Chapter 209

For a long moment, I was totally stunned. Then, I moved at once, covering my kiss-swollen red lips with my hand.

Nicholas came around to stand in front of me, blocking me from the camera’s view. He looked much more put together than I felt.

Nathan gave him a curious look as the cameras moved in closer.

“Piper requested some advice on how to handle her relationship with Julian,” Nicholas said, offering up the lie as an explanation before one could be asked for. “That damn closet is the only place we could speak privately on the matter.”

Nathan narrowed his eyes with suspicion.

Nicholas shrugged. “Perhaps it is for the best if we destroy that footage. We wouldn’t want anyone at home to get the wrong impression.”

The producer straightened. “But Your Royal Highness, this footage is much more valuable than –”

“You will see that it’s destroyed, won’t you, Nathan?” Nicholas said, bluntly interrupting.

“Yes, that would be for the best,” Nathan said, frowning. “Though in the future, perhaps his highness might be more cautious where he holds his private discussions.”

Nicholas’s voice lowered. “I’ll take that under advisement.”

I wasn’t sure about royal protocol but I had a feeling a prince receiving a reprimand from a Beta, even the King’s Beta, wasn’t appropriate.

Nicholas glared at Nathan, and Nathan lowered his chin in submission.

“Thank you, Your Royal Highness,” Nathan said, much more courteously. Then, he turned his attention to the producer. “Now, about that footage…”

Nicholas placed his hand on my shoulder and guided me from the scene.

I looked back as we walked.

The producer looked at me, his gaze dipped down to my neck. I immediately covered it with my hands, wondering what he saw.

Nicholas glanced at me but didn’t say anything.

“How badly does it look?” I asked.

“It’s not that noticeable,” Nicholas said, though his voice wavered with dishonesty.

“Nicholas?” I wanted the truth.

He sighed. “Maybe wear a scarf for the next few days…”

I kept my hands near my neck the rest of the walk to my room. Once I was inside, I quickly rushed into the bathroom to see my reflection. Looking in the mirror, I could see that love bites littered my neck. Up and down my throat were red marks.

I looked something like I’d been attacked by an angry giant mosquito.

I immediately left the bathroom to head into the closet instead, and only relaxed when I had a scarf wrapped twice around my neck.

When I walked back into the bedroom, Charlotte looked up from the sewing machine to give me a lifted brow expression.

I shrugged helplessly.

Falling under Nicholas’s spell in the coat closet had not been on my agenda. But when I was around him, it was like I couldn’t help myself. He was so strong and handsome and kind. All I wanted was to be closer to him. Even, it seemed, to my own detriment.

The only solution, then, was to avoid him entirely. And the only way to ensure that I could avoid him was to simply not leave my room.

Some might call it hiding, to not leave my room for three days in a row. Charlotte rolled her eyes as she brought me and Elva three meals a day.

Elva was as confused as anyone. “Is something wrong, Mommy?”

“I just don’t feel very well,” I said. It wasn’t untrue. I was working on making myself sick over this.

Elva tilted her head. “Is that why you’ve been wearing scarves? You’re cold?”

“Uh…” I didn’t want to lie to my little girl, but I sure as heck didn’t want to have to explain the marks on my neck. They were blessedly fading. If I had a wolf, they would have been gone by now. As it was, my human body was so weak.

“I guess I am a little cold,” I said.

Elva, the sweetheart, instantly gave me a hug. “To warm you up!”

The night before the event, I couldn’t hide anymore. Julian himself was waiting at my door, expecting me to attend the final meeting between him, Nicholas, and Veronica. We had to iron out the details of the plan.

If I missed it, Nicholas would undoubtedly take the cuff and make his own plans. He’d exclude me, giving me some excuse about protection, while selflessly throwing himself into the same danger I’d face.

I couldn’t let him do that.

So I looped my arm with Julian’s and let him lead me to the sitting room where Nicholas and Veronica were waiting. When Julian and I entered, Nicholas glared at where Julian’s arm held mine. On reflex, I retracted my arm from Julian’s.

Julian didn’t seem outwardly bothered by it. He sauntered into the room like he owned it. “Careful with your glare, Nicholas. Hold it too long, and your face might stay that way.”

Nicholas growled lightly.

Veronica stood from the couch. She was holding the box with the cuff again. “Enough child play. The event is tomorrow evening, and we are no closer to deciding on a plan.”

“It’s difficult when we aren’t sure how Jane will make her move,” Julian said. “I’ve been keeping my ear to the ground, and though I have a few leads, I can’t act yet.”

“Leads?” I asked, coming into the circle the other three had formed. “What leads?”

“I can’t tell you, yet,” Julian said. “They are merely rumors as of now.”

“We can’t act on rumors,” Nicholas said.

Julian shrugged and nodded.

“I’ll take the cuff,” I said. Nicholas opened his mouth, likely to argue, yet before he could, I pushed forward. “Whatever Jane’s other plans, we know she will personally enjoy mocking me. The odds she will come to me are higher than anyone else.”

Nicholas furrowed his brow, but his mouth closed. He knew I was right.

“Besides,” I said, laughing a little to hide my own sadness and fear. “As the only one without a wolf, if she gets the cuff away from me and tries to use it on me instead, it won’t have any effect.”

Veronica held the box to me. I accepted it.

“If we’re done –“ Veronica started.

“Wait,” Julian said. Looking at me, he fished his hand into his inside coat pocket. He retrieved a beautiful necklace: a full moon pendant on a long silver chain.

“Another tracker?” I asked.

He nodded. “Come here and turn around.”

I obeyed. Then he draped the necklace around my neck. He brushed my hair to the side and clasped the necklace behind my neck.

I carefully avoided looking at Nicholas, but I could still feel his jealous irritation rankle over me, as if I was the one jealous.

To show their was no partiality on my part, I asked, “Everyone will receive the signal this time, right?”

Julian didn’t answer right away. Not until I turned around and looked at him.

“Yes. Nicholas and I will receive a message with your GPS location. All you have to do is press down on the moon.”

“Thank you,” I said.

“Piper.” Nicholas’s voice was growly. In addition to the jealousy, was also worry. I could see it in his eyes as I faced him once more.

Things felt strained between us. Yes, we’d shared a fantastic moment there in that closet, but it had not cleared any of the uncertainty between us. If anything, I only felt more confused and embarrassed than before.

I could share in Nicholas’s worry though. I certainly wasn’t looking forward to seeing Jane again.

I was afraid for what I would have to do. I’d still do it, but… I understood as much as Nicholas and Julian and likely Veronica, that there was a less than zero chance of me being hurt tomorrow night.

“Please,” Nicholas said, softly now. “Promise me you will be careful.”

If harm was coming for me, no promise would save me. But for Nicholas, I would try.

“I promise,” I told him, and hoped I could keep it.