” Julian said again, “And it’s about time too.” I looked at him sharply. Surely he couldn’t be happy that his brother was being harassed into uncharacteristic outbursts. He shrugged at my look. “He’s finally acting like a living breathing human in front of th

Palm trees zig-zagged around, some of them bent at odd angles. One even looked like it had grown sideways for a while before bending back upwards. Sitting there on the sideways part of the tree, was Nicholas. Just where Julian had said he would be. “Piper?” he called. I smiled a little as I wa

“But I thought…” My voice trailed. My brain was having a hard time processing Nicholas’s words, especially since my body was already kicking into overdrive. My core was getting hot and wet. I pressed my thighs tight together for friction. “Before you said…” It was hard to remember now. I forced my