The Luna Choosing Game

“It wasn’t what it looked like,” I said on reflex

“You said before what you felt for Julian wasn’t serious,” he said.

“It’s not.”

Nicholas crossed his arms. His jaw tightened and he didn’t say anything else.

I didn’t know what else to say, how to ease his worries, than to tell him the truth. “Julian saved me from

you father.”

Nicholas’s enter focus zeroed in on me. All emotion vanished. He looked me over as if looking for injury,

then spoke fiercely, “What happened?”

I explained, about the summons, about the threat, and about Julian’s timely intervention. By the end of it, Nicholas had come closer, standing before me again, concern crinkling his brow

“I’m okay now,” I said. “I heard some of your speech. You likely assuaged most of his fears. So you

saved me, too. Thank you.”

those words. I had held onto them for as long as I knew you

you and Elva. Before I knew the truth.”

have told him the truth sooner, perhaps, but it had taken a long time for me to believe that he would even want to know. For

I could have done something to help.” He sighed. “Some of what I said today. I

I

way of knowing the truth, Nicholas. I purposefully kept it from you. I’d thought then that I was

can’t mean that.”

tungsten lights Golden irises with flecks of green, watching me like I was someone worth setting his royal gaze upon.

mattered.

would always be grateful to him for his kindness. But facts were facts, and a whole

as it did

likely be king

toll saying it now, on me, with my heart aching. On him too,

sure you settle down with the right woman for the kingdom.” I shrugged, a little sad.” That is not, nor ever was, me. And if you tied yourself down to Elva and me, you would have regretted it. Maybe not

trying to

he saw there.