Chapter 128
Nichs
I hadn’t wanted to ask Lilliana on a second date, but after a threatening letter from the King this
morning and the way he red at me all dinner long, I knew I had very little choice in the matter.
Especially if I
wanted to help protect Piper.
So I had pushed down the part of myself that revolted against the idea, and publicly asked Lilliana. As
expected, she epted simply and concisely with no outward reaction.
That was for the best, I knew. Emotions onlyplicated things. We didn’t need love between us to get
married. Lilliana was best for the kingdom, so I would fall in line.
Even if my heart wanted something else…
Well, it didn’t matter what my heart wanted. I had shut off that part of myself three years before, and no
resolution of misunderstandings was going to change that now. It was far toote to open myself up
again.
I wanted to forget about Piper. I wanted her and Elva safe and happy, but not. near me. They were
dangerous. They reminded me how things could be, what happiness looked and felt like.
I couldn’t be happy. I had to be King.
But then Julian unted her in front of me. She looked gorgeous in the dress Lilliana had so poorly tried
to emte. Piper filled out the dress in a way Lilliana’s stick figure never could. Piper had such
delicious
curves and…
Julian had one of his hands on Piper’s hip. I red at it, hoping to set fire to it with my eyes. I’d never
had that ability before, but one could hope.
I wanted to throttle Julian for staking im on Piper, suggesting she belongs to him. But how could I
deny it? I wasn’t in a ce where I could step forward and challenge his im. And Piper was keeping
her
beautiful, full lips firmly closed on the matter.
Ugly, green jealousy seared inside my chest.
I couldn’t help remembering the heat of the oven as Piper and I had stood side by side in the kitchen
the night before. She had turned to me, her brown eyes dark in the dimly–lit room.
She was so… irresistible, I had leaned forward before I knew what I was doing.
I had wanted to kiss her so badly, my entire body ached.
+15 BONUS
But then the oven timer had gone off and we had separated, I had yed it off like it had been a
mistake, or a trick of the moment, but it hadn’t been. I had wanted to kiss her then, just as J wanted to
kiss her now.
But I knew it was impossible.
Lilliana smiled at me in a vague sort of way.
Julian smirked much harder. He knew what he was doing, ying with me.
–
Piper’s face scrunched up, troubled likely for my sake. She was far too kind.
The nearby cameras, meanwhile, caught it all.
I cleared my throat, gathering myself again. The princely mask easily slid into ce, a well–worn
routine.
“How good for us both, Julian,” I said, hating every word. “That we have both found favorites in the
Julian added teeth to his smile. “Yes. Good for someone, alright.” His eyes slid to Lilliana, who gave no
Indication that she noticed. He didn’t say more.
With Lillie
With Lilliana indifferent to his remark, I felt no strong desire to defend her, so I let the matter drop.
The cameramen and their producers eventually grew tired of our silence and dragged their attention.
elsewhere.
One of the King’s servants immediately found his way to my side. “The King wishes to speak to you
immediately. If you would follow him to his chambers.”
I could have groaned if I had a modicum less self–control. As it was, I simply straightened my
shoulders.
“If you will excuse me.”
“Good luck, brother,” Julian said.
Piper reached out and touched my arm. It was a simple gesture. It didn’t have to mean anything.
Except
it did.
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like that v
A gesture like that was familiar/Overly so, to some people’s eyes.
so, to some people’s eyes.
I patted her hand, then pulled away before anyone could see.