The Luna Choosing Game by Jane Above Story

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?

to become unrecognizable. Unless he truly had sealed me away

maybe he was simply pretending, to save face. I could be a great

Maybe he hated me.

is the outsider.” The girl in pink

this,” Nicholas said, and even his voice was monotone. Another moment of staring at me blankly, then he turned

so I followed him. He led me to an adjoining room,

him. “Your Royal Highness, please remember that per the selection rules, you aren’t to

the man, who nervously

is an exception,”

The

stepped forward and closed the door behind us, leaving

I had never imagined I’d meet

think of me, to see me as I was? To see me here, as part

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

perfect façade cracked. He frowned. His golden

on Elva, his arm looped more protectively

dare you hide my child

of my thoughts skidded to a stop. I blinked once, twice, but, no, I

Eloquently, I said, “Huh?”

She was three years old.

to recall the memory. We’d been so

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

but the certainty that fueled it seemed to slide into bewilderment. His

mistaken,” I said, hoping to give him

children. He’d even said so on television. For me to hide a child from him

her name. But she’s not

eyes widened a moment, before the anger returned

struggle to get it

glanced between me and Elva.

to Nicholas. Elva was mine in every way that

question for him, and

straightened, startled. What could cause

and he immediately cut off the deep

he lowered Elva down onto one of the plush couches

mad at Mommy,” came Elva’s