The Luna Choosing Game

Yet would the public questioning be enough to deter the King? I had to think so. After all, public opinion was swaying much of what happened here.

As long as I continued to earn the public’s favor, then I should be safe.

I hoped.

“I have an idea,” I said. “But there’s one thing I have to tell you first. About my private audience with the

King,”

Nicholas expression was carefully neutral, but Mark’s worry was outright.

“Tell us,” Nicholas said.

I closed my eyes, hesitating for a moment. I had kept this secret from Nicholas, wanting to protect him, but if I was going to take this risk, I would need strong allies. No one was a stronger ally than the oldest

prince and his Beta. 2

“The King knows about our past,” I said.

When I was met with silence, I peeked open my eyes. Nicholas’s brow was pulled together.

“I never told him.”

“I know. He said that,” I said. “But he… He had you followed, Nicholas. He likely had me followed too. He

knew things, and I

“Did he know about Elva?”

“I don’t know. He didn’t say if he did. But he’s terrifying. The very walls have ears for him. I wouldn’t be

surprised if he knew everything.”

Nicholas crumpled the cards in his hand. “He threatened you.”

I lowered my gaze.

“Piper?”

“Yes. He said if I told anyone about you and me, he would… well, the threat was clear.”

He slammed his hand down on the table. “That will not happen.”

The naise roused Elva. “Mommy?”

Nicholas immediately cooled his anger. “Sorry,” he whispered to me.

“I’m here, honey,” I called, rising from the table. I touched Nicholas’s shoulder as I passed, offering him quick forgiveness. Then I walked around the bed to help settle Elva again.

“Is Nick–lass here too?” she asked.

“He is.” I brushed some of the hair back from her face. “He’s keeping us safe. Mark, too.”

Elva nodded, easily accepting that.

“Is the garden party soon?” Someone must have told her already about the next challenge.

“A few days.”

“Will I get another pretty dress?”

“Of course.”

H

“Will I get lots of food?”

“Undoubtedly.

“Will I get to ride a wolf?”

I laughed lightly. “That might be harder to provide.”

“If the princess wants to ride a wolf at the garden party, then so be it.” Nicholas approached the other side of the bed. He smiled down at me and Elva. “I’ve been thinking having more protection around Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g

wouldn’t be harmful, after all.”

I lifted a brow. “Surely the wolves wouldn’t be allowed in the palace.”

“Not all of them,” Nicholas said. “Maybe only two.”

Mark stood as well. “I will begin the arrangements at once.”

I

“Ask them first,” I said. I could guess the two he wanted to employ were Night and Silver, but I hated to

bother them, pulling them out of the wild and into a stuffy castle, when they were meant to be free.

Nicholas nodded, and conveyed the request to Mark.

“Of course, sir. Piper.” Then Mark backed away, out of the room.

“Does this mean I get to ride Night again?” Elva asked.

“We’re asking him.” I said, before Nicholas could blindly agree. I’d leamed quickly that he had trouble

Later, when it turned to evening, and Nicholas had to go, I walked him to the door.

“You never told me your plan,” he said.

I gave him a soft smile. I felt better telling him now, knowing he knew of his father’s threats. He would protect Elva and me, of that I was certain.

If we played our cards right, the public would help, too.

Sol told him, “We take charge of the narrative.”