The Luna audibly gasped. Some of the girls around me started screaming. Guards quickly moved in to usher them from the room. I was urged forward.
“End the program,” the King shouted. “Now.”
The cameras immediately shut off.
Before I could reach the staircase and earn my favor from the prince of my choice, my path was blocked with a very angry King and Queen.
“Nicholas!” the King shouted.
“What have you done?” the Luna cried.
Nicholas quickly came down the staircase to join me at my side. I stared at him, bewildered.
“You heard the public,” he said. “This is what they wanted, even if you were too bullheaded to see it.”
“Careful,” the King said.
“Piper won the people’s favor. More, she won the game by the rules we’d assigned.”
“I can do one better than that, even,” Julian said, jum
