?Chapter 0578


    Nichs continued to hold me, even as the ship neared the dock of the familiar ind. By this point, Julian had also joined us and was pacing back and forth in the small space in front of us. Veronica sat quietly nearby, observing all with watchful eyes. Jessica was stillying down, clutching her stomach.


    The crew worked to tie off the ship to the dock. I was ready to be on drynd again. Truthfully, I was ready to leave this ind. I didn''t think I''d avoid water for the rest of my life, but as it was at this moment, I didn''t even want to visit arge pool for a while. Forget the ocean.


    Nichs words were still echoing inside my head. He wasn''t going to let me go anywhere alone. I didn''t know if he meant while we were on the ind or for much longer. Just while we were on the ind, I could understand. For much longer, I was secretly hoping.


    My paranoia had not ebbed. For now, I was simply relieved that Prince Ronan did not jump out of the shadows at any point and murder me. Having Nichs helped keep those wild fears under control, at least in part. I still thought them, but now, I knew Nichs would protect me and that gave me peace.


    As we were waiting for the crew to give us the all clear so that we could go ashore, Bridget approached us. She walked right behind Julian''s back as he was pacing, moving closer to me.


    When Julian tumed, he spotted her, and then rushed to intercept. He held up his arm, blocking her path, keeping her from going farther.


    "Where do you think you are going?" Julian snapped. Any sympathy Julian had shown for Bridget was long gone now. He doesn''t even attempt to feign niceties for diplomacy''s sake. His voice now was as harsh and cold as I had ever heard it.


    It was strange to hear Julian''s voice, usually so full of life and teasing, bereft of emotion.


    Bridget looked at him. She smiled but her eyes were narrowed. The mismatched gave her an unnerving expression.


    "I merely wish to apologize once more to Piper," she said. Funny, I don''t remember her apologizing at all. When we had been in the water, she had shouted and used me of ruining her hair and makeup. "I want to clear the air before things get serious."


    Things were already serious.Content belong to N?velDráma. Org.


    "There''s no reason for us to all hold onto our hard feelings," she said.


    "No," Julian said. "Absolutely not."


    Bridget clucked her tongue. "This isn''t about you, Julian. This is solely between Piper and me. Don''t stand in my way."


    "You lost your right to speak privately with her the moment you pushed her into the water," Julian said. "At this point you''d be lucky if she doesn''t press charges on you."


    "Imitted no crime."


    "Assault at best. Attempted murder at worst," Julian said.


    "Ridiculous," Bridget snapped.Property ? of N?velDrama.Org.


    "Bridget," Nichs said. I felt his words vibrate through his chest under my ear. "If you are truly sorry, you can wait and formally apologize when we have all returned to the pce."


    That, I believed, was a fair trade-off.


    Bridget did not seem to agree with that. Her face twisted, bing sad and pleading, her bottom lip sticking out. "I can''t wait that long," she said. "What will the public think if it takes me so long to say sorry?"


    "If you didn''t want to look back in front of the public," Julian said, "then you should have thought of that before


    you shoved Piper into the fucking ocean!"


    "Julian," I said, recognizing his rising rage. I felt privileged to be one of the few he would rise so valiantly to protect, but he really didn''t need to right now. Bridget had already lost. Now she was just trying to damage control the situation.