The Luna Choosing Game

He watched me but he didn’t say anything.

“Thank you, Your Royal Highness, I

1 didn’t do it for you.” His gaze fell to Elva, who looked so small in her hospital bed. “No harm will come

to any child in this palace.”

“I

“Even so.” I was grateful for his help, no matter the reason he gave it. “Thank you.”

The doctor glanced between us. “If you will excuse me, I will personally take Elva’s prescription to the

pharmacist. It seems safer that way.”

“I

“Thank you,” I said, as Nicholas said, “That would be best.“.

When the doctor left the room, Nicholas kicked off the bookcase and came closer. He peered down at Elva from her bedside, a soft look on his face.

I remembered his interview. Nicholas loved children. He wanted a big family. That kindness must have extended to Elva.

“Truly.” I said, “I don’t know how to thank you for this.”

look hardened when he gazed up at me. “Children are separate from our situation,

me to take this gesture personally. He wanted to maintain distance from me. But he was still willing to

way to convince him that I wasn’t here to

only here as a publicity stunt, then surely

his anger for me, and wrapped

warm to me. I had to just

I knew I had bigger things to worry about

in my room. When they were leaving, one of them said, “Perhaps

for herr

sald that

harm

Lena I had seen leaving

Would that be

physician will tend to her,” Nicholas said. The gold in his eyes flashed dangerously. It might have been a

Elva stirred. “Mommy?”

honey.” I inched closer.

eyes shifted from

on his

“Nick–lass?”

me. “Oh, no, no, Elva. We address