Chapter 100


    “No,” Nichs said.


    Julian, still bowing, shot him a re. “I wasn’t asking you, brother. In case that wasn’t obvious.”


    1


    “She will not dance with you, because she is about to dance with me.” Nichs said.


    Julian straightened upright. “Is that what was happening here? Because, to me, it appeared as if you


    two were awkwardly standing near each other and only barely talking.”


    That description didn’t sound so different from some of the royal dances I knew, but I decided not to


    point that out.


    “Even if we were only talking, you must admit how exceedingly rude it is to interrupt,” Nichs said.


    “Rude, maybe,” Julian said. “But necessary, if I’m to save Piper from an evening of boredom.”


    “Perhaps we should ask thedy to choose for herself,” Nichs said. He looked at me.


    Julian did too. “Well, Piper? Which of us will it be?”


    My heart leaned for Nichs and thefort of his presence. I’d given him quite the shock tonight, I


    was sure, with revtion after revtion. I wanted to make sure he was okay.


    Yet as I nced out over the room, I felt two pairs of eyes pressing down onto me. One pair belonged


    to Linda, who downed an entire champagne flute while ring at me. The other pair was the King’s.


    The King v


    watched me from atop his throne. He wore no expression, but a chill struck through me under the


    intensity of his eyes. He was judgmental and observant. I had no way of knowing if he knew about


    Linda’s ultimatum.


    I couldn’t take the chance either way. So I held out my hand and epted Julian’s dance.


    Immediately he sped my hand in both of his.


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    Nichs just stared a moment, a touch of surprise widening his eyes. “Piper?”


    “Don’t be a sore loser, brother.” Julian’s grin sharpened. “Wouldn’t want the whole room to see how


    jealous you are.”


    In an instant, Nichs schooled his features. “I’m not jealous.”


    My heart sunk a bit at the words, even though it had no real reason to. Nichs and I did not belong to


    each other anymore. He had no right to be jealous, and I had no right to want him to.


    “Could have fooled me.” Julian tugged on my hand, pulling me out onto the dance floor. As he held my


    hand with one of his, he wrapped his other arm around my back.


    The music was a faster song, though the steps were simple. I was able to keep up fairly easily. With


    Julian twirling me around the dance floor, I noticed Linda and the King had stopped paying me any


    mind.


    Nichs, however, watched Julian and me with an unreadable expression. His eyes never left us for


    long, even as other girls approached to speak with him.


    “Interesting,” Julian said, and I braced myself for whatever observation he was about to make. “You


    and Nichs disappear for a time. Then when you return, he is even more protective than before.”


    I swallowed thickly. “I don’t know what you mean.”


    “It’s slight, but there’s definitely been a change in him.” Julian tilted his head, looking at me curiously.”


    There’s a shift in you, too.”


    I nearly stumbled over my feet, but Julian, holding me upright, guided me into the next step without


    missing a beat.


    “Can I guess what you two talked about?” he asked.


    I would much rather have preferred that he didn’t, but I knew he would anyway.


    “He knows the truth now, doesn’t he? About your wolf. About Elva.”


    Julian’s power of observation was rming and unnerving. I didn’t think I’d ever be used to it.


    “You don’t have to say anything. I know I’m right.”


    “I had to tell him,” I said..


    “You don’t have to exin yourself to me.”


    Julian led me into a twirl, then tugged me back into his arms.


    “Honestly, I’m surprised it took this long.”