The Luna Choosing Game

I ignored that comment. “Now that he knows, maybe we can include him in our investigation into the

underworld.”

Julian hummed like he was considering it, but his ‘no‘ came out very definitive. Like he’d only pretended to think about it for my sake. Had he thought about this before? If so, he’d likely have a good reason.

“Why not?” I asked.

Sighing. Julian gave his head a slight shake. “My perfect older brother is too strict with the rules for the

kind of work we need to do. If we followed everything by the book, like he would want to, we’d only

continue to chase our own tails around.”

Nicholas had always been an upright citizen. It had been part of the reason I hadn’t wanted

I had done something illegal, when I’d traded away my wolf.

him to know

“What we’re doing, Piper, will require us to bend some rules, and maybe blatantly disregard others. Could you imagine Nicholas turning a blind eye to all that?”

I couldn’t.

I wished I could say otherwise. If Nicholas were involved in the investigation, I would feel much more. secure about it. Julian was effective, but not exactly reliable. Nicholas, meanwhile, was the definition of dependable.

“Even so, I’d like to tell him someday,” I said. “Maybe when we get closer to the end.”

“Maybe.” Jul gave away nothing, as per usuall. He might never acquiesce. When the time came, it would likely rest on my shoulders alone if and when to include Nicholas. I would include him though. Eventually.

“Speaking of, I have another lead. We could go on another date to investigate.”

“That didn’t work out so well for us last time.” I had not forgotten the Luna’s lecture toward me, where she had basically accused me of being more irresponsible than Julian simply for not stopping his reckless behavior.

1 learned several valuable lessons last time,” Julian said. This time will go much smoother.

And just how exactly, do you plan on sneaking away from the cameras for a second time, without incurring the wrath of your entire family??

shrugged Easy. We just don’t tell them.”

His quick, deadpan response startled me into laughing. I quickly recovered when I realized he was dead

serious.

“Come on, Piper. Live a little.”

“And where exactly would we be going this time? Hopefully somewhere as nice as an abandoned

warehouse?”

I couldn’t believe I was leaning toward actually doing this. But then, I was desperate to feel my wolf again. Plus, it had been nice to be away from the cameras for a while, even with the trouble caused

afterwards.

“I’m wounded you would think so low of me.” Julian smiled wide. “Of course I have somewhere much

fancier set up for us this time.”

“Fancier? The sewers this time, then?”

He laughed. “Actually, no. We’ve already checked there. We’re were hoping that they meant ‘underground

‘in the literal sense. Unfortunately, no such luck.”

I tried to imagine Julian trudging through the muck of the sewers and couldn’t quite manage it. “Surely

you yourself didn’t go into the sewers.”

“And why not? If they were there, should I let someone else take the credit?”

Huh. Sometimes I struggled to piece together the puzzle that was Julian. I thought he’d care more for

vanity. In a way he did, I supposed, as he was selfish enough to want to take full credit of the potential

find.

Yet nothing he ever said to me really felt like the full truth. I wondered if the only person who truly knew

the real Julian, was Julian himself.

“So, what do you say? Join me on a secret rendezvous, and we’ll see what we can uncover.”

have no desire to join you in the sewers,” I said.

His eyes were alight with mischief.

“Piper, this time I’m taking you to a mansion.”