Chapter 217


    I stood very still, confused and surprised both by the very presence of Julian’s lips on my cheek as well


    as the tenderness of the affection he was showing me.


    Julian had always struck me as something of a pl ayboy, and while I understood that much of how he


    acted was an act, he never seemed to connect with any woman, in any rtionship, beyond a fleeting


    fancy.


    In our school days, he strung along many hearts, leaving a trail of broken ones behind him. He never


    seemed to care about the mess he made of girls’ emotions.


    Even Nichs had warned me that Julian was a love them and leave them kind of guy.


    So the gentle way he kissed my cheek, and the way his hands hovered over my shoulders, close but


    not


    touching, was so bizarre to me, I was stunned speechless.


    Then he pulled away, walked around me, and continued up the stairs. After a few steps, he stopped to


    look back at me. “Youing?”


    I nodded, still too surprised to formte words, and hurried along behind him.


    We walked in silence the rest of the way to my door. He was smirking like always. His hands in his


    pockets, he had a familiar saunter to his walk.


    He always looked smug, so I couldn’t corrte that with the strange kiss.


    To the best of my observation, he was acting like the kiss hadn’t happened at all. Or, it hadn’t meant


    anything, which seemed more likely.


    That fell more in line with what Nichs had warned me of


    Outside my door, the guards greeted us both. When Mark saw me, he let out a heavy, relieved breath.


    He had his phone in his hand. I imagined he was texting with Nichs. Maybe he still wanted to see us


    in


    the flesh, just to be sure.


    “This is where I’ll leave you then,” Julian said. He barely gave me a nce as he turned to go back the


    way we came from. “Goodnight, Piper.”


    “Goodnight, Julian,” I said, but he was already walking away. He waved his hand up, but did not look


    back. I watched him until he was gone.


    Then I turned to Mark. “How is Elva?”


    “I’ve been checking on her every fifteen minutes,” Mark said. “She’s been sleeping soundly all night.”


    “Thank you, Mark.”


    “Just doing my job, miss,” he said, but that wasn’t entirely true, His job as Beta was to attend his prince,


    not protect his prince’s ex-girlfriend and her small adopted child.


    “Thank you anyway,” I said, desperate to give my gratitude.


    He didn’t argue again. He lowered his head instead, but not before I saw the small smile tugging at his


    lips.


    Text ? by N0ve/lDrama.Org.


    “Goodnight then, Mark. Gentlemen.”


    Mark and the guards said goodnight in return, and I slipped into the room.


    Elva was sleeping in the bed, her face even in her peace-filled slumber. I walked into the closet and


    changed into my pajamas. Then I walked to the bed.


    Curling in beside Elva, I tried to convince my body to rx. Elva was here and safe. Mark and the


    guards were at the door. Nichs was working tirelessly to arrange guards around the tunnel. And


    Julian – well, he was likely plotting something too.


    At the moment, I could do nothing more than try to gather my own strength for the fights yet toe.


    The future promised many dangers, and I would need to be at my best to keep Elva safe from Terry


    and whoever else.


    And I would need to keep my wits sharp so I could discern more of my sister’s involvement. If she


    needed saving, and the opportunity arose, I wanted to be ready.


    I would do whatever I would have to, to protect my family.


    The next morning came very early. A sèrvant announced that all the candidates were to join in the


    parlor to receive more announcements.