Chapter 0186
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I couldn’t give up. There had to be a way out of this. I glanced around, desperate, but no one was
looking at me anymore. Even if they did see me, they wouldn’t notice Terry pressing himself against me
from the way he was so closely angled to my back.
I felt hopeless, powerless. I missed my wolf now more than ever, though I knew that even if I had a wolf,
I couldn’t lash out at the Queen’s brother without consequence. I’d take the consequence if it kept this
asshole away from me.
The only thing I could do now was struggle and make a scene. I devised a plan. I’d be shamed, maybe
even disqualified, but I’d be away from Terry, at least for now.
Though if I was disqualified and cast back onto the street, no cameras would follow me. It would be so
easy for Terry to find me and snatch me up without anyone knowing.
That alone stilled the elbow that I had planned to throw back into his gut. I’ve dealt with these kind of
assaults before. If I just stayed very still, maybe it would be over quickly. Maybe I could escape when he
was done.
“Piper! There you are!” Julian called. He and Nicholas, with Susie following closely behind, were walking
quickly toward me.
I could have cried seeing them. My friends. My saviors.
“Uncle, thank you for keeping Piper company, but we will take her off your hands now.” Julian gave Terry
a too–sharp smile. His brows were low, his eyes angry.
Nicholas, his face all stern lines, reached for me and physically tugged me away from Terry and to his
own side. He kept his arm around me as I let out a shaky breath.
“Boys.” Terry grit his teeth. “Your timing as always remains most unfortunate. I take it the little songbird
is to blame this time” His gaze landed on Susie.
The geoped and hid behind Julian
un tnted his head. Fortune, misfortune. It’s all relative, isn’t it? Let’s not forget that Piper is part of
this compaction, so she has other duties. Duties pertaining mainly to us, her suitors and not to you, an
derme you undertalled”
Terry’s hoped fully get res face. Rabe what i want Julian You should know that by now
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Terry narrowed his eyes at Nicholas. Then he shrugged, faking nonchalance. “Time will tell.” It was a threat. We all knew it. But
he made no further comment and simply walked away.
With Terry’s departure I could breathe again, and think again. I looked at my position, tucked into Nicholas’s side, clutching his
suit coat with my hands, and my face burned with embarrassment.
Instantly, I stepped back from Nicholas. He let me go, returning his arm to his side, though he gave me a
curious glance.
I couldn’t face him, even after thanking him for saving me. This was all too much. I was overwhelmed.
So I turned to Julian instead. “Prince Julian, we must speak privately at once. I have so much to tell you.”
Julian wagged his eyebrows. “Privately,‘ eh?”
I rolled my eyes. “You know what I mean.”
Nicholas started to growl in earnest. His face was even more severe than when we’d talked with Terry.
His whole body was tense. He glared at his brother, but his eyes softened when he looked at me.
“It would be rude without dancing with me first,” he said. “Since I was one of the princes who chose
you.”
That made sense. What would it look like for me to disappear with Julian, abandoning Nicholas?
These political games made my head spin.
Nicholas held up his hand for me. “Dance with me, Piper.”
I half–wanted to run away, embarrassed by my desires for Nicholas, but the bigger half of me wanted to
be near him, no matter what we were doing.
So I placed my hand on his and let him pull me to the dance floor.
Behind us, Julian laughed and laughed.