The Luna Choosing Game

My eyes went wide. As poor as I felt, I still pushed myself upright on the bed – until he placed a hand on

my shoulder and eased me back down.

“I won’t give up,” I told him. “I can’t.”

“I wouldn’t ask you to, except for your own safety, Piper. If you truly don’t care about being Luna, like you say, then you should care more for yourself. The people here only want to do you harm.”

“It doesn’t matter what happens to me. Can’t you see? I will stay. I’ll do anything they want to make sure

that Elva continues to get the best medical care.”

“Even if this happens again?”

“Even then.”

Crossing his arms, he let out a quiet sigh. “I’d forgotten how stubborn you could be.”

“Only with important things.”

I felt a bit strange with him standing so rigidly beside the bed while I was within it. I motioned toward the

edge of the bed.

“You can sit if you want.”

“I shouldn’t,” he said. Yet after a moment, he propped himself on the very edge of the mattress, as far

he could be. “You asked me not

wanted him near.

sure your maids would sit

don’t trust

on

too short, but they sent me ahead without a word.” I smoothed out the blankets on my lap. “Though I guess, even if I had been warned

would have

why I thought you should leave.”

scaring me off. “I don’t know

I’ll be the first

“You seem certain.”

know I’m only here as a publicity stunt. I’ve served

hummed in acknowledgement but

warm up, and with that warmth, sleepiness followed. In

fell away, and words

the

curious look. I

of women competing for the attention of three men is so ridiculous. And

are you ever supposed to find

essential,” Nicholas said. “The royal family needs a strong

might depend on

you invite the public into your lives after you found the right

away. “None of us have found our mates on our own, Piper. The