Chapter 256


    Chapter 0256


    The next morning, Elva was still resting peacefully after I awoke and changed, so I left her in the care of


    Charlotte, the Nanny, and Mark, and went down to breakfast alone.


    I was nearly there, when both Veronica and Tiffany blocked my path.


    “We want to talk to you,” Veronica said.


    We were about to have breakfast beside each other. “Could it wait until breakfast?” If they were going to


    yell at me about ‘my‘ behaviorst night, I’d prefer it not to happen on my empty stomach.


    “No,” Veronica said.


    Okay, then. I sighed in resignation and followed them to a quieter spot away from the doorway to the


    dining room.


    Tiffany crossed her arms. “We talked to the other–youst night at the g.”


    “She looked like you and spoke like you, but it was clear to us both that she was not you,” Veronica said.


    “Yeah, plus… why would you change clothes? That’s not like you at all. And then change back?” Tiffany


    shook her head. “It doesn’t add up, Piper. So spill. Tell us what’s really going on.”


    My heart pounded. Of all people that didn’t know the difference, why were these two so observant?


    Even the King had been willing to believe the worst of me.


    “It was me… I was just having a bad night,” I said. I didn’t want to lie, but I couldn’t tell anyone the truth,


    not even them. Too many people knew it already, from Nichs’s guards to some of the servants. It was


    a miracle the truth hadn’t leaked yet.


    That it hadn’t was apliment to the strong character of everyone on Nichs’s payroll.


    “That was not a bad night,” Tiffany said.


    “That wasn’t you,” Veronica added.


    “Did


    you


    lose a bet or something?” Tiffany said. “Someone extorting you?”


    Veronica gave Tiffany sideways look. “It wasn’t her.”


    Tiffany looked back. “Who else could it be?”


    They both looked at me expectantly.


    I closed my eyes. “I wish I could tell you, but I just can’t.” If it were only me that could be hurt, I would


    reputation.


    Elva. The underground organization. This ran so much deeper than just me and Jane.


    “It’s alright, Piper,” Julian said. Appearing beside me, he ced a gentle hand on my shoulder. “You can


    trust these two.”


    I frowned at him. He was the one who was so adamant about not trusting anyone.


    Julian grinned at my upset. “There’s a reason I picked these two. Well, other than their great senses of


    humor.” Heughed. “They’re trustworthy.” He shrugs. “And they hate the underground.”


    “The underground is behind this?” Tiffany asked, her voice taking on a sharp edge.


    “I should have known,” Veronica said. At her sides, her hands clenched into fists. “Those bastards.”


    Julian nudged me. “You can tell them.”


    So I did. Not everything, of course. Not about my wolf, or Elva’s involvement. But I did exin that I had


    a twin sister who was caught up with the organization. I said Jane wanted to ruin my life to get me


    desperate enough to fall into the underground’s web.


    As I spoke, their gazes became more pitying than judgmental. By the end, they were outright angry on


    my behalf.


    It was something of a relief, to finally be able to tell someone the truth and to not have to bear the


    weight of their misguided judgement anymore.


    “So this bitch of a sister of yours is running around pretending to be you?” Tiffany asked. “And that was


    herst night, being terrible to everyone?”


    “Yes,” I said. “And yes.”


    Tiffany whistled. “I thought my family was messed up.”


    “We won’t be fooled again,” Veronica said.


    “Yeah, for sure.” Tiffany sighed. “Sorry if we were jerks to youst night. It took a minute for us to put


    two and two together.”


    “You don’t have to apologize…”


    “We do,” Veronica said. “The underground organization has taken from us both.”


    Veronica and Tiffany nced at each other. Julian lowered his hand from my shoulder to my lower back.


    “Then we’re all in this together now,” Julian said. “We’ll have to work to take them down, but


    “I’m in,” Veronica said.


    “Me, too!” Tiffany added with a fist pump.


    We all smiled at each other. It felt good, like I had just gained two more friends.


    “Please keep it a secret though,” I said. “It’s a secret I can’t afford to have revealed yet.”


    “You must have your reasons,” Veronica said.


    ”


    –


    “Man, that’s got to suck, not being able to tell anyone. Your sister must be getting you in a world of


    trouble.”


    After I nodded, they both agreed.


    “Your secret is safe with us,” Veronica said. She always spoke definitively, so this gave mefort.N?vel(D)rama.Org''s content.


    Veronica and Tiffany then excused themselves to go to breakfast. I nearly joined them, when a good


    look at Julian gave me pause. I waved them ahead without me.


    “Julian.”


    “Hm?”


    His eyes were red, bloodshot, with heavy bags hanging underneath them. He wavered unsteadily as he


    stood, swaying back and forth. He looked terrible.


    He looked exhausted.


    “Did something happen?” I asked him.


    “What do you mean?” He could barely keep his eyes open.


    I gripped his arm to keep him from swaying too far in one direction.


    “You are dead on your feet.”


    “Oh, that? I just need some coffee and I’ll be fine.” He yawned. “Nichs kept me up all night. We kept


    trying to think up ways to trap Jane.”


    Julian and Nichs stayed up all night?


    “We’re not any closer, though,” Julian said with regret. “Trying to keep your secret. Trying to capture Jane


    without killing her. We’re running out of options, especially with you under fire now.”


    “She hasn’t hurt me.”


    “Did you already forget the knife she held to your throat? Nichs hasn’t, I can tell you that much. And


    afterst night? We can’t decide if Jane wants to kill you or damage you beyond the point of return.


    Neither option is ideal, obviously.”


    I hadn’t forgotten the knife to my throat, or the cold look in Jane’s eye. Nor had I forgotten all of Terry’s


    dark promises.


    Nichs had a right to be worried about me.


    “Nichs wants to tell the King the truth,” Julian said.


    “I know.” I worried my bottom lip with my teeth. “What do you think?”


    –


    “He’s too close to Terry. He’d never believe us – you over his brother–inw. His trust with Nichs


    and I goes a bit further, but even that has limits. If we don’t have definitive proof that your sister exists,


    and Terry’s involvement, the King will never believe us.”


    “Nichs thinks otherwise?”


    “He wants to believe in our father. His dedication often renders him blind.” Julian yawned again. “Up all


    night, and we have nothing to show for ourselves.”


    “Maybe a nap would help,” I suggested. Fear gripped at my chest, but everyone needed rest. No great


    ns were ever thought of in a sleepless delirium.


    “Coffee,” he said. He patted my back in aforting way. “Hang in there, Piper. We’re not down and out,


    yet.”


    “I don’t know…”


    Julian lifted his hand to my shoulder, drawing my eyes back to his. He was tired, but he held my gaze


    with tight focus as he said, “Terry won’t have you, Piper. Nichs and I would die first.”