The Luna Choosing Game

“She’s smart,” Julian said. “She knows how to fade into the background. I’ve seen her do it.”

“Even so…”

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וויר

“I’ll keep an eye on her. One of us should head back to the party anyway,” Julian said with a wink. “The ladies are probably missing me, the most handsome of us anyway.”

Nicholas gave him a flat look.

Julian smirked and disappeared.

Then Nicholas took my arm and led me through the hallways. By now, my nerves were getting to me. I just wanted to see Elva, to hold her and know she’s okay.

Nicholas was texting Mark with one hand.

“No issues today,” Nicholas said, which gave me a measure of comfort. I still would feel better if I could see it all with my own eyes.

When we reached the hallway of rooms, I was walking very quickly. Nicholas, blessedly, was keeping pace. His guards were keeping watch outside my door. Nicholas stopped to speak with them.

“Go on inside, Piper,” he said.

I nodded and walked in.

Elva and the nanny were sitting on the ground, playing with their dolls. Mark stood nearby, watching. They all turned to look at me when I came closer.

“Mommy Elva jumped to her feet and rushed toward me.

to my knees, opened my arms, and scooped her into

past her bedtime

up to see

Elva said. She rested her head

her forehead, “We do For a bit

and Eira it up ance moni

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She ran into Nicholas’s waiting arms instead. As he lifted her, he spun her

else could.

out of her made me feel all the

of Elva.

and then motioned toward the

sleep, little princess,” Nicholas said as he carried Elva over that

a story?” Elva

her down onto the bed. I joined them there and

hair. “A story, huh? Okay.” He thought for a moment. Then he gave me

you a story about the

her blankets, bringing them

“A Queen. She gave up her crown to save her little

just like you

fight a dragon?”

huge fierce, fire–breathing dragon,”