Chapter 70


    My eyes went wide. As poor as I felt, I still pushed myself upright on the bed – until he ced a hand


    on


    my shoulder and eased me back down.


    “I won’t give up,” I told him. “I can’t.”


    “I wouldn’t ask you to, except for your own safety, Piper. If you truly don’t care about being Luna, like


    you say, then you should care more for yourself. The people here only want to do you harm.”


    “It doesn’t matter what happens to me. Can’t you see? I will stay. I’ll do anything they want to make


    sure


    that Elva continues to get the best medical care.”


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    “Even if this happens again?”


    “Even then.”


    Crossing his arms, he let out a quiet sigh. “I’d forgotten how stubborn you could be.”


    “Only with important things.”


    I felt a bit strange with him standing so rigidly beside the bed while I was within it. I motioned toward the


    edge of the bed.


    “You can sit if you want.”


    “I shouldn’t,” he said. Yet after a moment, he propped himself on the very edge of the mattress, as far


    from me as he could be. “You asked me not to leave. Why?”


    Truthfully, I wasn’t entirely certain. I had just wanted him near. “I don’t want to be alone.”


    “I’m sure your maids would sit with you.”


    “I don’t trust my maids.”


    His piercing gaze focused on me again. “The gloves.”


    I nodded. “They knew my gloves were too short, but they sent me ahead without a word.” I smoothed


    out the nkets on myp. “Though I guess, even if I had been warned then, those that want to do me


    harm would have found another way.”


    That’s why I thought you should leave.”


    No. I’d never let them win like that, by scaring me off. “I don’t know why they can’t just wait for the


    elimination. Everyone knows I’ll be the first to go.”


    “You seem certain.”


    “I know I’m only here as a publicity stunt. I’ve served my purpose.”


    He hummed in acknowledgement but didn’t reply.


    I was finally beginning to warm up, and with that warmth, sleepiness followed. In my exhaustion, my


    usual filters fell away, and words came much easier.


    “You can’t be happy with the way things are,” I said.


    He gave me a curious look. I had to exin.


    “Dozens of womenpeting for the attention of three men is so ridiculous. And in front of cameras?


    How are you ever supposed to find someone you love?”


    “The cameras are essential,” Nichs said. “The royal family needs a strong public image. The fate of


    the kingdom might depend on it.”


    “But couldn’t you invite the public into your lives after you found the right person for you?”


    He looked away. “None of us have found our mates on our own, Piper. The selection is a necessity.


    I refused to believe that someone like Nichs would have trouble finding someone to love who could


    love him back. He wasn’t perfect, but even his ws were endearing


    “The choosing game may seem superficial,” he said, “but it is aplishing two tasks. Finding mates


    for me and my brothers, and winning over the people’s hearts.”


    “I suppose it has aplished a third task as well.”


    His gaze


    returned to me. “What’s that?”


    “It’s helping Elva.”


    For the length of a heartbeat, he gave a soft smile. It was too quickly gone. “I’ll dly take that as ant


    aplished third task.”


    Even with his face returned to its passive normal, I felt more at ease with Nichs now. Maybe he was


    starting to finally believe me when I said that I was only here for Elva, and that I had no desire to be


    Luna.


    Maybe he was starting to respect me again..


    I snuggled deeper into my nkets. I was feeling bold, and maybe a little flirty. “So, how’s the first task


    going? Have any of these girls managed to catch your eye?


    I wanted him to tease me. Maybe he would flirt back.