Chapter 0128

Nicholas

I hadn’t wanted to ask Lilliana on a second date, but after a threatening letter from the King this morning and the way he glared at me all dinner long, I knew I had very little choice in the matter. Especially if I

wanted to help protect Piper.

So I had pushed down the part of myself that revolted against the idea, and publicly asked Lilliana. As expected, she accepted simply and concisely with no outward reaction.

That was for the best, I knew. Emotions only complicated things. We didn’t need love between us to get married. Lilliana was best for the kingdom, so I would fall in line.

Even if my heart wanted something else…

Well, it didn’t matter what my heart wanted. I had shut off that part of myself three years before, and no resolution of misunderstandings was going to change that now. It was far too late to open myself up

again.

I wanted to forget about Piper. I wanted her and Elva safe and happy, but not. near me. They were dangerous. They reminded me how things could be, what happiness looked and felt like.

I couldn’t be happy. I had to be King.

But then Julian flaunted her in front of me. She looked gorgeous in the dress Lilliana had so poorly tried to emulate. Piper filled out the dress in a way Lilliana’s stick figure never could. Piper had such delicious

curves and…

Piper’s hip. I glared at it, hoping to set fire to

that ability before, but one could hope.

throttle Julian for staking claim on Piper, suggesting she belongs to him. But how could I deny it? I wasn’t in a place where I could step forward and

closed on the

jealousy seared inside

help remembering the heat of the oven as Piper and I had stood side by side in the kitchen the night before. She had turned to me, her brown

irresistible, I had leaned forward before I knew what I was

had wanted to kiss her so badly,

+15 BONUS

the oven timer had gone off and we had separated, I had played it off like it had been a mistake, or a trick of the moment, but it hadn’t been. I had wanted to kiss her

kiss her now.

knew it was impossible.

smiled at me in a vague sort

He knew what

for my sake. She was far too

nearby cameras, meanwhile, caught it

The princely mask easily slid into

Julian,” I said, hating every word. “That we have

competition.”

“Yes. Good for someone, alright.” His eyes slid to Lilliana, who gave

He didn’t say more.

With Lillie

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