The Luna Choosing Game

The next morning, a knock came early on the bedroom door. Fortunately, Elva and I had risen with the dawn and were already dressed.

Expecting the nanny, I headed for the door, yet when I drew it open, the person on the other side

surprised me.

“Nicholas. What are you doing here?”

Behind him, Mark cleared his throat. Immediately, I realized my error.

“Prince Nicholas,” I corrected. After last night, I had become entirely too familiar with him. I had to be more careful, for both our reputations, not to address him so informally. Especially in front of others.

“I came to see Elva,” Nicholas said.

“Nick–lass!”

The rules of propriety, however, did not extend to my three year old.

Elva rushed toward the door. Nicholas bent down and scooped her up into his arms. Elva giggled as he

lifted her.

I’d already told Elva that we would be staying around for a while longer, but she didn’t seem to quite

believe me. Now that she could actually see Nicholas, it was like those remaining worries had been

washed away.

in and play! I want a tea party.”

okay,” Nicholas said.

Elva got too squirmy, he set her down. She snatched his hand and pulled

held a certain measure of warmth. Ever since last night, when he learned I hadn’t betrayed him

was obvious and carefree. But it was less harrowing than the looks of cold indifference I had grown used

joining us for the tea party,

had other plans. Plans that

to him. When he spotted Nicholas, he didn’t even slow. Instead a smile quirked his lips.

good morning,

vanished from Nicholas’s face. “What are you doing

at his nails, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. “Oh. I’m taking Piper on a date today.”

me. Julian wasn’t wrong, though under Nicholas’s scrutiny now, I kind

could deny it.

true,” I said.

gaze hardened as he sliced it back to Julian, “There was no official

“After what happened last time, can

had followed the

have plenty of fun on

tea party, Nick–lass! It’s starting!” Elva tugged on his