The Luna Choosing Game

Chapter 0615

As the car entered the neighborhoods that I recognized, I grew more and more tense. Nicholas squeezed me tighter, likely trying to offer what comfort that he could. But there was little comfort to be had.

I didn't mind the smaller place. I didn't even mind the harsher lifestyle.

But I didn't want to do any of it anymore, without Nicholas

I would, of course, if forced to. I would give my all to raise Elva to the best of my ability, no matter the environment. And now that the Oracle had cured her of her curse, we didn't necessarily need to be at the palace, since Elva didn't need such intense medical care.

I wanted Nicholas, Elva, and I to be a family. Full stop. It didn't matter where.

Finally, the car came to a stop in front of our old apartment building. A camera crew was already set up outside, waiting. There, standing among them, chatting them all up, stood Anna. She looked much the same as when I had last seen her.

God, I missed her so much. I didn't even realize how much until this moment.

Nicholas cupped my face and lightly kissed me on the lips. The windows were tinted, the cameras wouldn't be able to see.

"I will see you soon," he said. His eyes were creased with worry, his mouth heavy with sadness.

I kissed him again, offering comfort as he tried to do for me. "Soon," I promised.

Nicholas nodded and turned to Elva. He kissed the top of her head.

I sucked in a sturdy breath, then exited the car. The cameras were immediately on me. The crew pushed Anna back behind them, even though she was the one Elva and I were here to

see.

King's orders, they wanted to catch me at my worst so the footage could be sliced to make me look like a

forward at all times. With my head raised high, I walked around the car and opened the door enough for Elva to hop out, while keeping Nicholas hidden. No one needed to know of Nicholas's favoritism but Elva

joined in a three-person hug. It was

you," I said to Anna, who

you both so much," Anna said. She kissed my cheek and then the top of Elva's head. "It hasn't

set them unceremoniously

to our own devices. This, especially, I did not

driver's side. He nodded in acknowledgement, started the

I turned back to Anna, I noticed something off. Now that our initial excited greeting had worn off, she was having trouble looking me

I asked.

well.." She looked down as she worried her bottom lip with

happen?" I

a stipend for a while, for me to keep your room open. But I don't know if the checks got lost or if

paying Anna? I had to look into that as soon as

sorry, Piper," Anna said. "But I had to get another roommate to make ends meet. They took over your old room. I'm

have our room?" Elva looked up at me

be okay," I told her. To Anna, I said, "It's okay, Anna. We weren't here. You did what you needed to,

seemed worried. I squeezed her shoulder

question I had was, "If the new roommate is in our

us, only a few necessities. We'd left

apartment, though she assured us that

three cardboard boxes stacked against the wall in the living room behind the

close to catch my reaction. Knowing they wanted me to

to move forward with her life, but because my entire life up until this point fit so perfectly into three cardboard

hard, pushing down the part of me that wanted to break a little, and looked at Anna. "Which

perked up