The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 0312

“What the hell is going on in here?” Nicholas asked. “Julian?”

I was too stunned to speak, but when I looked over to Julian, I saw that he was smirking.

Nicholas turned his rage on the producers. “Why are you filming this?”

The producer jumped, then bowed much lower than was necessary. “It was approved by the crown, Your Royal Highness. The King himself commanded us!”

“Retract your claws before you hurt someone,” Julian said casually as he rose to his feet. This isn’t their fault.”

”

Nicholas reared back to him. “Then explain it to me, brother. And while you are giving that explanation, you can explain why you felt it necessary to summon me to witness this.” The way he say this, with such open disgust, made me want to crawl into a hole.

“Our parents thought we should utilize Piper’s popularity for the benefit of the whole,” Julian said. “Because nothing says, we’re worthy of being liked by commoners, than having one of those commoners make out with a prince.”

“A prince,” Nicholas said. “Why did it have to be you?”

I felt like Nicholas too easily accepted Julian’s explanation of why we were being filmed kissing, and jumped straight to why not me?

“Nicholas,” I said.

When he saw me, he seemed to remember the other things too. “Piper shouldn’t need to do this with anyone.”

“Tell that to Dad,” Julian said. “Or better yet, how about those protesters outside? I bet

they’d love to hear from you.”

Nicholas glowered. He frowned so deeply, I thought steam might come out of his ears. He turned to the producers again. “I want to see the footage. Whatever you do, you cannot use

that kiss.”

To Julian, I hissed, “Did you really summon him here?”

so casually, like

my own anger spi king. “You are trying

have to know about

think he wouldn’t have seen it on TV? Trust me, Piper.

way, it’s more fun.”

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cruel,” I

a harsh edge. “He deserves this and more

again. Her name made me pause and ebbed some of my anger. When I opened my mouth again, I half-forgot where I was and what was happening. I so very much wanted to ask him for the truth of what happened between him, Nicholas,

I could, and I was ashamed

Nicholas said. His hands were in tight fists, but

voice, likely because he kept glancing at Elva asleep on the chair. “If someone had come to

disapproved, and we’d be in the same terrible pit as before,” Julian said. He motioned toward me. “Piper agreed to all this. I didn’t just spring it on her. She

pairs of eyes fall on

you asked? And you agreed

days ago, I had pushed

and they were sound. But nothing felt good enough now,

to keep my voice steady, so as not to betray the quaking emotion within me.

to throw my arms around Nicholas and smother him in my kisses until he knew that he was the

I couldn’t move. I had

curled my hands around my knees, holding on to keep from

do this, you know. No matter what Julian or my father

know,” I said, a lie. I had to do this, to protect Nicholas himself. I wouldn’t let the people rebel. I wouldn’t let them tear

Nicholas frowned.

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at my obvious lie. “We’re getting there. But it really is the best plan to quell all this talk of rebellion. Come on, Nicholas. You know it’s

want to talk to Piper

he looked at me. His lifted

you want?

corner of the

truth now, Piper,” he said. He dropped his gaze to me. The