Chapter 187

The next morning, as I was preparing for the day, a messenger came to the door to call me to a meeting with the King. I immediately put back the jeans and t-shirt I was going to wear and selected a dress instead. Charlotte helped me dress in a hurry, and then I rushed to follow the messenger.

I was led to Nicholas’s private rooms where the King was pacing back and forth in front of the secret passageway opening on the wall. Nicholas and Julian were there as well. Nicholas stood straight, as if at attention. Julian had his arms crossed.

When the King noticed me, he stopped pacing. “Now that we are all here, I want someone to explain to me exactly what happened here last night. The guard told me what they could, but there are many blanks that need filled in.”

I swallowed hard, not sure where to even begin. The King looked at me with such intense focus that I felt vulnerable in a way I didn’t like. Under such scrutiny, it was difficult to get my thoughts in order, especially my necessary lies.

Fortunately, Julian stepped in first. “The underground organization attempted a bold move last night by attempting to kidnap Nicholas.”

“Nicholas?” The King’s sharp gaze snapped toward his eldest son. “Why wasn’t your guard up against such an attack? The guard found no sign of forced entry.”

I held my breath. Please don’t mention Jane!

“I mistakenly believed that the person at my door was someone who could be trusted,” Nicholas said, keeping it vague, thank goodness.

The King narrowed his eyes. “Who?”

Nicholas hesitated only an instant, before replying, “A guard.”

“You can hardly fault him for trusting a guard, father,” Julian said, smoothly sliding in. “At that time of night, he likely thought it was an emergency and wasn’t thinking for his own safety.”

“Well, you should have been,” the King said. “We have enough chaos around here, without my oldest prince to go missing.”

Nicholas swallowed. “Yes, sir.”

“Yeah, and you were concerned about his well-being too, right, father?” Julian added. He smirked but it had an edge. “He could have died last night.”

“Unlikely, if they meant to kidnap him,” the King said, turning away. He switched his focus to me now. “And what was your part in this, Piper? I’ve heard many accounts that you were present at these events.”

His eye twitched, like he expected me to deny it.

“I was here,” I said.

“Piper was with me last night,” Julian said. “We arrived together to the scene.”

The King blinked. “…together?”

“Yes,” Julian continued. He walked across the room to stand at my side. Easily, he slipped his arm around my waist, resting his hand on my hip. “Together.”

Behind the King, Nicholas glared at Julian. Julian just smiled brighter.

“I see,” the King said, and eased somewhat. He smiled a little. “Yes. Good. Very good. Did the cameras see you?”

“Perhaps we should focus on the task at hand,” Nicholas said.

The King turned to him. “Yes, you’re right. The underground organization is growing bolder by the minute. I cannot have them threaten my livelihood.”

“And your kids,” Julian added. “Don’t forget we’re flesh and blood.”

“What else would I be talking about, Julian?” the King snapped.

Julian closed his mouth. His fingers tightened on my hip, ever so slightly.

“I will need to speak to Joseph about this,” the King said, and stormed from the room without another word – or a backwards look.

I hated him a little then, for not giving his children the comfort they were looking for in him. Nicholas and Julian seemed fine, standing tall, but this was not the behavior a father should have after one of his children was nearly kidnapped or killed.

If someone had tried to take Elva, I would have burned down the whole palace in search of the attacker. I suspected that was also true for Nicholas and Julian. Thank God they managed to grow some empathy even growing up in an environment that lacked any.

“I guess that’s that,” Julian said, and snaked his arm away from me.

Nicholas looked at the dark opening in the wall, a stern expression on his face.

I felt powerless. There was nothing I could say to replace a father’s love.

With the King’s absence, Nicholas spoke more truthfully. “This escapade is only going to last for so long. Eventually we’re going to have to reveal the truth about Jane.”

Julian stepped closer to him and lowered his voice. “It will be easier to explain when Jane is caught. Else we will only cast doubt on Piper herself.”

I joined them by the window. I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to keep Jane a secret, to keep Elva and the world from knowing about my twin. But wasn’t it selfish to want to keep this secret, when Jane was actively endangering Nicholas?

If the guards had known about my twin… Even if the result would be in expelling me for my relation, then they might have caught Jane before she ever had a chance to hurt Nicholas.

My secret wasn’t just hurting people, it could get someone killed.

“Maybe it’s worth it… to tell the truth.”

“No,” Julian said fiercely. “The King will not believe it. He’ll punish you instead. We need Jane in hand before we go forward.” He looked at Nicholas. “Surely you see that?”

Nicholas looked at me. “We’ll keep quiet for now.” A muscle ticked in his jaw.

“I won’t risk you getting hurt,” I said.

He shook his head. “I won’t risk you being cast out or worse. I can protect myself, Piper. Julian is right, in this instance…” His gaze shifted, and he glared at Julian.

Julian laughed. “Thanks for the confidence.”

I understood then, that Nicholas initial reservation might have had less to do with the danger and everything to do with the game Julian and I would now need to continue to play.

“You’ll have to keep up this fake dating ruse now,” Nicholas said. “The King thinks you two are fooling around for real. He will expect that behavior to continue.”

Julian shrugged. “So he will. It’s not the end of the world. No one dies if Piper has to kiss me.”

Nicholas glowered.

My heart sank. “Julian,” I said. “Maybe you could give me a moment to speak to Nicholas alone.”

Julian glanced between us and sighed. “Fine.” With reluctance, he turned and left.

When he was gone, I stepped closer to Nicholas. Anyone could come in at any moment, so I couldn’t risk too much affection. But, alternatively, I couldn’t do nothing. So I reached out and placed my hand on his forearm.

He looked down at my hand. “I hate this.”

“I know,” I said. “I’m sorry.”

“No.” He looked up at my face. “I’m sorry, Piper. If it were up to me –”

“I know,” I said, stopping him. I didn’t want to hear the could-have-beens. The never-would-bes.

Nicholas’s jaw clenched. Then he spoke. “It should be you and me. Not him. No one will listen. No one will see.”

My heart warmed at the anger in his voice. He wanted to be with me. I wanted to be with him too.

But the world just wasn’t that kind.

“With Julian and me, it’s not real,” I reminded him. “It’s just an act.” I swallowed hard. “It’s not fake with you.”

His gaze softened. “Piper…”

“If it were up to me, Nick, it would be us.”

He inched closer to me.

It would never be up to us, and that hurt. But knowing that it was something we both wished for was a soothing balm.

“Someday…” he started, but couldn’t finish.

I knew why.

No matter how much we wished it, there was no someday for us.