Chapter 0444


    Despite the argument between Bridget and Nichs, the show needed to go on, which meant Nichs


    and Bridget were called back to the stage. Bridget was silenced after Nichs’s final words, so the air


    between them was obviously tense. They didn’t talk at all as they returned to the stage.


    For the finale, Julian was needed on stage too. This was the final showdown between his character


    and Nichs’s, where Nichs would beat him in a duel and officially im Bridget’s character’s hand


    in marriage.


    I knew Julian had to go, but I was still holding onto his arm. I wasn’t ready to let him go yet. We still


    hadn’t talked and his face was still like that of a strangers, unsmiling and stern.


    Julian nced pointedly at where I gripped his upper arm.


    “I have to go now, Piper,” he said.


    “We still haven’t talked,” I replied.


    “Later.”


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    I still didn’t let go. “Do you promise?”


    He huffed a harsh breath. “Why does it matter?”


    He was so dismissive, it hurt a little. Why did it matter? Because I cared about him. Because he was


    acting strangely. Because I wanted to know if he really said those terrible things about me to Bridget.


    “It matters because it matters,” I said. It really was as simple as that. To put it into further detail only


    made it more needlesslyplicated. It mattered because Julian mattered.


    He looked at me a bit longer. His eyes were so detached, he truly looked like a different person. I


    missed the always smirking instigator that had be my friend.


    “Piper…” he said, and it seemed like he was about to say something else. Maybe he’d give an


    exnation. Maybe he’d finally tell me what was going on.


    Instead, he sighed. “I have to go.”,


    I didn’t have any other choice. I couldn’t make him look bad and hold up the y for everyone else, just


    because I selfishly wanted answers from Julian. So I released his arm.


    He nodded, then hurried up onto the stage to finish his scene.


    I felt so cold inside. I didn’t want to believe the things Bridget said, but with Julian acting so distantly,


    what was I to think?


    Maybe he really did say those things about me.


    The rest of the y went by in a rush. I felt a bit like I was in a bit of a trance, woken only when, in the


    final scene, Elva had her big role as a flower girl.


    She was absolutely adorable, in her puffy dress, her ribbons springing along behind her as she lightly


    sk ipped across the stage. The crowd oohed and aahed, and she earned the biggest


    1/3


    +15 BONUS


    apuse of the night.


    In the end, Bridget and Nich s’s characters were married, and they shared another kiss on the


    cheek. This time, Bridget did not push for more. Good. If she had tried, I might have run- onto the stage


    myself and yanked her away from him.


    Nichs could handle himself, but my jealous rage was still seething. My wolf was angrily pacing within


    me. It couldn’t wait until we had Nichs alone and could scent him again.


    When the final scene was over, the entire cast was called to the stage for a bow. I held Elva’s hand,


    and we bowed together. The crowd cheered and cheered, a standing ovation. When Nichs and


    Bridget came outst, they cheered loudest. A few flowers were thrown onto the stage.


    Nathan handed Bridget a bouquet of roses as he arrived onstage. “From the King and Queen,” he said.


    Favoritism, once again.


    I tried not to let it bother me.


    After the bows, the lights came on. We were supposed to descend the stage by the front stairs and


    mingle with the crowd. Take pictures. Sign ybooks. Most of us did. But immediately, I noticed Nathan


    pull Nichs away. I was close enough to hear.


    “The King requests an audience,” Nathan said.


    Requests. More like demands.


    Following Nathan, Nichs weaved through the crowd toward the royal family.


    Across the room, I noticed Julian making his way out the doors onto the balcony.


    I had no hope of speaking to Nichs now. I couldn’t save him from a royal summons. Even if I was


    dying, he’d still be required to speak with the King first, before he could even visit me. The King took


    precedence over all.


    But I could speak to Julian.


    So I made sure Elva was safe with Susie, I said a few polite hellos to guests who wished to greet me


    and givepliments to my performance, and then I made my way to the door to the balcony.


    Outside, Julian was alone. He was leaning with his elbows on the railing of the balcony. His neck was


    bent back, his gaze up on the stars.


    I walked to his side and took a spot beside him on the railing. I looked at him for a long moment. When


    he didn’t turn to meet my gaze, I followed his up to the stars.


    “You wanted to talk,” he said.


    “Are you okay?” I asked. Of all the questions I had, that seemed most important.


    “No,” he said, without any hesitation. “Was that your only question?”


    Of course it wasn’t. And his answer only added to the questions I had.


    But I suspected his answer was tied to where he wasst night, so I decided to start there.


    2/3


    +15 BONUS


    “What happenedst night?” I asked him.


    “Which part?” Julian replied. His tone was emotionless, hollow. I hated it.


    “Were you with Bridget?” I asked.


    The silence stretched. Perhaps that was answer enough, but I still wanted to hear him say the words.


    “Julian, you can talk to me,” I said.


    “What is there to talk about? What does it matter if I was with Bridget?”


    “What matters is you,” I snapped. His attitude was starting to get to me. I was losing patience. “You tell


    me you are not okay. You are acting like a zombie. You aren’t giving me any straight answers.’


    Julian was quiet a moment more. I took a huffy breath, ready to reallyy into him. I turned to face him.


    The stars were beautiful, but I wanted to see his face while he continued to try to bulls hit me.


    Julian continued to look upward. “Yes, I was with Bridgetst night.”


    I waited for more. When it didn’te, I opened my mouth. “Julian,” I pressed.


    “It’s fine, Piper,” Julian said. “I’m handling it.” (1)


    I crossed my arms. He was dismissing me again. I was on myst nerve. This was our one chance to


    talk, I wasn’t about to let him get out of it this easily. Especially because it seemed more and more


    likely that he actually did say those things about mest night.


    For him to be such a jerk now, what else could I believe?


    “Why would you tell Bridget that you are only with me because you feel bad for me? That I’m a terrible


    person? And all the other things you said?”


    Now, finally, he did turn to look at me. And finally, there was an expression on his face. Confusion.


    “What?”


    “Bridget said you badmouthed me,” I said.


    “She talked to you?”


    “Julian.” I needed him to focus. “Why would you say those things?”


    He shook his head. “Piper. I swear to G od, I have no idea what you are talking about.”