Chapter 280


    Chapter 0280


    Waking up in bed alone, with Nichs nowhere in sight, I felt rejected.


    I adamantly fought against the feeling, telling myself everything was fine, Nichs was a very important


    and busy man. But the hurt was persistent, rooted deep within me.


    Worse, I was now also humiliated. It was early, but stillte enough for the serv ants and other


    candidates to begin to rouse and wander the halls. I had none of my own clothes, only Nich s’s


    pajamas or Julian’s jacket.


    I kept on the pajamas, but pulled the jacket into my arms to return to Julianter.


    Then, with my cheeks burning red, I began the long trek back to my room. I didn’t want anyone to see


    me like this, so I checked around corners and hid in alcoves to avoid all people.


    I was nearly caught once, by a pair of serv ants dusting the picture frames along the hallway, but I


    ducked into a dark closet until they moved past.


    Then, mortified, I rushed the rest of the way. The guards lifted a brow as they asked the identifying


    question, but they didn’t say a word when I answered correctly. They merely stepped aside.


    I exhaled a loud, heavy breath. Finally I was safe.


    Was what I thought…


    Until I saw Piper standing in the middle of my bedroom.


    “Where’s Elva?” I asked.


    “The Nanny and a guard took her down to breakfast.” Julian nced at my attire. A mischievous smirk


    tugged at his lips. “Long night, Piper?”


    I looked down at myself. My blush spread down my neck and over my chest, disappearing under the


    top of the pajamas.


    “I slept well,” I said.


    “I bet you did,” Julian said. “Those princely pajamas look ratherfortable.”


    I tugged at the cuff of one sleeve. “They are.’


    “That’s good.” He sauntered closer. “Is that my jacket?”


    “Oh, yes.” I held it out for him. Was this why he hade by room? To reim his jacket?


    He didn’t reach for the jacket right away. Instead, he just stared at me, but I couldn’t quite discern the


    look in his eyes. There was an edge to his yfulness. “Maybe you’d be happier if it was Nich s’s


    jacket,” he said.


    I blinked.


    He looked away. “Never mind. Sorry.” He grabbed the jacket.


    “Julian…?”


    “I’m d you are okay, Piper.”


    Oh. So that was why he was here. Under the jealous and the teasing, he had just been worried about


    me.


    “If you’ll excuse me,” he said, and sidestepped me.


    “Julian, wait.”


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    He stilled.


    I walked up to him, put my arms over his shoulders, and pulled him into a hug.


    I hadn’t forgotten his part in saving mest night.


    His gift was the only reason I had been found in time. His skill at picking locks had freed me from those


    terrible handcuffs. His jacket had protected me from watchful eyes. And his levelheadedness had


    helped snap Nichs back to the present enough to take me home.


    “Thank you, Julian. I mean it.”


    Slowly, his arms came around my waist and he gently returned the hug.


    “Don’t scare Nichs and I like that again,” he said.


    “I didn’t think you could get scared,” I said, teasing lightly.


    His arms tightened around me, a reply on its own.


    “I’ll need another ne,” I said: “Terry destroyed thest one.”


    “I’ll gift you a hundred of them.”


    After another quick squeeze, Julian pulled back, ending our hug. He winked at me. “Better get dressed,


    Piper. If people see you like that, they might make assumptions.” 2


    I rolled my eyes. “Get out of here.”


    Heughed all the way through the door.


    When he was gone, I hurried to change clothes.


    Down at breakfast, I was reunited with Elva.


    “Mommy!” she cried and rushed into my waiting arms, abandoning her chair and her half- caten waffle.