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…”

+15 BONUS

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.

opened my arms, and scooped her

well past her bedtime but

to stay up to

stay, Mommy Elva said. She rested her head on my shoulder, clearly tired.

her forehead, “We do For a bit longer, anyway,

then, and Eira it up

+15 BONUS

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

healed my heart in ways nothing else could. That

out of her made me

burst out of Elva. It really was

eyes with Nicholas and then motioned toward the bed.

little princess,” Nicholas said

tell me a

bed. I joined them

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

story about the bravest woman

bringing

smiling a little. “A Queen. She gave up

just like you

she fight a dragon?” Elva asked.

fierce, fire–breathing