Chapter 40

My eyes went wide. As poor as I felt, I still pushed myself upright on the bed – until he placed a hand on my shoulder and eased me back down.

“I won’t give up,” I told him. “I can’t.”

“I wouldn’t ask you to, except for your own safety, Piper. If you truly don’t care about being Luna, like you say, then you should care more for yourself. The people here only want to do you harm.”

“It doesn’t matter what happens to me. Can’t you see? I will stay. I’ll do anything they want to make sure that Elva continues to get the best medical care.”

“Even if this happens again?”

“Even then.”

Crossing his arms, he let out a quiet sigh. “I’d forgotten how stubborn you could be.”

“Only with important things.”

I felt a bit strange with him standing so rigidly beside the bed while I was within it. I motioned toward the edge of the bed.

“You can sit if you want.”

“I shouldn’t,” he said. Yet after a moment, he propped himself on the very edge of the mattress, as far from me as he could be. “You asked me not to leave. Why?”

Truthfully, I wasn’t entirely certain. I had just wanted him near. “I don’t want to be alone.”

“I’m sure your maids would sit with you.”

“I don’t trust my maids.”

His piercing gaze focused on me again. “The gloves.”

I nodded. “They knew my gloves were too short, but they sent me ahead without a word.” I smoothed out the blankets on my lap. “Though I guess, even if I had been warned then, those that want to do me harm would have found another way.”

“That’s why I thought you should leave.”

No. I’d never let them win like that, by scaring me off. “I don’t know why they can’t just wait for the elimination. Everyone knows I’ll be the first to go.”

“You seem certain.”

“I know I’m only here as a publicity stunt. I’ve served my purpose.”

He hummed in acknowledgement but didn’t reply.

I was finally beginning to warm up, and with that warmth, sleepiness followed. In my exhaustion, my usual filters fell away, and words came much easier.

“You can’t be happy with the way things are,” I said.

He gave me a curious look. I had to explain.

“Dozens of women competing for the attention of three men is so ridiculous. And in front of cameras? How are you ever supposed to find someone you love?”

“The cameras are essential,” Nicholas said. “The royal family needs a strong public image. The fate of the kingdom might depend on it.”

“But couldn’t you invite the public into your lives after you found the right person for you?”

He looked away. “None of us have found our mates on our own, Piper. The selection is a necessity.”

I refused to believe that someone like Nicholas would have trouble finding someone to love who could love him back. He wasn’t perfect, but even his flaws were endearing.

“The choosing game may seem superficial,” he said, “but it is accomplishing two tasks. Finding mates for me and my brothers, and winning over the people’s hearts.”

“I suppose it has accomplished a third task as well.”

His gaze returned to me. “What’s that?”

“It’s helping Elva.”

For the length of a heartbeat, he gave a soft smile. It was too quickly gone. “I’ll gladly take that as an accomplished third task.”

Even with his face returned to its passive normal, I felt more at ease with Nicholas now. Maybe he was starting to finally believe me when I said that I was only here for Elva, and that I had no desire to be Luna.

Maybe he was starting to respect me again.

I snuggled deeper into my blankets. I was feeling bold, and maybe a little flirty. “So, how’s the first task going? Have any of these girls managed to catch your eye?”

I wanted him to tease me. Maybe he would flirt back.

I should have known better.

He stood from the bed. “There are many girls here who would make good Lunas. Olivia is perhaps the strongest of the group.”

I don’t know what I had been expecting, but my stomach still twisted uncomfortably as he spoke of the other girls.

“She’s beautiful and cunning. And she has a strong following in the public. Lilliana has the proper demeanor. And then there’s –”

“Okay, that’s enough. I get the picture.”

Nicholas shrugged, as if to say, you asked.

I regretted that choice.

“Rest now,” Nicholas said. “I’ll send my physician to check on you.”

Without another word, he walked to the door and left me.

I was so confused. His rescue had been daring. For a moment, I had almost convinced myself that he still cared for me. But then when he had talked about those other girls…

Perhaps he only saved me out of a sense of duty. Maybe he would have done the same for any of the girls.

I pulled the covers over my head and groaned. The mixed messages were hard to decipher, and then, I wasn’t even certain what I wanted to be true.

Anna would be able to help me sort through it, but I had no way to talk to her. I hoped she was doing okay. I had no idea how she was paying for my half of the rent with me gone.

She probably found another roommate. I wondered what they were like.

I wished I could call her, but that was impossible. Since my phone was confiscated on the first day here, I had no way to communicate with the outside world.

Still, thinking about her and her steady comfort helped bring me some peace. I tried to imagine what she would say if I could talk to her.

If you are so sure you are going to be eliminated – which, I’m not convinced of, by the way – then you should enjoy every second you are there. Eat that good food. Walk through those gardens. Flirt with those princes.

The last of which, she would say with a wink.

Smiling at her imaginary antics, I drifted off to sleep.

With the doctor’s help, and no shortness of luck, I was able to recover by the next day with little more than a light cold. I had sniffles and a headache, but no fever. It felt like a miracle.

To keep Elva safe from my sickness, she was set up in another room for now with a permanent nanny. Mark stayed by her side at all times, guarding her.

I wished I could see her, but I’d never dare chance passing my cold onto her. With her weakened immune system, she would suffer a much worse sickness than me.

My slight illness could not keep me away from my other responsibilities of the game, however, and at midday, I was called down to the parlor with the rest of the candidates for an announcement.

When I entered the room, the other girls all kept fair distance from me. I didn’t mind. I felt too miserable to deal with any of their dramas today. I really just wanted to go back to bed.

Only Susie came over to see me, though she stood a few feet off to avoid my germs.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m not nearly as bad as I should be,” I said. “I’ll be fine in a few days.”

“Good. Elva’s been wanting you.”

“I miss her too. But thank you for looking out for her.”

Near the doorway, Nathan cleared his throat, claiming the attention of the room.

“I will now begin with the announcements,” he declared. Everyone inched closer to hear. “In exactly one week from today, the first elimination will be held. This gives you only a few more chances to raise your ranking.”

The girls began to whisper, but Nathan cleared his throat again. He wasn’t done.

“During that elimination, the 9 lowest ranking girls will be sent home.”

His words startled me. 9?