The Luna Choosing Game

I took another step. “I don’t want anyone to get in trouble.”

Mark’s eyes went wide again. He looked to Nicholas.

Nicholas’s jaw was clenched, a hard line. He stared at me like he wanted me to take back my words.

When I didn’t, he said, “No one will get in trouble.”

“Thank you,” I said.

He seemed even more annoyed by my thanks, eyes hard.

Mark quickly excused himself.

Nicholas also backed to the door. “If there is anything else you need…”

“Wait,” I said. I glanced over my shoulder, at Elva’s legs kicking out from the comforter.

Nicholas followed the length of my gaze but didn’t otherwise move an inch.

I approached him. Voice soft, I said, “Elva has a few health issues. Lately, she’s been suffering from

recurrent pneumonia..

like acquiring a doctor for Elva would be a simple task, but now,

and his dour expression, I felt

a

reply came

our differences, he was still

the past three

Thank you,” I said.

nodded, then left

and the soldiers had gone, I returned to Elva and found her fast asleep in her blanket Jon. It had been a long, tiring

bed. She stirred some while Blowered her down, but the minute her little body touched the plush mattress, she sighed

edge of the bed and

set on staying here, but… if she could get a regular doctor to check her over, and without the burden of medical bills… how

have a chance at actually winning the selection. If the royal family only wanted me here for good publicity, was there really any

generosity?

seemed a

face, I remembered that I hadn’t told Nicholas or Mark about

the room and stuck my head out the

like Nicholas, though

a servant’s room at the end of the hallway. The

outrageous! You can’t ask me to cater to the whims of a woman with such

recognized that voice as Lena, the

“Now we