Chapter 266

I didn’t see Julian or Bridget again until later in the day when it was time for the final show. By then, the cameras had been set and the guests had arrived to fulfill their role as the audience. The King and Queen took their spots on their raised thrones. Joyce was notably absent.

He was likely still down in the dungeons. I briefly wondered if Veronica was having any success with him.

The other candidates, Nicholas, Julian, Elva, and I were all in a sitting room that served as backstage. A curtain had been arranged that blocked the pathway from the room to the sides of the stage so that we could come and go freely as needed without the crowd seeing.

Nathan fumbled around, trying to direct as best he could. Though it was Bridget mainly giving orders. Yet even she wouldn’t be able to oversee us all the time today. She was in most of the scenes.

Four times before the show started, I tried to approach Julian backstage. Each time, he spotted me and made a wide arch around me.

I still hadn’t decided whether to fully believe Bridget’s story about what happened last night, but every strange behavior today only lent credence to it.

Even Nicholas noticed, as he came to stand at my side. “Did you and Julian have a fight?”

“I don’t know,” I said honestly. “I don’t think so.”

Given the history between the two brothers and Bridget, I didn’t want to share Bridget’s accusation. If any part of it was true, Julian was likely embarrassed and wouldn’t want Nicholas to know.

“He’s pissed about something,” Nicholas said. He placed his hand on my shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. “Good luck today.”

“Thank you,” I said. “But isn’t it bad luck to talk about luck at all before a show. Aren’t you supposed to say, break a leg?”

“Maybe. I genuinely don’t know,” Nicholas admitted. “But I wouldn’t wish that on you even if that is what I’m supposed to say.”

I smiled at him. “Don’t forget I have a wolf now. A broken leg wouldn’t keep me down for long.”

“I’m grateful,” he said. “But I still wouldn’t wish you any pain, no matter how briefly.”

I placed my hand over his on my shoulder and squeezed. What I was most grateful for was him, though I couldn’t say that here, with so many people around.

“Nicholas!” Bridget called. “We have to get to the stage.” She stopped a few feet off. Glancing between the two of us, her gaze zeroed in immediately to his hand on my shoulder.

Nicholas didn’t move it. Not until he smiled at me, and I nodded in understanding. Then and only then did he pull away and follow Bridget down the makeshift hallway to the stage.

Outside, the roar of the crowd was dying down. The cameras were likely on. The show was about to begin.

I walked over to where Susie was helping to retie Elva’s ribbons in her hair. She’d already pulled one free.

Nearby, Tiffany was practicing her lines too loudly, and several others hushed her.

Veronica was meditating. Jessica was pacing. Olivia and Lilliana looked bored.

Julian had vanished.

I sighed.

Susie, watching me, misread what was bothering me. “Do you think they will actually kiss today?”

At once, my stomach twisted up all over again. God, I had been so preoccupied worried about Julian that I had forgotten all about that incoming nightmare.

That made the waiting twenty times worse.

Eventually, Nicholas came back. Bridget remained on stage. She was in almost every scene.

Nicholas walked straight back to me and said, “I need to speak with you privately for a moment.”

“Of course,” I said.

The only place to speak privately back here was an adjoining bathroom. Fortunately, like most all of the bathrooms in this place, it had its own little powder room before you entered any room with a toilet. We went to that powder room now. Nicholas checked the entire bathroom was empty then locked the door.

“Nick? What is it?” I asked.

He turned to me, walked right up to me, and said, “Something better than good luck.”

Then he kissed me. I wrapped my arms around him. His hands gripped my waist. He guided me back against the lip of the counter then hoisted me up so that I was sitting on top of it. My legs went around his waist. His tongue slipped into my mouth.

Every time I kissed him was as good and as breathtaking as the very first time. He had a way of snatching my heart from me with his closeness. I never had a chance of moving on from him, when my body and soul yearned for him so completely.

When we were like this, together, even in stolen moments, I felt so at home. Whole, in a way I never feel when I’m alone.

His hands were firm on my hips. From this new height atop the counter, I had much better access to his chest, so I took full advantage of that, running my hands up and down his torso.

God, how I wanted to undress him and have my way with his right here. But we didn’t have much time before one or the other of us would be called back to the stage. So I was careful not to disturb his costume. His must have been doing the same. His hands never strayed from my hips.

Too soon we broke our kiss to breathe. Nicholas dropped his head so that his forehead rested against mine. I closed my eyes, soaking in the feel of him so close to me, of us sharing the same air.

“That’s what I needed,” he said. “Now I can make it through.”

“It’s not so bad,” I said lightly.

“I hate the breakup scene with you,” he said, “And every scene that follows.”

Oh. His kiss with Bridget.

“You are the only want I want to do this with,” he whispered, voice quiet in the already quiet room.

My heart leapt forward in my chest. I felt the same.

“It’s just for show,” I reminded him. “It doesn’t have to mean anything.”

“Despite this event, I’m not an actor,” Nicholas said. “I have no intention of kissing anyone without meaning it.”

“Nick…” I didn’t know how to convey that I understood. That no matter what happened, I would forgive him for it.

But he seemed so hard set. Bridget must have been pushing him pretty hard.

And Nicholas was nothing if not stubborn. I was surprised she didn’t remember that from their youth. The more Nicholas was pushed, the less likely he was to move.

Nicholas kissed me again, with more passion this time, greedily claiming my mouth with his own. His hands lifted up along my back and he tugged me closer to him.

I didn’t care anymore if the costumes were damaged. I didn’t care about anything but him and this. Us.

Eventually a gentle knock sounded on the door. Veronica’s steady voice came through. “Bridget is looking for you two. It’s almost time for your scenes.”

We had to part.

I looked at Nicholas and laughed. He had my lipstick smeared all over his lips. I had half a mind to let him leave like that. Show Bridget who Nicholas wanted to kiss.

But… that would only inevitably come back to bite the two of us.

After all, we were not open with our relationship.

I was now, and likely always would be, Nicholas’s secret.