The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

Chapter 5

Nicholas held Elva safe and secure in his arms as he stood to his full height. Elva buried her face into the corner of his neck and shoulder. He gently patted her back.

He glanced down at Elva, his gaze so tender that it made my heart clench.

“There, there,” he whispered. “You are safe now.”

“Oh my God,” said one of the other girls in the room, fanning herself. “Of course he’s good with children.”

“Someone pinch me,” said another. “I think I’m dreaming.”

Nicholas’s soft expression hardened as he glared out at the rest of the room. “Whose child is this? Why is she here?”

I started forward, but the girl in the pink dress spoke before I could reach him.

“An outsider sneaked in, unless she’s a maid.”

Some of the other girls snickered at my expense.

“She can’t be a participant,” another girl fake-whispered, loud enough for half-the room to hear. “I thought we had to be virgins, and she’s got a kid.”

I wanted to disappear into a corner. Whether virgin or not, I was nothing compared to the rest of these girls.

My clothes weren’t as nice as theirs, and my figure wasn’t like what it had been at the Academy. I’d lost much of my musculature. I was skinny from too many nights of skipped dinners.

Elva’s wellbeing had always come before my own.

Her sake was the only reason I continued forward rather than hide in embarrassment. I stopped only when I reached Nicholas.

He looked at me, and I looked at him.

I’d forgotten how gorgeous his eyes were, golden brown with flakes of green. When we’d dated, I had spent hours looking at them, trying to memorize that color, but it had seemed different each time.

Before, when I’d stared long enough, I could earn a bashful smile from him. Now, his face was totally devoid of emotion. He looked at me like I was a stranger.

Did he… not recognize me?

truly had sealed me

I could be a great embarrassment to him, showing up

Maybe he hated me.

outsider.” The girl

monotone. Another moment

followed him. He led me to an adjoining room, separated by

in a suit hurried toward him. “Your Royal Highness, please remember that per

at the man, who nervously

an exception,”

course, sir.” The

went inside after them. A servant stepped forward and closed the door behind us, leaving Nicholas, Elva, and I alone in a small

I thought I might be sick. I had never imagined I’d meet

even to say. What would he think of me, to see me as I was? To see me here, as part of the selection?

seemed at ease against his chest. She must have cried herself to sleep, eyes closed and

his perfect façade

his hands stayed gentle on Elva, his arm

hide my

my thoughts skidded to a stop. I blinked once, twice, but, no, I couldn’t make sense of what he

Eloquently, I said, “Huh?”

She was three years old. That lined up with our breakup three years

the memory. We’d been so young then, too eager and excited

I couldn’t remember where he was when he’d climaxed. But, hadn’t he

to slide into bewilderment. His gaze shifted, like he was trying

said, hoping to give him

For me to hide a child from him

name. But she’s not

before the

say, he seemed to struggle to get it out. He swallowed it

glanced between me and

to Nicholas. Elva was mine in every way

unspoken question for him, and he

startled. What could

arms, and he immediately

Elva down onto one of the

mad at Mommy,” came

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255