The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0499 Nicholas carried me into the cave and then gently laid me down. With my back against the cave wall, I could sit up enough to see. If he had placed me flat on my back, I never would have had the strength to sit up on my own.

The cave itself wasn’t too deep. It didn’t go beyond a few more yards, from what I could tell. Though the shadows were thick that far in.

“I’m going to try to build us a fire,” Nicholas said. He knelt down beside me and looked me over. “Maybe find you some food. When was the last time you ate?” I couldn’t remember so I just shrugged.

The worry line between his brows

deepened.

“11 find you something to eat,” he said, more forcefully.

I didn’t have the strength to argue. My eyelids felt heavy.

Between one blink and the next, I must have fallen asleep, because when I opened my eyes again, Nicholas had built a small fire near the cave opening and was cooking what appeared to be rabbit over the flames.

My stomach grumbled. I was hungry.

But more than that, my teeth began to chatter.

Somehow Nicholas heard the clatter over the roar of the storm. Maybe he was just attuned to me. I knew that feeling. Sometimes I felt like all of my nerves and senses were focused SO

much on Nicholas, that little else mattered.

He left the meat of the fire and crossed his way back to me. Scooping me up, he brought me closer to the flames, presumably to warm me. It was too hot. I tried to push away from him, but my limbs felt like spaghetti noodles. I had too little strength.

After laying me down, Nicholas lifted his hand, pressing the back of his palm to my forehead.

“you have a fever,” he said.

He reached for me again, I continued trying to push him off. Not just because he was too hot, but because now, with my initial fear pushed down, I realized how dirty I was.

Mud and dirt covered me head to toe.

made away from his rain jacket, yet there was still a

“Piper,” Nicholas said firmly.

get you

that?” Nicholas unzipped his jacket and tugged it off. Underneath, he had

freezing. The fire isn’t enough.” He tugged off his

need both heat.” When he was naked he

eased

my boots. 9 “I'm dirty,” I said again, more

and pulled me against him, until he was lining my entire body

body and let him

awoke next, our closeness had

up against the side of the cave. I was

I should have

died down. But the

and I

now, and he must have

happened, Piper?” he asked

teamed up to find his treasure before Bridget could, so I didn’t have to explain

I said. “I was just

up beneath me and I was trapped.” “A man-made trap?”

I said, remembering the net that had been stretched over the opening of the hole, covered with dirt and twigs and leaves

but I was stuck. So she went to go get help.” I hesitated over the next part, debating whether I should tell him about Bridget. Whatever their romantic feelings — or lack thereof — for each other, they were friends first.

couldn’t leave it out. He deserved to

Bridget,” I

quiet, I wasn’t even sure

I asked her for help.” Nicholas waited for me to continue, not uttering one syllable. The truth was obvious now. For me to still be in that hole told the story on its own. But I

after

back,” Nicholas replied. It wasn’t a question, but I decided to