Chapter 97


    No visits. No phone calls. No birthday or Christmas cards for Elva.


    It wasn’t the first time she had gone dark on me, but this time the circumstances were much different. I


    was caring for her child, the one she had been so desperate to rescue when she’d called me.


    Whether the underground organization had gotten to her, or she had only wanted me to remove her


    responsibility, I wasn’t sure.


    She wasn’t dead. I knew that much. As twins, we shared a bond. If she was dead, I was certain that I


    would feel it. What littlefort I had, was from knowing she was still alive somewhere


    I had lost my wolf and my sister in one day. And my boyfriend soon after. But I had gained Elva, so I


    would never regret. But my grief remained palpable.


    I could see a simr grief now reflected in Nichs’s eyes. Itsted only a moment before it was


    reced with a zing, righteous fury. Yet his touch remained gentle. His voice was measured.


    “All of this Everything you went through Everything you lost. And our whole rtionship ended,


    because of your sister


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    I understood his anger. I felt it for myself many times. But at the end of the day, she was family.


    “She’s my sister. Even if things ended badly, we’ll always share blood. As twins, our bond is even more


    profound”


    he didnt care about any of that when she set you up to lose everything. Or when she then abandoned


    you and Elva”


    “‘s not like that.” i stepped back from him, pulling away from his touch “She’s mixed up with a bad


    cipwd. She didn’t set me up. And she didn’t abandon us, either, she just hasn’te back yet.”


    Thio,


    1. ho. Nichs We grew up together Wherever she is, she must have her own reasons. When she


    comes beck, I will sit down with her and hear her out. She deserves a chance –*


    doesn’t deserve half so much for what she did to you Nichs followed me inching into my


    Bathing


    upati Tel even with his looming intimidating furious presence


    touring


    “You sacrificed everything for her. And she couldn’t even be asked to stick around. Did she at least say


    thank you?


    She hadn’t I never saw her again after losing my wolf. I awoke in a dirty alley with a crying baby


    pressed


    beside me


    I watched the moment Nichs’s anger twisted inwards. He seemed to dete a little


    “If you would have told me…”


    “What I did was illegal,” I said. “And I had a baby I couldn’t stay in school after that


    “I would have supported you”


    “How? By dropping out alongside me?” I shook my head 7 never would have let you This was the only


    way, to protect us both”


    Nichs reached out and gripped my upper arms. He held me firmly, but not enough to hurt


    “You were my girlfriend, Piper. I would have done anything for you.


    “You think I didn’t know that? That was exactly why I couldn’t tell you! You deserved so much better”


    “So did you! If you would have only


    “Well, isn’t this a sight, Linda said from the doorway.


    Nichs and I jumped apart. His arms fell to his sides


    At once, his fury and desperation disappeared under his princely persona, cold and detached The


    witch was jarring.


    “You should have immediately made your presence known,” Nichs said, voice t. “How much did


    you overhear?”


    “Many apologies, Your Royal Highness. I assure you my intentions were pure. I merely wondered


    where you had wandered off to, and thought to look out here.” Linda tapped a finger to her chin “As for


    how


    much I heard…


    Her gaze slid from Nichs to me and back again.


    “So you two were campus sweethearts, hm?”