The Luna Choosing Game

Nicholas

As I watched, Piper seemed to crumble in on herself. The guilt and the worry pushed down on her

shoulders and made her small. It didn’t suit her. She was strong, a fighter, yet fear for Elva tore straight

through her.

I I had known the child a few short weeks, and already I was in agony, watching her cry and shake with

fever. I could only imagine how Piper felt. To watch her daughter be sick now, and so often, must have

been a special kind of torture.

Holding Piper’s arm, I turned her into me to offer her the physical support of my body. She clung to me, likely about to fall if I did not hold her upright.

I may have been angry at Piper for all that had occurred between us. She had betrayed me once, for reasons I still didn’t fully understand, when all I had ever done was love her.

Yet seeing her like this, so scared for her daughter, I could not help but soften to her.

“It’s not your fault,” I told her. “It could have been any illness. Even someone with a cough could have sent the germs her way.”

“But I was sick.” Tears clung to her eyelashes. They made my chest ache. “I should have waited to see

her until I was sure. I was just so eager. I missed her so much.”

I moved my hand up and down her back in long, soothing strokes.

your fault,” I said again,

unwilling to hear me and take my words to

I would try again. For now, I understood Piper’s worry made reason difficult to accept. Even bad things were easier to comprehend

things scarier.

told the physician, who nodded

said. “When her fever

I

voice

Mark and the maid stayed nearby. I nodded to Mark and he moved a chair from

Gently, I led Piper there and helped her sit down. Immediately,

cradled

situated, I walked back to the table to retrieve a second

“Prince Nicholas?”

alert my family’s servants of where I’ll be

“At once,

room, I motioned toward the maid. “You may leave as

of her to attempt to stand up

who cared

here,” I said, softer.

last glance over Piper

the servants dealt with, I returned to Piper’s side, carrying a second chair. I placed it beside

down upon