The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story Novel
Chapter 0586

Chapter 0586

Nicholas's anger began to vibrate through him. He growled, probably without realizing it, with each exhale of breath.

"It's past time I speak with Bridget myself," he said, low and dangerous. Yet, even so, he did not move -not until I pulled back enough to look up at him. He met my gaze with stern eyes. "I should have set her straight a long time ago."

"What will you say?" I asked him.

"I don't know yet. But she has lost every right to any benefit of the doubt I might have otherwise given her. I want the truth. I also intend to make my own truth known."

"What's that?"

His eyes became fiercer. Looking at him, he seemed more hardened warrior than young prince.

*Bridget will never be queen," Nicholas said.

It was a bold claim, especially when his parents favored her so heavily. But I appreciated the remark all the same. Nicholas, despite having been childhood friends with Bridget, was finally seeing her for the person she was now.

I wondered when the change in her began. I didn't doubt so much that Nicholas, Julian, and Bridget truly had been friends in the beginning.

Was it her parents who pushed her into her obsession to be queen? Or was it her lifestyle? Or did she simply have an inherent greed for power that manifested itself as she grew older?

It didn't matter, I supposed. Facts were facts, now, regardless of how they became so.

And the fact was Bridget wanted me dead. I needed to rely on Nicholas now.

"Okay," I said.

Nicholas nodded and started to lead me from the room.

"I can't," I said right away. I motioned toward the mess on the floor.

*The servants will clean it in the morning," he said. Most of them had already gone to bed.

"No." I couldn't possibly leave my mess like this for someone else to clean. By morning, the smell alone would be overpowering. "I'm perfectly capable of cleaning this up."

"Piper..." He wanted to argue with me.

"Go," I said, and nudged him toward the door. "I'll clean up quickly and then join Veronica and Elva."

"They are still in the living room. I'll make certain they stay there," Nicholas said. "I'll likely take Julian with me to confront Bridget."

I nodded. Honestly, having something to do while this confrontation occurred might have been a godsend. I didn't want to just have to sit there wondering what was being said. Cleaning up, I could distract myself.

Nicholas leaned in once more and kissed me on the temple. He lingered, his lips to my skin, like he didn't want to leave me. I didn't want him to leave either. But the sooner this whole thing with Bridget was cleared up, the safer would ultimately feel.

So I stepped back, away from the warmth and safety of Nicholas's body.

He gave me one last long look. His face was a steel mask by now. I couldn't discem his feelings, not beyond his affection for me and his anger at everyone else. He seemed to be trying to tell me something, but I just couldn't read his non-verbal cues.

Then, he turned and left me.

Alone now, I grabbed some a rag from the sink and wet it with water from the facet. Armed with the wet rag and a dry towel, I turned to the mess and began to clean up as best as I was able.

After picking up the empty pint containers and tossing them in the trash bin, I lowered myself to my knees and wiped up some of the melted ice cream.

It reminded me of working at the restaurant after closing. The quiet was almost peaceful, in a way, and it felt good to be able to clear my mind, focusing only on the task of cleaning up this mess.