?Chapter 0261


    Mark, looking at me against the closet wall and Nichs kneeling in front of me, went very pale very quickly. "Uh... I''m so sorry. I didn''t mean to... intrude."


    Nichs refastened my pants and pulled up the zipper. Slowly, he rose to his feet.


    "Some other time," he whispered to me.


    "Promise?" I whispered back. My face was hot with embarrassment, but I couldn''t deny the idea of his mouth on me had driven me to the brink of madness.


    Nichs winked at me. Then, he tumed to face Mark.


    "What is it, Mark?"


    "Sir, I..."


    "It''s fine, Mark. Just tell me what you need."


    "Your father, sir. The King wishes to see you."


    Nichs sighed. "Likely regarding what he expects from me during the next event."


    "Most likely," Mark agreed. He quickly nced between Nichs and me. "I, uh. I''ll be outside." He awkwardly turned and hurried out of the closet.


    Nichs looked back at me. "I''m sorry, Piper."


    "It''s not your fault."


    "Still." Nichs approached me again. He reached his hand up and brushed his thumb along the side of my cheek. "There never seems to be enough time for us.">>


    I smiled a bit, sadly. I didn''t have the heart to say that it would be worse if he was King. Someday, there would be no time for us. We''d both have to move on.


    Maybe it would have been better to end the dream now. To tell Nichs that nothing like this could ever happen again. Then, maybe, we could protect both our hearts.


    But, even to protect us, I couldn''t do it. These fleeting moments we shared, even if they were always too short, were some of my most precious moments. I wouldn''t trade them for anything.


    I knew they would hurt to rememberter. But I''d still rather have the memories at all, then to never know them.


    Nichs let his hand drop. He sighed. "I''m in for a lecture when I go see my father. He''s certain to tell me which girl to give the most attention too."


    Tignored the jealousy growing in my stomach. "Surely it would be Lilliana?"


    "I don''t know," Nichs said. "She''s falling out of favor. Olivia had the better showing at the g. He might insist that I switch. He''s been micromanaging my life for so long. I didn''t exactly mind it before but.."


    His gaze lifted to me. He gave me a small smile. "I never fought against it after we broke up.


    I just went along with whatever he wanted. I figured he would know best what the kingdom needed. But now, more and more, I find myself wanting to fight against him."


    "Nick..."


    "I want things for myself, Piper. I know that might be impossible, but it''s what I want. I can''t deny it."


    I stepped into him this time. I leaned up and softly pressed my lips to his.


    Our stolen moments were just that. In the end, Nicholes would have to choose someone else whether he wanted to or not.


    But for now, I would hold him. I would kiss him, until I simply wasn''t allowed to anymore. After Nichs left, I went outside to join Susie, Elva, and Mark in the gardens. Elva was gently wrestling with the wolves Silver and Night. Silver licked at her face. Elva giggled.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    Susie and Mark sat on the grass, close but not touching. They kept stealing nces at each other. Those two. I wondered if they''d kissed yet. From the soft blush to Susie''s cheeks, I was willing to bet they had stolen a moment or two.


    Things were going well. We were talking andughing. For a moment or two, I was able to forget my worries about the future and simply rx around my friends.


    I enjoyed our time, though it was a bit bittersweet. Someday, I would have to go back to my old life. And though I had some good friends back home, I would miss Susie, Mark, and the wolves. And the easy moments were we could simply be.


    "What''s on your mind, Piper?" Susie asked me. "You seemed really far away just now."


    "I''m sorry," I said. I didn''t want to lie to her. "I guess I was just thinking about the future."


    I regretted the words as soon as they were out of my mouth, because Susie instantly wilted. She inched away from Mark. Mark nced at her, a touch of hurt in his eyes.


    "It will be difficult," Susie agreed. "When all this is over and we have to go back to our regr lives."


    "I''ll miss you," I said to Susie.


    She smiled at me. "I''ll miss you too. Though when we have our cell phones back, there''s no reason you and I can''t stay in touch."


    "Your family might not like that. I''m going to go back to being a nobody."


    "You won''t be a nobody to me," Susie said. "You''ll always be my friend. I don''t care what my farmily says."


    Her kindness warmed my heart and pushed away the dreary thoughts for a while.


    But then, suddenly, the wolves went on alert. They moved to stand in front of Elva, blocking sight of her from the woods. Their ears peaked, facing the trees.


    Elva rushed to my side. "Mommy! I''m scared!"


    I pulled her into my arms.


    Mark was on his feet in an instant, searching for danger.


    I looked to Susie. "What are the wolves saying?"


    Susie inched closer to the wolves.


    Silver chuffed.


    "They say that they sense someone in the woods. They''ve noticed many people hovering nearbytely, especially when Elvaes outside."


    My stomach dropped.


    Susie paused, listened. "The wolves are doing their best to keep the strangers away. They sense that they mean to do harm to the child."


    I hold Elva closer. "It''s okay, honey," I whisper in her ear. "The wolves are protecting you. There''s nothing to be afraid of."


    Susie''s eyes went wide a moment, listening to the grumble of the wolves. "They say your..." She stopped herself before she said it, looking at Elva. "Jane has been in the woods sometimes."


    "They can tell the difference?" I asked. I had to be vague, for Elva to not understand. "Yes. The looks are the same, but the smell is different. The wolves are not fooled."


    A bit of relief washed over me. I had been worried, that if the wolves came to help, they would not be able to tell friend from foe when dealing with me and my twin. Though it seems I needn''t have worried.


    The wolves, at least, could tell the difference between my sister and me, even if most people could not. I thanked the universe for small blessings.


    "The strangers are leaving," Susie said.


    The wolves stayed on alert. After a moment, Night darted into the woods.


    "He''s going to follow them," Susie said.


    "We should go inside," Mark said. I agreed.


    I pushed myself up to my feet. Yet before I turned, I looked at Silver. I wished I had my wolf so I couldmunicate properly. As it was, I could only clumsily convey how much their protection meant to me.


    "Thank you, Silver. From the bottom of my heart."


    She chuffed at me, then trotted off into the woods.


    Susie tranted, "She says you''re wee."