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

well past her bedtime but

stay up to see you,” the nanny

said. She rested her head on my shoulder,

her forehead, “We do For a bit

room, then, and Eira

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

sound healed my heart in ways nothing else could. That Nicholas had been the

out of her made me feel

yawn burst out of Elva. It really was late for her.

locked eyes with Nicholas and then motioned toward

some sleep, little princess,” Nicholas said as

me a story?”

down onto the bed. I joined them

He thought for a

a story about the bravest woman I know.”

princess?” Elva snuggled under her blankets, bringing them right up under her chin.

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

just like you

a dragon?” Elva asked.

fire–breathing dragon,” Nicholas