Chapter 140


    As Linda dived at me, knife first, both Julian and Nichs moved at once.


    Nichs ran at me. He grabbed me around the waist and pulled me toward him, shielding me behind


    his body.


    Julian, meanwhile, went straight for Linda. He grabbed Linda’s wrist and twisted. The knife ttered


    down onto the floor.


    “Someone get Joseph the hell back in here!” Julian shouted at one of the guards. They ran out of the


    room, doing asmanded. The others closed in around Linda.


    Disarmed, she shrank in on herself, seemingly realizing what she had done. Her eyes were wide and


    vacant. Tears streamed down her face.


    Nichs eased me back, though he kept his hands on my shoulders.


    “Are you okay?” he asked me.


    “Yes.” That knife never had a chance to reach me with both brothers moving as if in tandem.


    Still, Nichs checked me over, dropping his gaze down the length of my body.


    “No one likes Piper, but to actually try to kill her?” whispered one girl to another.


    “It’s too far,” said another.


    When the danger had passed, and Nichs released me, Susie rushed to my side.


    “Piper!”


    “I’m okay,” I promised her. I waved out my arms so she could see for herself.


    “What happened?” Susie looked at Nichs. “Why would Linda do that?”


    Nichs set his jaw. “Some nobles don’t know how to lose.”


    “Linda,” Julian said, loud and authoritative. It was unusual to see Julian take anything seriously, but


    right.


    now, he looked absolutely furious, ring down at where Linda whimpered. “For attempting to murder a


    fellow candidate, you are disqualified from thepetition.”


    “But…” She spoke weakly. Even she must have known that she had no defense. Everyone in the room


    had seen her in the act.


    When Joseph finally returned to the room, his eyes sunken in rage, Julian directed him to escort Linda


    This is, of course, assuming Piper does not wish to press charges,” Julian said, looking at me. “What


    she has done is worthy of jail time, Piper.”


    I considered it. Linda had certainly treated me terribly, and now this final act of terror. But, even so, if I


    wished to press charges, it would extend into a court hearing. Even though I would likely win, I really


    just wanted this entire situation to go away.


    Holding Julian’s gaze, I shook my head a little. He seemed to understand.


    “Take her away,” Julian said to the guards.


    “You continue to be a weak–willed little mouse. You can dress yourself up in silks and satins, but you


    will always bemon underneath,” Linda said, finally finding her voice. “How dare you act like you


    are so far above me?! Piper, you absolutely coward!”


    I stepped into the way of the guards, forcing them to stop, and for Linda to face me.


    “Do not confuse kindness for cowardice,” I told her.


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    She red at me. “Kindness will never earn you Luna.”


    “So be it,” I said, then stepped out of the way again.


    The guards pushed Linda forward. “Go on.”


    When she was cleared from the room, I waited for a bit, not wanting to feel like I was following her out


    into the hallway. Susie and Nichs kept mepany. Julian, too, when he was done being


    authoritative.


    He came to my side with his usual smile and swagger. “Did you see the show I put on?” he asked with


    a


    wink.


    I rolled my eyes, ying along.


    Truthfully though, inside I was shaken. Even if she had been flimsy with that knife, unlikely to cause


    major damage, she had still attempted it. She had meant to kill me.


    I’d had people hate me before. I’d also weathered my fair share of threats in the service industry. But it


    was one thing for people to talk, and quite another for them to pick up a knife and charge at me with it.