Chapter 368

Chapter 0368

Then, to me, Nicholas spoke again, "Look at me, Piper."

I hesitated at first, but he didn't move from his spot in front of me, like he was patiently waiting me out.

So, eventually, I chanced a glance upwards.

Nicholas captured my gaze with his own and held me captive. He held so much emotion in his eyes - blatant affection - it stole my breath away.

"You know who I'd rather be with," he said.

He meant me.

And the words stole my breath away.

I'd rather be with him too. "Nicholas..."

"Find me," he said, "before you make a move on Jane..." He sighed. "Or find Julian. Just don't do anything on your own."

This felt like a pivotal moment, like he was barring his heart, and it was time for me to do the same. I wouldn't disappoint him. I wanted him to know his affections were reciprocated, in case there was any question about it.

"I'll find you," I said. It was a difficult thing to promise. No one knew when or how Jane would appear. It was likely that Nicholas would be in an entirely different part of the room. But no, I would still make an effort to get to him.

I would try, anyway. Because he wanted me to.

Slowly, he nodded. "Thank you." But I could see with the flash of uncertainty in his eyes that he didn't quite believe me.

"I'll have my necklace," I said, gesturing to where the full moon pendant rested just above my bosom.

Nicholas frowned deeper at it. "Yes, but..."

Beside us, Julian cleared his throat, making us both jump. This added a few more inches between us.

"If you are done stealing my girlfriend, Nicholas?" Julian said. "I think your fangirls got enough pictures of you two to satisfy them."

We all glanced back at the overeager group of women who had inched closer to where they now stood. Many looked embarrassed at having finally been noticed. The woman with the glasses was still recording on her phone, unashamed.

Julian made a show of offering his arm to Piper. Piper quickly accepted, afraid any hesitation would come off poorly on the video.

Nicholas glowered, but I couldn't point it out to him without making it seem like I was speaking to him privately again. So I just accepted that he would glare. The girl with glasses moved her fingers over the screen like she was zooming in.

Julian all but rushed me away from Nicholas, and the group of girls.

*You two all huddled and broody in the corner," Julian said. He spoke with an upbeat cantor, but I knew I was being lectured. "Did you forget the purpose of tonight's event?"

"To catch Jane..."

"No!" Julian swooped me onto the dance floor.

Suddenly his hand was on my hip and the other clutching mine as he pulled me into step with the rest of the dancers.

"We are supposed to look like we are having fun, remember? All sunshine and happiness, to let all the good people at home know how great everything is," Julian said. His smile was bright and wide, and it didn't look fake at all.

God he was a good actor. Dangerously good.

If he wasn't a prince, he could have been a movie star. He had the looks and the talent, not that I would admit either to him. He was smug enough as it was.

But he was right in this too. I hadn't forgotten the theme of the night's event exactly, I'd just been preoccupied.

"I've always believed in putting art into practice," Julian said as he spun me around. I felt light as a feather in his capable hands. "So maybe rather than pretending to have fun... how about we actually have some?"