Chapter 94


    I hope you can understand and respect Nichs’s need to move on from the train wreck you once


    shared together,” the King continued.


    I swallowed thickly, fear mixing with anger. What Nichs and I had was special, not anything like a


    terrible ident. We’d cared deeply for each other. I’d had to leave him for his own sake, but I had


    never stopped caring about him.


    Yet as annoyed as the usation made me, I did understand the King’s point of view. Nichs had


    revealed to me that he was still hung up on our break up even now, three yearster. He deserved to


    be


    free, to find someone to love.


    I doubted, however, that the King’s concern for his son had little to do with genuine care and everything


    to do with full control.


    Nichs had been tied up in this from the start. The King and Queen had likely already chosen


    partners for each of their children, and thispetition was nothing more than a farce for the people’s


    entertainment.


    “I have told no one of your shared past, and those that do know are sworn to secrecy on the threat of


    death. You understand, don’t you, Piper?”


    I understood the threat well enough. It sounded a lot like if word got out about Nichs and me, the


    King would have me killed.


    So much for making me untouchable, I doubted there was anything Julian or Nichs could do to stop


    a King’s direct order, no matter how heinous.


    understand,” I said, proud of myself when the words came out unbroken.


    “Good.” He lowered his hands. A kind smile spread across his lips, so different from the dark threat


    he’d just given. “Enjoy your time here, Piper. Let things y out as they will. But never, and I mean


    never, allow yourself to grow toofortable.”


    Tunderstand.” The word did shake this time.


    “We understand each other then.” He waved me toward the door. “Have them bring in the next girl


    when


    you leave.”


    rushed as quickly as propriety would allow me toward the door. Once outside, I delivered the King’s


    request to one of his servants, who rushed to amodate.


    Yet no sooner had walked away from the King’s servants and into the ballroom, then Nicholes sought


    “We need to speak privately.”


    I shook my head, adamantly against it with the King’s words rattling in my head. It was a major faux


    pas to deny the prince a requested audience, but I reasoned the King’s request took precedence.


    “I’m sorry, Nichs. I just can’t.”


    I hurried toward the drink table, eager to drown my worries in champagne. I haven’t drank since before


    Elva, when I’d had a stolen sip or two underage at the academy. I’d always wanted to k


    I was eager to lose it now.


    Unfortunately, Nichs followed. “What’s wrong? What happened?”


    my head.


    my hand before I


    I snatched a champagne flute from the table and went to down it. He plucked it from my


    could and returned it to the table.


    I red at him. I’m allowed to drink.”


    This text is ? N?velDrama/.Org.


    “You’re upset.”


    I shook my head. “Just leave me alone.”


    He startled, straightening. “What?”


    “We can’t talk. Leave me alone.” I had thought I’d hardened myself to him, but with the shock of the


    King’s knowledge of our past, and the fear that came with his threat, I found myself struggling to lie to


    myself.


    Other than Elva, Nichs was the only person I could truly talk to in this pce. I trusted some, Mark,


    Susie, and Charlotte. But they didn’t know me like Nichs did. They couldn’t see me, and in once


    nce


    know that I was falling apart.


    “Come with me. We’ll talk in private. You can tell me what’s going on. Then, I’ll leave you alone.”


    Jsniffed, tears threatening. I can’t…”