Chatper 328


    Chapter 0328


    “I


    guess that’s that,” Julian said, and snaked his arm away from me.


    Nichs looked at the dark opening in the wall, a stern expression on his face.


    1 felt powerless. There was nothing I could say to rece a father’s love.


    With the King’s absence, Nichs spoke more truthfully. “This escapade is only going tost for so


    long. Eventually we’re going to have to reveal the truth about Jane.”


    Julian stepped closer to him and lowered his voice. “It will be easier to exin when Jane is caught.


    Else we will only cast doubt on Piper herself.”


    I joined them by the window. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to keep Jane a secret, to keep Elva and


    the world from knowing about my twin. But wasn’t it selfish to want to keep this secret, when Jane was


    actively endangering Nichs?


    If the guards had known about my twin… Even if the result would be in expelling me for my rtion,


    then they might have caught Jane before she ever had a chance to hurt Nichs.


    My secret wasn’t just hurting people, it could get someone killed.


    “Maybe it’s worth it… to tell the truth.”


    “No,” Julian said fiercely. “The King will not believe it. He’ll punish you instead. We need Jane in hand


    before we go forward.” He looked at Nichs. “Surely you see that?”


    Nichs looked at me. “We’ll keep quiet for now.” A muscle ticked in his jaw.


    “I won’t risk you getting hurt,” I said.


    He shook his head. “I won’t risk you being cast out or worse. I can protect myself, Piper. Julian is right,


    in this instance…” His gaze shifted, and he red at Julian.


    Julianughed. “Thanks for the confidence.”


    I understood then, that Nichs initial reservation might have had less to do with the danger and


    everything to do with the game Julian and I would now need to continue to y.


    “You’ll have to keep up this fake dating ruse now,” Nichs said. “The King thinks you two are fooling


    around for real. He will expect that behavior to continue.”


    Julian shrugged. “So he will. It’s not the end of the world. No one dies if Piper has to kiss me.” Nichs


    glowered.


    My heart sank. “Julian,” I said. “Maybe you could give me a moment to speak to Nichs, alone.”


    +15 BONUS


    Julian nced between us and sighed. “Fine.” With reluctance, he turned and left. When he was gone,


    I stepped closer to Nichs. Anyone coulde in at any moment, so I couldn’t risk too much


    affection. But, alternatively, I couldn’t do nothing. So I reached out and ced my hand on his forearm.


    He looked down at my hand. “I hate this.”


    “I know,” I said. “I’m sorry.”


    “No.” He looked up at my face. “I’m sorry, Piper. If it were up to me –


    “I know,” I said, stopping him. I didn’t want to hear the could-have-beens. The never-would -bes.


    Nich s’s jaw clenched. Then he spoke. “It should be you and me. Not him. No one will listen. No one


    will see.”


    My heart warmed at the anger in his voice. He wanted to be with me. I wanted to be with him too.


    But the world just wasn’t that kind.


    “With Julian and me, it’s not real,” I reminded him. “It’s just an act.” I swallowed hard. “It’s not fake with


    you.”


    His gaze softened. “Piper…”


    “If it were up to me, Nick, it would be us.”


    He inched closer to me.


    It would never be up to us, and that hurt. But knowing that it was something we both wished for was a


    Content bel0ngs to N?vel(D)r/a/ma.Org.


    soothing balm.


    “Someday…” he started, but couldn’t finish.


    I knew why.


    No matter how much we wished it, there was no someday for us.