The Luna Choosing Game

Whatever Jane had said to Nicholas must have been something horrific.

“I’m okay, and Elva’s okay,” I said, hoping to soothe him and his prowling wolf. “If the worst she’s done is tarnish my reputation, then we can recover from that.”

A storm raged in Nicholas’s eyes, the green flashing against the gold.

“She threatened you,” he said and it came out a growl.

“That’s nothing new.”

“What she said… cannot be allowed…”

“Whatever she said is just words. I’m here and I’m safe. She can’t touch me while I’m beside you.” 1

That, at last, finally seemed to bring him some measure of comfort. He breathed in deeply, held it, then released. Some of the tension bled away from his shoulders. He closed his eyes, and when he

opened them again, they were clearer.

Slowly, I lowered my hand away from his chest.

“I need to speak with the benefactors Jane insulted. If I apologize, then maybe…”

and

will work,” Nicholas said. “Their

least, not this soon.”

do nothing.

with me beside you, they will refuse to speak to you. The

Marble? The

Nicholas nodded, expression grim.

the girls had been talking about the wealthiest of the

that whoever won her

never cared to, but now I

to insult the whole of the nobility.

Queen herself. 1

my face. “She didn’t talk to

as bad as things were, that

with Nicholas a minute more, trying to come up with some kind of plan to improve my situation. As it was, we were coming up short. Everyone – the benefactors, the

me as

interested

meanwhile shouted out questions.

Nicholas! Did you and Piper

at Nicholas. “We

terse words for Jane. Before

lifted thrones at the middle edge of the room. He