The Luna Choosing Game

I passed out from the intensity of the pleasure.

When I reawakened some time later, I was bundled up in Nicholas’s arms, resting against his chest. I was entirely surrounded with warmth, and contentment swirled within me. Never in my life had I felt so satisfied and safe.

Nicholas kissed the top of my head. “How are you?” He must have felt me rousing.

“I’m good,” I said with a soft sigh. “Great, even.”

He hummed. “I’m glad.” He sounded quite satisfied with himself. Honestly, he should.

I started to turn toward him. “You need to let me return the favor.”

His arms tightened around me, keeping me still. “Another time. This time was all about you.”

“But – ”

“Piper,” he said gently. “I’m fine. I promise.”

He was so reassuring, that I immediately relaxed. “Next time,” I said. “It’s about you.”

He kissed my cheek this time. “Whatever you want.”

We stayed together in his room until just before dawn, holding and dozing, and trading soft kisses. Then, after we dressed, Nicholas led me back toward my room. In the hallway just around the corner, where the guards couldn’t see, Nicholas pulled me into his arms again and soundly kissed me.

“Thank you for our night together,” I whispered.

He shook his head. “You don’t have to thank me.”

“I’m pretty sure I do.” I felt light all over. He had satisfied me so thoroughly. “I really, really think that I do.”

He laughed a little, then kissed me again.

“Thank you for not pushing me,” I said. I worried my bottom lip with my teeth. Maybe it wasn’t in fashion to wait to have penetrative sex anymore, but I still wanted to wait.

“You definitely don’t need to thank me for respect you, Piper.” Nicholas hugged me tightly for a moment. “I know you want to wait for your true mate…”

His voice trailed off, and a bit of tension added into his shoulders. I could sense his jealousy, thinking about me with another person, but he didn’t say a word. I combed my fingers through the short hairs at the back of his neck, offering what comfort I could.

I would never say so aloud but if I could so easily imagine a world where we were people of different circumstances. If we had met when we were both common or both nobles, maybe we could have mated with each other.

I could so easily imagine a life with Nicholas beside me for the rest of our lives.

But our compatibility was never our problem. Instead, what divided us was simply our birthrights. Nicholas was a prince, mostly likely to be the heir. And me? I was just some girl.

“I admire you for wanting to wait,” Nicholas said, his voice strained but earnest. “But in the meantime, I hope you will continue to allow me to give you pleasure when we can.”

“I would like that,” I said. “Very much.” I wanted Nicholas for as long as I could have him, even knowing it would end in tragic heartbreak. For now, I was filled with only affection and appreciation, and

occasionally desire.

He smiled and I smiled too. We kissed a few minutes more before we started to hear the footsteps of servants coming to work, and we begrudgingly had to separate.

The day continued as normal. I thought perhaps Nathan might collect us to let us know of the next event, but it seemed, after everything that had happened with Terry, the royal family needed time to get their own house in order before they would start worrying about the contest again.

This was fine with me. In the moments of respite, Elva and I went for long walks around the gardens. Or we played cards with Susie and Charlotte or Mark. We had tea parties and tag matches. It was great to see Elva laugh and play and enjoy simply being a kid.

Toward the end of the day, when Elva was napping, and I was coming down to the dining room for dinner, Julian stopped me and pulled me aside.

“I’ve spoken with…” His voice trailed as his gaze dripped down to my neck.

Without my wolf, I didn’t heal as fast as other shifters. So the line of love marks Nicholas had left the night before were still dotted along the column of my neck. I had tried to cover them with makeup but Julian was always so observant. His attention veered straight to them like he had a hickey tractor beam.

“I see you’ve had your fun,” Julian said. He smirked but it had a sharp edge. “My brother’s handiwork, no doubt.”

My face burned, likely beet red. I dipped my face down, hoping to hide my neck with my hair. But it was already too late. He had clearly seen and hiding it now would not change that.

Still, to stop my blush, I felt I had to do something.

“Well, I’m glad at least one of us is having some fun,” he said.

I lifted my gaze, a bit surprised. Julian had a playboy reputation, and though I knew that and breaking their hearts.

Not lately, then. Or perhaps I misjudged him?

His smirk added teeth, and he looked positively sinful. No, I definitely hadn’t misjudged him. He was a heartbreaker for sure.

I rolled my eyes at his scandalous look. “So go get a date. I’m not stopping you.”

“Maybe I will,” he said and laughed a bit too forcefully. When he stopped, he recovered quickly, returning to a more serious mood, even though his smile remained. “But this isn’t why I stopped you.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“I’ve spoken with my informant,” Julian said. “They are ready to talk to you. Right now, in fact, if you are up for it.”

I had been on my way to dinner. A moment ago, I had been hungry enough for my stomach to growl. But now, hearing this, that necessity seemed so far away that it was laughable.

“I’m up for it,” I said at once.

Julian nodded and beckoned me to follow him. I fell into step at his side. We didn’t go terribly far, just to a nearby sitting room.

Inside, Veronica was sitting in the middle of a sofa. She looked up as Julian and I entered. She seemed the same as always. Did the informant want to speak with her too?

I looked at Julian for an explanation.

He met my gaze, then dipped his head toward Veronica as if that explained everything. Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

It took a minute for everything to sink in with me. It all seemed so unbelievable. Veronica was someone who had been in the competition from the start.

He was now telling me that she was his informant? She was the one who was involved in the underground organization? She was the one with magical abilities?

Julian closed the door behind us.

Slowly, I made my way to Veronica, then sat beside her on the couch. Her eyes never left me the entire trek.

“You don’t believe it,” she said.

“I have questions,” I admitted.

She was wearing a solid blue sweater and gray slacks. Slowly, she began to lift up her sweater, revealing a tattoo along the side of her ribs: an upside down wolf skull.

“I was once a secret member of the underground organization,” Veronica said. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.”